Asymmetric Collar Short Sleeve Belted Dress
Discover a chic and modern made-to-measure dress pattern featuring a distinctive asymmetric collar, practical patch pockets, and a flattering belted waist.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is perfect for a range of occasions, offering both style and comfort:
- Office & Professional Settings: Its tailored silhouette and modest length make it ideal for workwear.
- Smart Casual Gatherings: Easily dressed up or down for lunches, brunches, or daytime events.
- Everyday Elegance: a comfortable yet polished choice for daily wear that requires a touch of sophistication.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a straight, slightly fitted silhouette that gently skims the body, defining the waist.
Neckline & Collar: a prominent, standing asymmetric collar wraps around the neckline, secured by three decorative buttons on the right shoulder.
Closure: a concealed zipper closure for a smooth and clean finish.
Sleeves: Short, simple set-in sleeves ending mid-bicep for a classic, comfortable fit.
Pockets: Two large, rounded patch pockets are strategically placed on the lower front for both style and utility.
Waist: Defined by a separate belt, threaded through six belt loops (three front, three back), cinching the waist for a flattering shape.
Back: Features a clean center back seam, waist darts for shaping, and a back vent for ease of movement.
Length: a sophisticated knee-length hem, offering a modest and elegant appeal.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in constructing an asymmetric collar, setting sleeves, inserting a concealed zipper, creating patch pockets, and forming a back vent.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose structured yet comfortable dress fabrics that hold shape well:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
- Cotton
- Thin denim
Additional Supplies
- Concealed zipper
- Fusible interfacing
- Lining fabric for pockets
- 7 buttons
- Leather belt, 4 cm wide (to be purchased)
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 dress bottom and sleeve bottom – 2.0 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 (do not forget to account for paired and symmetrical pieces). Markings on patterns are on the right side.
- From main fabric:
- Upper back - 2 pieces
- Lower back - 2 pieces
- Upper front – 1 piece
- Lower front - 1 piece
- Yoke — 1 piece
- Pocket — 2 pieces
- Belt loop — 6 pieces
- Collar — 2 pieces
- Sleeve - 2 pieces
- From lining:
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- Stitch the belt loop to the pocket lining. Press the seam open. Fold the pocket with the lining right sides together and stitch along the contour, leaving the side edge open. Clip curves, trim corners, turn pieces right side out and press. Topstitch 0.5 cm from the edge.
- Fold the remaining belt loop pieces in pairs right sides together and stitch along the contour, leaving the bottom edge open. Trim corners, turn pieces right side out and press. Topstitch 0.5 cm from the edge.
- Stitch darts on back pieces. Press darts towards the center seam. Stitch upper and lower back parts, inserting belt loops into the seam. Belt loops are positioned in the middle of the dart. Press seam down and overlock. Topstitch belt loops along the transverse mark.
- On both lower back pieces, reinforce the vent from the wrong side. On the right side, mark the center seam line (vent fold line). Stitch the center back edge up to the vent corner. Clip the vent seam allowance corner. Overlock the center back seam and vent allowances separately. Press center seam allowances to the left side. Press the right side of the vent 1 cm to the wrong side and topstitch. Press vent allowances towards the left side seam and topstitch along the top with a machine stitch.
- Stitch darts on front pieces. Press waist darts towards the center front, bust darts - upwards. Stitch upper and lower front parts. Press seam down and overlock.
- Mark the pocket attachment line on the lower front, and a transverse mark at the dart level on the upper front. Topstitch the pocket along the outer contour up to the transverse mark and along it.
- Reinforce the placket allowance for the closure only on the front piece. Overlock and press the placket allowance on the front and on the yoke. Secure the front to the yoke along the armhole line.
- Stitch shoulder seams and the right side seam, press allowances towards the back and overlock. Overlock the left side seam separately and stitch, leaving the section between the marks unstitched. Press the seam open, pressing the zipper opening. Insert the zipper.
- Fold collar pieces right sides together and stitch the ends and the outer edge of the collar. Start and end stitching strictly at the marked collar attachment seam line. Turn the finished collar right side out, straighten corners and press. Stitch the outer edge of the collar to the neckline, aligning the round mark on the collar with the center back seam. Press the seam towards the collar. Turn under the open inner edge of the collar and topstitch into the collar attachment seam. Topstitch 0.5 cm from the collar edge. Secure the front and yoke together along the collar attachment seam.
- Stitch the sleeve edge. Press the seam and overlock. Set sleeves into armholes, aligning notches. Press the seam and overlock.
- Overlock the hem allowance for the dress bottom and sleeve bottom, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
- On the front and belt loops, sew buttons through according to markings. Thread the strap through the belt loops.
