Asymmetrical Paneled Sheath Dress
Elegant and eye-catching, this women's sheath dress pattern features striking asymmetrical front panels, a defined waist, and a modern, tailored silhouette.
When To Wear
This sophisticated sheath dress is perfect for various occasions where you want to make a stylish impression:
- Professional Settings: Its tailored silhouette and refined design make it ideal for the office or business meetings.
- Cocktail & Semi-Formal Events: The unique asymmetrical paneling and elegant cut lend themselves well to evening gatherings.
- Everyday Chic & Stylish Outings: Versatile enough for a polished look during the day or an upscale dinner.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a tailored sheath silhouette, gently fitted through the bust, waist, and hips.
Neckline: Features an elegant asymmetrical cut-away neckline that creates a unique visual interest.
Front: Characterized by bold, asymmetrical panels that allow for striking color blocking, with a horizontal panel defining the natural waistline.
Sleeves: Three-quarter length set-in sleeves provide a sophisticated and practical finish.
Back: a clean and classic back design, featuring a center back seam for shaping and closure.
Hem: Knee-length with an asymmetrical front hemline, adding a modern touch and visual fluidity.
Closure: An invisible zipper located at the center back ensures a smooth and discreet finish.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires precise panel matching, dart construction, and invisible zipper insertion, along with accurate facing application.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose dress-weight fabrics with some body and stretch to best showcase the paneling and ensure a comfortable fit:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers, ideally with added elastane, in two contrasting or coordinating colors.
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Invisible zipper
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, seam allowances are included. If the contour is single, seam allowances are not included. Seam allowances: all seams 1 cm. Hem allowance for the bottom edge of the garment and sleeve – 2 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). Attention! Markings on the patterns are made on the face side!
- From main fabric:
- Back - 2 pieces
- Upper right front – 1 piece
- Upper left front – 1 piece
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Belt – 1 piece
- Lower central front – 1 piece
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Right front neckline facing – 1 piece
- From main fabric 2:
- Upper central front – 1 piece
- Lower right front – 1 piece
- Lower left front – 1 piece
- Left front neckline facing – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing:
- Right front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Left front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Stitch darts on the back pieces. Overlock the center back edges separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom. Press seam allowances open. Insert the concealed zipper.
- Stitch the left upper princess seam of the front. Overlock seam allowances, press towards the center.
- Stitch the left shoulder seam. Overlock seam allowances and press towards the back. Stitch the left shoulder seam of the front and back neckline facings. Overlock the outer edge. Place the facing on the left of the front and back neckline, right sides together, and stitch. Clip seam allowances, turn the facing out, press the neckline edge.
- Stitch the bust dart on the right front piece. Press the dart depth upwards.
- Stitch the right shoulder seam. Overlock seam allowances and press towards the back.
- Stitch the shoulder seam of the right neckline facings. Overlock the outer edge. Place the right facing on the neckline, right side in, and stitch the neckline, simultaneously stitching the right princess seam. The left of the neckline is between the facing and the upper right front piece. Turn pieces to the right side, press. Hand stitch the center edges of the back neckline facings to the zipper tape.
- Overlock the bottom allowance of the lower left front piece, fold inwards, and topstitch. Attach the side pieces to the lower central front piece. Overlock seam allowances and press towards the center. Attach the belt to the lower of the dress. Overlock seam allowance and press upwards. Stitch the belt and the upper of the dress. Overlock seam allowances and press towards the belt.
- Stitch the side seams. The left side seam of the back is longer than the front by the width of the seam allowance. Press seam allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch the sleeve seams. Overlock seam allowances and press towards the back. Set sleeves into armholes. Overlock seam allowances and press.
- Overlock the bottom edge of the garment and sleeves. Press seam allowances to the wrong side and topstitch.
