V-Neck Balloon Hem Dress

Name: V-Neck Balloon Hem Dress
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 4145
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #4145

A sleeveless women's dress with a fitted princess-seam bodice, a V-neck at the front, a waist seam trimmed with a folded contrast band and a pleated skirt whose hem is gathered onto a shorter lining to form a balloon shape. Fully lined, invisible zipper at the centre back. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: silk-type fabrics from natural or blended fibres; a contrasting fabric for the waist band.

Tech. Description

V-Neck Balloon Hem Dress

When To Wear

To summer parties, weddings and evening events.
With sandals or heeled shoes in warm weather; with a short jacket or cardigan on cooler evenings.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted bodice, full skirt drawn in at the hem.

Length: Around the knee.

Neckline: V-neck at the front, round neckline at the back, both faced with the lining.

Sleeves: Sleeveless, armholes faced with the lining.

Front: Bodice with princess seams from the armholes; lower front cut in one piece on the fold.

Back: Princess seams; centre back seam through bodice and skirt with an invisible zipper.

Waist: Contrast band folded in half and caught in the waist seam, its upper edge topstitched to the bodice.

Skirt: Pleats stitched on the front and back, turned towards the side seams; the hem is gathered to the length of the lining hem and stitched to it, then shirred with elastic thread along the seam to form the balloon.

Lining: Full lining of bodice and skirt; the dress is turned through an opening in the left side seam of the lining.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Princess seams, an invisible zipper finished with the lining, a bodice lined by the shoulder-pull-through method, and a balloon hem joined to the lining with elastic thread shirring.

Fabric Recommendations

Silk-type fabrics from natural or blended fibres; a contrasting fabric for the waist band.

Additional Supplies

Lining fabric
Contrasting fabric (waist band)
Invisible zipper
Elastic thread

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. Attention! First, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90 cm to 150 cm) to determine how much material you will need. When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match! Attention! Markings on the patterns are given on the right side.

From main fabric:
- Center front piece – 1 piece
- Side front piece – 2 pieces
- Center back piece – 2 pieces
- Side back piece – 2 pieces
- Lower front piece – 1 piece on fold
- Lower back piece – 2 pieces
From lining fabric:
- Center front piece – 1 piece
- Side front piece – 2 pieces
- Center back piece – 2 pieces
- Side back piece – 2 pieces
- Lining for lower front piece – 1 piece
- Lining for lower back piece – 2 pieces
From contrasting fabric:
- Waistband – 1 piece

Bodice lining pieces are cut according to the main fabric patterns.

Sewing Instructions

Stitch the princess seams of the back and front. Press seam allowances towards the center. Stitch the side seams of the bodice. Press seams towards the back.
On the lower back and front pieces, create and stitch pleats according to the markings. The pleat depths are directed towards the side seam. Stitch the side seams of the lower of the dress. Press seams towards the back.
Fold the waistband in half lengthwise, right side out, and press.
Stitch the upper and lower parts of the dress, inserting the waistband into the seam. Press the seam downwards. Topstitch the upper edge of the waistband to the main piece.
Stitch the center back seam from the mark to the bottom. Press seams open. Insert the invisible zipper.
Stitch the princess and side seams of the upper lining, press seams. Stitch the side seams of the lower lining, leaving an opening for turning 15-20 cm long in the left side seam. Press seams towards the back. Stitch the upper and lower parts of the lining. Press seams downwards.
Place the lining with the main garment right sides together and align the armhole and neckline edges. Fold back the lining 5 mm from the edges of the invisible zipper and pin it to the dress neckline. On the right side of the dress, fold back the seam allowances along the zipper and pin them to the neckline edge over the lining. Finish the neckline edge. Fold the seam allowances along the zipper to the wrong side and attach them to the zipper tape. Finish the armhole and front neckline edges. Clip curves, turn pieces right side out, and press.
Insert the shoulder edges of the front piece between the shoulder edges of the main fabric and lining of the back. Stitch the shoulder edges. Turn pieces right side out and press.
On the main fabric pieces, along the lower edge of the skirt, sew a gathering stitch with loosely tensioned stitches and gather. Pull the edge to the length of the lower lining edge, distributing the gathers evenly. Through the opening in the left side seam, turn the skirt to the wrong side and stitch the lower edges of the skirt and lining. Press the seam. Stitch along the lower seam with elastic thread. Turn the skirt right side out.
Stitch along the seam joining the bodice and skirt, securing the main fabric and lining.
Stitch the technical opening in the side seam.