Collared Button-Front Midi Dress
A charming and versatile women's sewing pattern for a midi-length dress featuring a classic collared neckline, a long button-front closure, and a gracefully flared skirt.
When To Wear
This dress offers a blend of comfort and style, making it perfect for a variety of occasions:
- Casual Outings: Ideal for daily wear, brunches, or relaxed gatherings.
- Smart-Casual Workwear: a comfortable yet polished option for office environments or business casual settings.
- Warm-Weather Events: Excellent for summer picnics, garden parties, or vacation wear.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a comfortable, relaxed-fit bodice that transitions into a defined, gathered waist, flowing into a full, a-line midi skirt.
Neckline & Collar: Features a notched collar with lapels, creating an open V-neckline.
Closure: a functional button-front closure with 8 buttons runs from the lapel down through the bodice and skirt, ending above the hem; the front edge is finished with facings.
Sleeves: Short sleeves cut in one with the bodice, finished with a turned-up cuff.
Waist: a clearly defined waistline with soft gathers in both the front and back for shaping and comfort.
Back: The upper back is cut on the fold with an inverted pleat at the center and gathers at the waist; the lower back has a center back seam.
Length: a stylish midi length, falling to mid-calf, offering elegant coverage.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. This pattern involves skills such as collar and lapel construction, buttonholes, precise gathering, and attaching facings.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose dress fabrics that offer good drape and comfort:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- 8 buttons
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Upper Back – 1 piece on fold
- Lower Back – 2 pieces
- Upper Front – 2 pieces
- Lower Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Collar – 2 pieces
- Cuff – 2 pieces
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing:
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Collar – 1 piece
- Cuff – 2 pieces
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse the pieces with fusible interfacing.
- Form and secure the inverted pleat on the Upper Back. Along the lower edge of the Upper Back, stitch with a loosened upper thread and gather.
- Stitch the center seam of the Lower Back, press allowances to the left and overlock. Stitch the Upper Back to the Lower Back, press allowances upwards and overlock.
- Along the lower edge of the Upper Front, stitch with a loosened upper thread and gather.
- Stitch the Upper Front to the Lower Front, press allowances upwards and overlock.
- Stitch shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Place the Collar pieces right sides together and stitch along the ends and outer edge. Start and end stitching strictly at the marked collar attachment seam line. Trim seams at corners, clip at the mark. Turn collar right side out, shape and press.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the Center Front Facings and the Back Neckline Facing, press allowances open. Overlock the outer edge.
- Place the Center Front Facing on the right side of the front, right sides together, pin and stitch along the front edge and lapel. Stitch upwards to the notch indicating the end of collar attachment. Trim seams at corners. Turn front edges right side out, shape seams.
- Attach the lower collar to the neckline of the main garment, and the upper collar to the neckline edge of the Back Neckline Facing and Center Front Facings. Press collar attachment seam allowances open and secure close to the seam.
- Stitch side seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch each Cuff into a ring, press allowances open. Fold the cuff in half lengthwise, right side out. Stitch the cuff to the wrong side of the sleeve edge, overlock allowances. Turn cuff to the right side.
- Press the bottom edge to the wrong side by 1 cm, then by another 1 cm, and topstitch.
- Make buttonholes on the right front; sew buttons on the left front.
