V-Neck Peplum Bow Dress
A fitted women's dress with a V-neck, lined cap sleeves and a waist seam. A gathered fabric bow is threaded through a loop at the centre front waist, and peplum pieces set into the lower back seams curve round to the front.
When To Wear
- For the office, under a jacket or on its own.
- For daytime celebrations and dinners in warm weather.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted sheath, with a seam at the waist.
Length: Just above the knee.
Neckline: V-neck at the front, high round neck at the back, faced with the lining.
Sleeves: Lined cap sleeves.
Front: Upper front in three parts: a centre panel with the V-neck and two side panels joined by seams running from the shoulders down to the waist. The lower front is one piece shaped with darts.
Back: Centre back seam; the upper back has darts at the centre panels and princess seams, the lower back continues the princess seams.
Waist: A strip turned into a loop is caught in the waist seam at the centre front; the bow, gathered across its middle, is threaded through it and secured. The double-layer peplum pieces are stitched into the lower back princess seams and caught to the skirt along the waist.
Closure: Invisible zipper in the centre back seam.
Finishing: Centre back vent at the hem, interfaced, with 6 cm vent allowance; hem blind-stitched.
Lining: Bodice and sleeves lined; neckline and armholes finished with the lining.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Princess seams, a lined bodice attached at the neckline around an invisible zipper, a back vent, peplum pieces set into seams and a made bow.
Fabric Recommendations
Dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric
- Invisible zipper
- Fusible interfacing (back vent)
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- 1. Central upper back - 2 pieces
- 2. Side upper back - 2 pieces
- 3. Central lower back - 2 pieces
- 4. Side lower back - 2 pieces
- 5. Central upper front - 1 piece
- 6. Side upper front - 2 pieces
- 7. Lower front - 1 piece
- 8. Flounce - 4 pieces
- 9. Sleeve - 2 pieces
- 10. Bow – 1 piece
- 11. Bridge – 1 piece
- From lining fabric:
- 1. Central upper back - 2 pieces
- 2. Side upper back - 2 pieces
- 3. Central upper front - 1 piece
- 4. Side upper front - 2 pieces
- 5. Sleeve - 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Stitch darts on the lower front, press seam allowances towards the center. Stitch darts on the central upper back, press seam allowances towards the center.
- Stitch the princess seams on the upper back and front pieces. Press seam allowances towards the center and overlock. Stitch the side and shoulder seams of the upper, press seam allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Fold the flounce pieces right sides together and stitch the outer edge. Turn the piece right side out, straighten, and press.
- Stitch the princess seams of the lower back, inserting the flounce. Press seam allowances towards the center and overlock. Stitch the side seams of the lower, press seam allowances towards the back and overlock. Secure the flounce to the lower of the dress along the upper edge.
- Fold the bridge piece in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the long edge. Turn the piece right side out, press, positioning the seam in the middle of the piece. Overlock one of the sides. Fold the bow piece in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the edges, leaving an opening for turning. Turn the piece right side out, press, and sew the opening closed. Stitch across the bow with loosely tensioned stitches and gently gather.
- Stitch the upper and lower parts of the dress, inserting the bridge with the un-overlock side, press seam allowances upwards and overlock. Turn under the overlock edge of the bridge and stitch to the front. Thread the bow through the bridge and secure.
- On the left central lower back, cut 5 cm along the vertical slit edge. On both central lower back pieces, apply fusible interfacing to the slit from the wrong side. On the right side, mark the center seam line (slit fold line). Press the left along the slit fold line; on the right, press only the seam allowance of the right side of the slit (6 cm) to the wrong side. Align the pieces along the center seam and secure along the upper edge of the slit. Overlock the center back seam separately on each piece. Overlock the slit seam allowances. Stitch the center back seam from the fastener mark to the slit corner. Clip the corner of the slit seam allowance on the right. Press the center seam seam allowances open, press the slit seam allowances and secure them on the right side with machine stitching. Insert the zipper.
- Fold the sleeve with the lining right sides together and stitch the lower edge. Turn the sleeve right side out, press. Set the sleeves into the armholes, matching the notches. Press the seam allowances.
- Stitch the lining pieces similarly to the main fabric pieces. Overlock the lower edge. Fold the dress with the lining face to face, aligning the neckline edges. Stop 5 mm before the edges of the concealed fastener, fold back the lining and pin it to the upper edge of the dress. On the right side of the dress, fold back the seam allowances along the zipper and pin to the neckline edge over the lining. Stitch the neckline edge. Clip the seam at the curves, turn the pieces right side out, and press. Topstitch the seam seam allowances to the lining. Attach the lining to the zipper tape. Stitch the armhole edges, clip the seam allowances, turn the piece right side out, and press. Secure the lower edge of the lining to the dress.
- Overlock the hem seam allowance of the dress, press to the wrong side, and hem with blind stitches.
