Pussy Bow Dress
A women's sewing pattern for an elegant dress featuring a tailored fit, a sophisticated pussy bow detail, and charming puffed sleeves with buttoned cuffs.
When To Wear
This dress is designed for versatile wear, perfect for:
- Office & Business Casual: The refined silhouette and bow detail make it suitable for a professional yet stylish look.
- Daytime Events & Gatherings: An elegant choice for luncheons, garden parties, or other social occasions.
- Date Nights & Evening Outings: The sophisticated design and flattering fit create a chic and romantic ensemble.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a fitted bodice with princess seams transitions into a gracefully flared a-line skirt, creating a flattering silhouette.
Neckline: a V-neckline is adorned with a soft, integrated tie that can be styled into a pussy bow.
Closure: An invisible zipper is discreetly placed at the center back for a seamless finish.
Sleeves: Long, puffed sleeves gather softly at the shoulder and are finished with fitted cuffs, each secured with two buttons.
Back: Features a clean center back seam with an invisible zipper, flanked by elegant princess seams for a structured fit.
Length: The skirt falls gracefully to a knee-length hem.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Involves precise sewing of princess seams, invisible zipper insertion, constructing a decorative tie, and setting gathered sleeves with cuffs and buttonholes.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose dress-weight fabrics for the main body and lightweight, drapey fabric for the sleeves and tie:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
- Chiffon of a related color for the sleeves and tie
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- 1 concealed zipper
- 2 buttons
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, the patterns include seam allowances. If the contour is single, the patterns do not include seam allowances. Seam allowances: Hem allowance – 2.0 cm. Other allowances – 1.0 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). When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- From main fabric:
- Center back – 2 pieces
- Side back – 2 pieces
- Center front – 2 pieces
- Side front – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Cuff – 2 pieces
- From chiffon:
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Tie – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Interface pieces with fusible interfacing.
- Stitch back princess seams, press allowances towards the center and overlock. Stitch front princess seams, press allowances towards the center and overlock.
- Overlock center back edges separately. Stitch center back seam from zipper mark to hem, press allowances open. Insert concealed zipper.
- Stitch center front seam, press allowances to the left side and overlock.
- Stitch side and shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Overlock three sides of the tie piece, press allowances to the wrong side and topstitch. Alternatively, finish edges with a narrow rolled hem. Fold the piece in half lengthwise, create an arbitrary pleat and topstitch to the front neckline edge between the marks.
- Stitch shoulder seams of neckline facings, press allowances open. Overlock outer edge. Place facings and garment right sides together and stitch neckline edge. Clip allowances at curves, turn pieces right side out. Secure facing to garment at shoulder seams, center front seam, and zipper tape.
- Make a slit on the sleeve along the marked line. Cut a bias strip from the main fabric 4 cm wide and equal to twice the slit length + 4 cm. Fold the bias strip in half lengthwise and press. Press outer allowances towards the center. Finish the sleeve slit with the bias strip.
- Stitch sleeve seam, press allowances towards the back and overlock. Along the upper of the sleeve cap, stitch with loosened upper thread and gather. Set sleeves into armholes, matching notches. Press and overlock allowances.
- Fold the cuff in half lengthwise right sides together and stitch short sides. Start stitching strictly at the marked line for attaching the cuff to the sleeve. Trim allowances at the corner, turn cuff right side out, shape, and press. Along the lower edge of the sleeve, stitch with loosened upper thread and gather. Attach the outer side of the cuff to the bottom of the sleeve. Turn the inner side of the cuff inwards and topstitch into the attachment seam.
- Overlock the bottom edge of the garment, press to the wrong side and hem with blind stitches.
- Make buttonholes on the cuffs, sew on buttons.
