Fitted Dress With Patch Pockets
A sophisticated fitted dress featuring elegant flutter sleeves, a defined waist, and practical, stylish patch pockets.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is perfect for a range of occasions, offering comfort and style:
- Work & Office: a professional yet comfortable choice for daily wear in the workplace.
- Smart Casual Outings: Ideal for lunches, day events, or relaxed gatherings with a polished look.
- Holiday & Resort Wear: Lightweight and chic for warm-weather destinations and leisurely activities.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a flattering fitted silhouette with a defined waist and a straight-cut skirt.
Neckline: Features a classic round neckline, offering a clean and versatile look.
Sleeves: Short, wide flutter sleeves provide an elegant and airy touch.
Waist: a broad, contoured waistband accentuates the natural waist for a shapely fit.
Pockets: Two large, functional rectangular patch pockets are sewn onto the front skirt.
Closure: An invisible zipper is discreetly placed at the center back for a smooth finish.
Back: The skirt features a walking slit at the center back, ensuring ease of movement.
Length: The skirt falls to a versatile knee-length.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires accurate construction of darts, invisible zipper installation, waistband assembly, and a back slit.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose woven fabrics with some body and drape, made from natural or blended fibers:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Invisible zipper
- Fusible interfacing
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, they include seam allowances. If the contour is single, the patterns do not include seam allowances. Seam allowances: all seams 1 cm. Hem allowance for the garment bottom – 2.5 cm, hem allowance for the sleeve bottom – 1.2 cm, allowance along the vent – 6 cm. Attention! First of all, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90cm to 150cm) to determine how much material you will need (do not forget to account for paired and symmetrical pieces).
- From main fabric:
- Upper back – 2 pieces
- Back waistband - 1 piece
- Lower back - 2 pieces
- Lower front – 1 piece on fold
- Front waistband - 1 piece
- Upper front - 1 piece on fold
- Back neckline facing - 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Pocket – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back neckline facing - 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- Interface the pieces with fusible interfacing.
- Stitch darts on the back pieces and lower front, press allowances towards the center of the pieces. Stitch darts on the upper front, folding the piece right side out, press allowances towards the side seams.
- Attach the back waistband to the upper back, press allowances towards the waistband and overlock. Attach the lower back to the back waistband, press allowances towards the waistband and overlock.
- On the left lower back, trim 5 cm along the vertical edge of the vent. Interface the vent on the wrong side of both lower back pieces. On the right side, mark the center seam line (vent fold line). Press the left along the vent fold line, on the right, press only the allowance of the right side of the vent (6 cm) to the wrong side. Align the pieces along the center seam and secure at the upper edge of the vent. Overlock the center back seam separately on each piece. Overlock the vent allowances. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the vent corner. Clip the corner of the vent seam allowance on the right. Press open the center seam allowances, press the vent allowances and secure them with machine stitching. Insert the concealed zipper.
- Cut a bias binding 4 cm wide and a length equal to the front pocket opening length + 2 cm. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise right side out and press. Place the binding with the pocket opening right sides together, extending the ends, and stitch. Fold the binding to the wrong side, clip the seams and topstitch along the fold onto the main piece. Press the pocket.
- Overlock the outer perpendicular edges of the pocket, press allowances to the wrong side. Place the pocket according to the markings on the front half and topstitch. Secure the pocket allowances to the upper and side edges.
- Attach the front waistband to the upper front, press allowances towards the waistband and overlock. Attach the lower front to the front waistband, press allowances towards the waistband and overlock.
- Stitch shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Overlock the lower sleeve edge, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Stitch side seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch shoulder seams of neckline facings, press allowances open. Overlock the outer edge. Place facings right sides together with the garment and stitch the neckline edge. Clip allowances at curves, turn facings to the wrong side and press. Topstitch the allowance to the facing at 0.1 – 0.2 cm. Secure the facing at the shoulder seams and zipper tape.
- Overlock the bottom edge of the garment, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
