Piped Princess Seam Sheath Dress
Presenting a sophisticated women's sheath dress pattern, defined by elegant piped princess seams that shape a flattering silhouette.
When To Wear
This versatile sheath dress is perfect for a variety of occasions, offering effortless elegance for:
- Professional Settings: a polished and classic choice for the office or business meetings.
- Semi-Formal Events: The refined design with decorative piping makes it suitable for luncheons or elegant gatherings.
- Stylish Daywear: a chic and comfortable option for everyday sophistication.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a tailored, fitted sheath silhouette that gently skims the body, finishing at knee length.
Neckline: a subtle V-neckline offers a refined and flattering opening.
Seaming: Front and back princess seams provide shaping and are accented with decorative piping for a distinctive finish.
Sleeves: Long, set-in sleeves provide elegant coverage.
Back: Features a center back seam with an invisible zipper closure and a functional vent at the hem for ease of movement.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in precise seam construction, decorative piping insertion, invisible zipper application, and vent finishing.
Fabric Recommendations
For optimal drape and structure, choose dress fabrics with some body:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Decorative piping
- Fusible interfacing
- Invisible zipper
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, seam allowances are included. If the contour is single, the patterns are without seam allowances. Seam allowances: Hem allowance for the bottom edge of the garment and sleeve hem – 2.0 cm. Other allowances – 1.0 cm. Attention! First, 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 (don't forget to account for paired and symmetrical pieces). When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- From main fabric:
- Center back – 2 pieces
- Side back – 2 pieces
- Center front – 1 piece on fold
- Side front – 2 pieces
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Stitch the back princess seams, inserting decorative piping into the seam. Press allowances towards the center and overlock. Overlock the center back edges separately. Stitch them from the zipper mark to the slit mark, press allowances open. Insert the invisible zipper. Stitch a reinforcing line along the slit 0.5 cm from the edge.
- Overlock the outer edge of the back facing. Place the back facing onto the back, right sides together, and stitch the neckline. Start and end the stitching strictly at the marked stitching line. Clip allowances. Turn the facing to the wrong side and press.
- Stitch the front princess seams, inserting decorative piping into the seam. Press allowances towards the center and overlock.
- Overlock the outer edge of the front facing. Place the front facing onto the front, right sides together, and stitch the neckline. Clip allowances, trim the corner. Turn the facing to the wrong side and press.
- Stitch the shoulder seams, sandwiching the front between the back and the back facing. Overlock allowances and press towards the back.
- Stitch the side seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch the sleeve seam. Overlock allowance and press towards the back. Set the sleeve into the armhole according to the notches, overlock allowance and press.
- Overlock the hem allowance of the garment, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
