Fitted Sleeveless Dress with Pleated Bodice

CUTTER'S MUST

• From main fabric:
1. FRONT PANEL – 2 QTY
2. BACK PANEL – 2 QTY
3. FRONT SKIRT HALF – 1 QTY on fold
4. BACK SKIRT HALF – 1 QTY on fold
• From LINING fabric:
1. FRONT PANEL – 2 QTY
2. BACK PANEL – 2 QTY

LINING pieces are cut according to the main fabric patterns.

Sewing Instructions

1. On the FRONT PANEL, mark and stitch the pleats along the marked line. Press the upper and middle pleats downwards, press the lower pleat towards the side seam. Stitch the center edge of the FRONT PANEL. The stitching should start strictly at the marked neckline. Press SEAM ALLOWANCES open. Process the LINING pieces in the same way.
2. On the BACK PANEL, stitch the darts. Press the darts towards the center edge. Stitch the center edge of the BACK PANEL. The stitching should start strictly at the marked neckline. Press SEAM ALLOWANCES open. Process the LINING pieces in the same way.
3. Place the FRONT PANEL and LINING right sides together and stitch the armhole and neckline edges. Clip the SEAM ALLOWANCES at curves, turn the pieces right side out and press.
4. Place the BACK PANEL and LINING right sides together and stitch the armhole and neckline edges. Clip the SEAM ALLOWANCES at curves.
5. Insert the shoulder edges of the FRONT PANEL between the shoulder edges of the main fabric and LINING of the BACK PANEL. Stitch the shoulder edges. Turn the pieces right side out and press.
6. Place the right SIDE PANEL edge of the BACK PANEL with the right SIDE PANEL edge of the FRONT PANEL (without LINING), align the armhole line and stitch, continuing the seam onto the LINING pieces. Press SEAM ALLOWANCES open. Turn the pieces right side out and press.
7. Similarly, place the pieces along the left SIDE PANEL edge. Stitch the section between the NOTCHES on the LINING pieces and on the main fabric pieces. Press SEAM ALLOWANCES open. Turn the pieces right side out and press.
8. On the FRONT SKIRT HALF, create 2 double inverted pleats. Secure the pleats along the upper edge and press for 1/3 of their length. Similarly, create pleats on the BACK SKIRT HALF.
9. On the skirt pieces, stitch, press, and overcast the right SIDE PANEL edge. Overcast the left SIDE PANEL edge separately, stitch from the NOTCH to the bottom, and press open.
10. Stitch the BODICE to the skirt only on the main fabric pieces. Press SEAM ALLOWANCES upwards. Insert the ZIPPER only on the main fabric pieces. Press SEAM ALLOWANCES.
11. Fold the bottom edge of the LINING inwards and topstitch into the skirt attachment seam. Fold the left SIDE PANEL edge of the LINING and sew it to the ZIPPER tape.
12. Overcast the bottom edge of the garment, fold it, and hem with blind stitches. The dress is recommended to be worn with a thin contrasting belt.