Sleeveless Panel Dress with Pockets
A women's sleeveless, above-knee dress with a round neckline and a front overlay panel whose faced, curved side edges form pocket openings at the hips. Lined, with a centre back seam and a concealed zip.
When To Wear
- Summer days and the office, on its own or over a thin blouse.
- In cooler weather with a jacket or cardigan and tights.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Straight, slightly fitted, with darts on the front and back.
Length: Above the knee.
Neckline: Round, finished with the lining.
Sleeves: Sleeveless; armholes finished with the lining.
Front: Upper front cut on the fold, with a dart and an interfaced facing along its curved side edges, topstitched 0.2 cm from the edge. It lies over the inner front, also cut on the fold, which has its own darts and shaped seam.
Pockets: Pockets behind the curved edges of the upper front, with pocket bags cut from lining fabric.
Back: Two back pieces with darts and a centre back seam with a concealed zip.
Finishing: Hem overlocked and sewn by hand with blind stitches.
Lining: Front (inner front) and back are lined; the neckline and armholes are finished by stitching them to the lining.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Pockets built into a faced overlay panel, neckline and armholes finished with the lining, shoulder seams joined between the back and its lining, a concealed zip.
Fabric Recommendations
Dress fabrics made of natural or blended fibres.
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric
- Fusible interfacing (front facings, pocket opening area)
- Concealed zip
Cutter's Must
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- From main fabric:
- Back – 2 pieces
- Upper Front – 1 piece on fold
- Inner Front – 1 piece on fold
- Front Facing – 2 pieces
- From lining fabric:
- Inner Front – 1 piece on fold
- Back Lining – 2 pieces
- Pocket Bag – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
Sewing Instructions
- Interface the Front Facing with fusible interfacing. Interface the pocket opening area of the Upper Front.
- Overlock the inner edge of the Front Facing. Place the Upper Front and the Front Facing right sides together and stitch the outer edge. Clip the seam allowances, turn the facing to the wrong side and press. Topstitch 0.2 cm along the edge.
- Stitch the dart on the Upper Front, trim the dart intake to 1 cm and press towards the center. Stitch the section of the diagonal shaped seam of the front.
- Overlock the Pocket Bag along the outer edge from the center to the lower mark. Fold the Upper Front down, place the Pocket Bag right side down on the front, align along the diagonal shaped seam and stitch. Turn the Pocket Bag to the wrong side and press. Topstitch from the side seam to the beginning of the pocket opening.
- Clip the seam allowances along the dart, stopping 5 cm from the apex. Stitch the darts and shaped seam on the Inner Front and on the Inner Front cut from lining. Trim the dart intake to 1 cm.
- Place the Upper Front right side up on the right side of the Inner Front. Stitch the Pocket Bags along the marked lines. Overlock the lower edge of the Inner Front, simultaneously overlocking the Pocket Bags. Secure the pieces along the side edges. Then treat as one piece.
- Place the front and the front lining right sides together and stitch the neckline. Clip the seam allowances, turn to the wrong side and press.
- Stitch the darts on the Back and Back Lining. Press the dart intakes towards the center. Overlock the lower edge of the Back Lining. Place the Back and Back Lining right sides together and stitch the neckline. Clip the seam allowances. Turn the lining to the wrong side and press.
- Stitch the side seams of the main fabric and lining. Overlock and press open the seam allowances.
- Finish the armhole with the lining. Clip the seam allowances, turn the lining to the wrong side and press. Stitch the shoulder seams, inserting the front pieces between the main fabric and lining of the back.
- Overlock the center back seam separately on each piece. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom, press open the seam allowances. Insert the zipper.
- Overlock the hem allowance, fold to the wrong side and hem with blind stitches.
