Two-Part Panel Shift Dress

Name: Two-Part Panel Shift Dress
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 4607
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #4607

A women's above-knee shift dress with short set-in sleeves, princess seams front and back, in-seam pockets with decorative buttons, and a dropped seam at hip level joining a lower part in a second colour. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres in two colours: one for the upper part, sleeves and pocket bags, one for the lower part.

Tech. Description

Two-Part Panel Dress

When To Wear

To the office and for daytime appointments, in spring, summer and early autumn.
On its own with flat shoes or loafers; over thin tights in cooler weather.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Straight shift shape, fitted by princess seams running from the armholes on the front and back.

Length: Above the knee.

Neckline: Round neckline finished with an interfaced facing that is tacked to the shoulder seams and the zipper tape.

Sleeves: Short, one-piece, set-in sleeves with a 1.5 cm topstitched hem.

Front: Centre front seam and a horizontal bust dart on each centre front panel, pressed upwards.

Pockets: In-seam pockets set into the front princess seams, each marked with a decorative button.

Back: Princess seams and a centre back seam with an invisible zipper.

Skirt: The lower front and lower back are each cut in one piece from the contrast fabric and joined to the upper part with a horizontal seam at hip level, allowances pressed upwards.

Finishing: 2 cm hem, overlocked and topstitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Princess seams with pocket bags sewn in at the same time, an invisible zipper, a faced neckline and set-in sleeves.

Fabric Recommendations

Dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres in two colours: one for the upper part, sleeves and pocket bags, one for the lower part.

Additional Supplies

Invisible zipper
Fusible interfacing (neck facings)
2 decorative buttons

Cutter's Must

If the patterns have a double contour, seam allowances are included. If the contour is single, the patterns are without seam allowances. Seam allowances: all seams 1 cm; dress hem allowance – 2 cm; sleeve hem allowance – 1.5 cm. Attention! First, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90cm to 150cm) to determine how much material you will need (do not forget to account for paired and symmetrical pieces).

From main fabric (color 1):

Center Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Center Front – 2 pieces
Side Front – 2 pieces
Sleeve – 2 pieces
Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
Front Neck Facing – 1 piece
Pocket Bag – 4 pieces

From main fabric 2 (contrast color):

Lower Front – 1 piece
Lower Back – 1 piece

From fusible interfacing:

Front Neck Facing – 1 piece
Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces

Sewing Instructions

When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!

Fuse interfacing to the facing pieces.
Stitch the princess seams on the back pieces (Center Back to Side Back). Overlock the allowances and press them towards the center. Overlock the center back seam allowances separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark downwards. Press the allowances open, also pressing the zipper opening. Insert the zipper. Attach the Lower Back. Overlock the allowance and press it upwards.
Stitch the dart on each Center Front. Press the dart depth upwards. Stitch the center front seam. Overlock the allowance and press it to the left side.
Place the Pocket Bags on the right side of the Center Front and Side Front pieces at the pocket openings and stitch. Overlock the attaching seam on the side front. Stitch the princess seams of the front, stitching the pocket bag edges together at the same time. Overlock the allowances and press them towards the center. Stitch the upper front to the Lower Front. Overlock the allowance and press it upwards.
Stitch the side and shoulder seams, press the allowances towards the back and overlock.
Stitch the shoulder seams of the facings, press the allowances open. Overlock the outer edge. Place the dress and facings right sides together, aligning the neckline edges. Stitch the neckline edge. Tack the facing to the shoulder seams and to the zipper tape.
Stitch the sleeve seam. Overlock the allowance and press it towards the back. Set the sleeves into the armholes, matching the notches. Overlock the allowances.
Overlock the hem allowances of the dress and sleeves, press them to the wrong side and topstitch. Sew the decorative buttons onto the front pockets.