Fitted Dress with Overlapping Collar
Elegant and precisely tailored, this women's sewing pattern creates a fitted sleeveless dress featuring a unique, artfully overlapped collar construction.
When To Wear
This refined dress is perfect for occasions where sophisticated style and a polished presentation are desired, making it an excellent choice for:
- Professional Settings: Ideal for office wear, business meetings, or corporate events where a sharp, contemporary look is essential.
- Semi-Formal Gatherings: Suitable for cocktail parties, dinner engagements, or gallery openings where elegance without excessive formality is key.
- Special Occasions: a distinctive option for celebrations, significant appointments, or any event calling for a memorable and chic ensemble.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted through the bodice and waist, gently tapering to a knee-length pencil skirt.
Neckline & Collar: a striking asymmetrical neckline featuring an intricately designed overlapping collar that creates a soft, sculptural drape across the decolletage.
Sleeves: Sleeveless design with neatly finished armholes, providing a clean and elegant shoulder line.
Closure: Invisible zipper closure discreetly placed along the center back seam for a seamless finish.
Back: a defined center back seam, extending to a walking slit at the hem, ensures ease of movement and a tailored fit.
Length: Classic knee-length hem, suitable for a variety of formal and professional environments.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. This pattern requires precision in fitting, dart construction, assembling the multi-part overlapping collar, inserting an invisible zipper, and finishing with facings.
Fabric Recommendations
To achieve the best drape and structure for this dress, we recommend:
- Soft dress fabrics crafted from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Invisible zipper
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Back – 2 qty
- Front – 1 qty
- Left of collar – 2 qty
- Right of collar – 2 qty
- Lower of collar – 2 qty
- Back facing - 1 qty
- Front facing - 1 qty
- From fusible interfacing:
- Left of collar – 1 qty
- Right of collar – 1 qty
- Lower of collar – 1 qty
- Back facing - 1 qty
- Front facing - 1 qty
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse fusible interfacing to the pattern pieces.
- Stitch darts on the back pieces. Press darts towards the center edge.
- Serge the center edges of the back separately. Stitch the center seam of the back from the top to the slit notch. Press seam allowances open, pressing the slit.
- Stitch darts on the front piece, press waist dart depths towards the center, bust darts upwards.
- Stitch the shoulder seam allowances of the dress, press seam allowances towards the back and serge.
- Fold the lower collar pieces right sides together and stitch along the outer edge. Clip seam allowances at curves, turn the piece right side out, and press.
- Stitch the right collar to the left along the center seam, press seam allowances open. Fold the collar pieces right side together and stitch the outer edge. Clip seam allowances at curves, turn the piece right side out, and press.
- Topstitch the lower collar onto the neckline 0.5 cm from the edge. Topstitch the main collar onto the neckline 0.5 cm from the edge, overlapping the right side over the left (refer to the technical drawing).
- Stitch the shoulder and right side seam allowances of the facings. Press seam allowances open. Serge the left side and outer edge of the facing. Place the dress and facing right sides together and stitch the neckline. Clip seam allowances at curves and corners, turn the facing out, straighten, and press. Stitch the armhole in two steps: first the back, then the front. Clip seam allowances at curves, turn out, and press. Fold back the collars and stitch a securing seam through all layers along the neckline 0.5 from the seam.
- Turn the armhole facings to lie flat with the side edge. Serge the left side edges and facing edges separately, stitch them from the facing edge to the first notch and from the second notch to the bottom. Press seam allowances open, pressing the slit. Insert the zipper. Stitch the right side edge, press seam allowances towards the back and serge. Secure the facing to the garment at the right side and center seam allowances. Attach the facing to the zipper tape.
- Serge the bottom edge of the dress, press to the wrong side, and hem with blind stitches.
