Keyhole Mandarin Collar Dress
This sophisticated women's dress pattern features a distinctive stand collar with a keyhole detail and elegant multi-panel construction, designed to highlight contrasting fabrics.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is an excellent choice for a range of occasions, offering both professionalism and style:
- Office & Business Casual: a refined and polished option for professional environments.
- Semi-Formal Gatherings: Ideal for elegant luncheons, dinners, or cocktail events.
- Special Occasions: Perfect for events where a chic and memorable outfit is desired.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a sleek, fitted sheath silhouette that gently tapers to the knee, creating a flattering and elegant line.
Neckline & Collar: Features a chic stand collar in a Mandarin style, enhanced by a unique front keyhole opening secured with a button loop closure.
Front Detail: Designed with distinctive front paneling, including a central panel perfectly suited for a contrasting fabric, flanked by princess seams for a tailored fit.
Sleeves: Practical elbow-length sleeves, offering elegant coverage and a balanced silhouette.
Back: Constructed with a center back seam and vertical back princess seams to ensure a perfectly tailored fit.
Closure: a discreet zipper is set into the center back seam for a seamless finish.
Length: a versatile knee-length hem, providing classic appeal suitable for various settings.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. This pattern requires careful attention to detail for the precise construction of the stand collar and keyhole opening, accurate zipper insertion, and working with multiple body panels, especially when incorporating contrasting fabrics.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose dress fabrics with a good drape and suitable structure, ideally in two complementary colors or textures:
- Dress fabrics in two colors made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Zipper
- Button
- Fusible interfacing
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, seam allowances are included. If the contour is single, seam allowances are not included. Seam allowances: hem allowance – 2.0 cm, sleeve hem – 2 cm, other 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!
- From main fabric:
- Center back – 2 pieces
- Side back – 2 pieces
- Side front – 2 pieces
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Collar stand 2 pieces
- Neckline facing — 1 piece
- From main fabric 2:
- Center front – 1 piece on fold
- From fusible interfacing:
- Collar stand – 1 piece
- Neckline facing — 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Interface the outer collar stand and neckline facing.
- Stitch and overlock the center back seam. Press the allowance to the left side. Stitch the back princess seam. Overlock the allowance and press towards the center.
- Overlock the lower edge of the neckline facing. Place the facing on the center front and stitch the neckline. Vertically cut the allowance of the 'teardrop' opening. Clip the facing allowance, turn to the wrong side and press. Secure the facing and center along the princess seams. Stitch the front princess seams. Overlock the allowance and press towards the center.
- Stitch the shoulder seams. Overlock the allowances and press towards the back.
- Stitch the right side seam. Overlock the allowance and press towards the back. Stitch the left side seams separately on each piece. Stitch the left side seam from the armhole to the mark and from the mark to the bottom. Press the allowances open, pressing the slit. Insert the zipper.
- Process the loop. Fold the collar stand pieces right sides together and stitch along the upper edge, inserting the loop. Trim the allowances, turn to the right side and press. Stitch the outer collar stand to the neckline. Fold under the allowance of the inner collar stand and topstitch into the seam of the outer collar stand attachment.
- Stitch the sleeve seam. Press and overlock the allowance. Set the sleeves into the armholes, matching the notches. Press and overlock the allowances.
- Overlock the lower edge of the garment and the lower edge of the sleeve. Fold to the wrong side, press and topstitch. Sew the button onto the collar stand.
