Below the KNEE Belted Dress with Placket and Center Front Slit

Name: Below the KNEE Belted Dress with Placket and Center Front Slit
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 2172
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #2172

A women's below-the-knee dress with a V-neckline edged by a double placket that runs down the centre front to the hem and opens into a slit. Long gathered sleeves with cuffs and a tie belt set into the side seams. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: soft dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Below the Knee Belted Dress with Placket and Center Front Slit

When To Wear

For work and everyday wear in spring and autumn.
For daytime events, with heeled shoes or boots.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Straight, with bust darts, drawn in at the waist by the belt.

Length: Below the knee.

Neckline: V-neck finished with the placket at the front and with double back neck facings.

Front: Two fronts joined by a placket made of outer and inner pieces; the placket halves are joined from the slit mark to the hem, leaving a slit at the lower centre front.

Sleeves: Long, set-in, gathered into cuffs at the wrist. The sleeve opening is bound with a 4 cm bias strip of the main fabric; each cuff closes with a button.

Back: Centre back seam with a concealed zipper.

Waist: Two belt pieces, each folded in half with a diagonal end, sewn into the side seams with gathers and tied at the back.

Finishing: Hem pressed up and topstitched, 3.5 cm hem allowance.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. A V-neck placket with a front slit, a concealed zipper, a bound sleeve opening, gathered sleeves with buttoned cuffs and a belt inserted into the side seams.

Fabric Recommendations

Soft dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Concealed zipper
Fusible interfacing (placket, back neck facing, cuffs)
2 buttons

Cutter's Must

When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!

From main fabric:
- Back - 2 pieces
- Front - 2 pieces
- Placket – 4 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 4 pieces
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Cuff – 2 pieces
- Belt – 2 pieces
From fusible interfacing:
- Placket – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Cuff – 2 pieces

Sewing Instructions

Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
Mark and stitch the bust darts on the front, press the dart depths upwards.
Stitch the shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
Stitch the shoulder seams of the back neckline facings and plackets, press allowances open. Fold the plackets in pairs right sides together and stitch from the corner of the front neckline to the slit mark. Clip allowances at the mark, press open. Fold the outer and inner plackets right sides together and stitch the neckline edge, clip allowances at the curve, turn the piece right side out, straighten, and press. Stitch the plackets together from the slit mark to the bottom. Attach the placket with facing to the dress, press allowances towards the main piece and overlock.
Overlock the center back edge separately on each piece. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom, press allowances open. Insert the concealed zipper.
Fold the belt lengthwise in half right sides together and stitch along the long and diagonal sides. Turn the belt right side out, straighten and press.
Stitch the side seams, gathering and inserting the belt according to the markings, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
Make a slit on the sleeve along the marked line. Cut a bias strip from the main fabric 4 cm wide and a length equal to double the slit length + 4 cm. Fold the bias strip lengthwise in half and press. Press the outer allowances towards the center. Finish the sleeve slit with the bias strip. Stitch the sleeve seam, press allowances towards the back and overlock. Along the bottom edge of the sleeve, stitch with a loosened top thread and gather.
Fold the cuff lengthwise in half right sides together and stitch the corners. Attach the outer side of the cuff to the sleeve. Fold the allowance of the inner side inwards and topstitch into the attachment seam.
Set the sleeves into the armholes, matching the notches. Press allowances and overlock.
Overlock the hem of the garment, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
Make buttonholes and sew buttons on the cuffs.