V-Neck Tulip Hem Dress
This elegant made-to-measure dress pattern features a sophisticated V-neckline, striking split bell sleeves, and a unique tulip hem for a flattering, contemporary silhouette.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is designed for various occasions, making it an ideal choice for:
- Professional Settings: Its polished design is perfect for office wear or business meetings.
- Cocktail & Social Events: The distinctive sleeves and hem make it suitable for semi-formal gatherings.
- Special Occasions: a refined choice for celebratory events or sophisticated dinners.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a fitted, knee-length silhouette defined by princess seams and a waistline seam, creating a tailored shape.
Neckline: a flattering V-neckline crafted with a shaped facing for a clean and smooth finish.
Sleeves: Long set-in sleeves with a seam below the elbow; the lower sleeve is pleated and its back edge overlaps the front, forming a distinctive split bell (petal) shape that adds a touch of modern drama.
Hem: a unique tulip hem at the front, formed by the curved, topstitched edges of the two lower front pieces meeting at a center front seam, with a straight hem at the back.
Waist: a defined waistline seam combined with princess seams on the bodice and on the back skirt, ensuring a contoured fit.
Back: Princess seams above and below the waist seam and a center back seam with an invisible zipper.
Closure: An invisible zipper closure at the center back ensures a smooth and discreet finish.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires confident sewing skills, including precise seaming for a fitted silhouette, invisible zipper insertion, and detailed construction of the pleated split sleeves and the shaped, topstitched tulip hem.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose fabrics with good drape and body to best showcase the garment's structure:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Invisible zipper
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 back and sleeve bottom - 1.5 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 consider paired and symmetrical pieces). When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- From main fabric:
- Center Upper Back – 2 pieces
- Side Upper Back – 2 pieces
- Center Lower Back – 2 pieces
- Lower Side Back – 2 pieces
- Center Upper Front – 1 piece on fold
- Side Upper Front – 2 pieces
- Lower Front – 2 pieces
- Sleeve (upper sleeve) – 2 pieces
- Lower 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 Front Neckline Facing and Back Neckline Facings.
- Stitch the princess seams of the upper back, press allowances towards the center, serge. Stitch the princess seams of the lower back, press allowances towards the center, serge. Stitch the upper and lower back parts together, press allowances upwards and serge.
- Serge the center back edges separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom, press allowances open. Insert the invisible zipper.
- Stitch the princess seams of the upper front, press allowances towards the center and serge.
- Serge the center and lower edges of the Lower Front pieces separately. Stitch the center front seam of the Lower Front from the top to the mark. Press allowance open, simultaneously pressing the hem allowance. Topstitch the shaped lower front hem allowance to the wrong side and press. At the point where the seam ends and the two fronts separate, stitch a short horizontal bar tack to prevent the fabric from tearing.
- Stitch the upper and lower front parts together, press allowances upwards and serge.
- Stitch the side and shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and serge.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the neckline facings, press allowances open. Serge the outer edge. Place the facing on the garment right sides together and stitch the neckline edge. Clip allowances at curves, turn the facing to the inside, smooth and press. Secure the facing to the main garment at the shoulder seams and zipper tape.
- Stitch the seam of the upper Sleeve. Serge the allowance and press towards the back. Serge the edges of the Lower Sleeve, fold the hem allowance inwards and topstitch. Form and secure the back pleats, with the pleats facing each other. Overlap the back edge of the lower sleeve onto the front edge by 0.5 cm, form the first front pleat, then the back pleat, and so on. Secure the pleats together. Join the Lower Sleeve to the upper Sleeve. Serge the allowance and press upwards.
- Set the sleeves into the armholes, press allowances and serge.
- Serge the lower back edge, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
