High Neck Flared Sleeve Dress
Introducing an elegant dress pattern featuring a high funnel neckline shaped by neckline darts, a choice of two sleeves (flared, or two-piece with a turn-back cuff), and a fitted bodice with a waist seam flowing into a flared midi-length skirt.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is perfect for occasions demanding both elegance and comfort, making it suitable for:
- Work & Business Casual: Its polished design is ideal for professional settings, offering both style and comfort.
- Special Occasions: A chic choice for semi-formal gatherings, dinners, or cultural events.
- Everyday Elegance: Elevate your daily wardrobe with its refined yet comfortable silhouette, easily dressed up or down.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: A tailored bodice gently fitted to the natural waist, transitioning into a gracefully flared A-line skirt.
Neckline: A high funnel neckline cut in one with the bodice and shaped by darts into the neckline on the front and back (no separate collar), finished with a facing.
Sleeves: Two versions, chosen when ordering: one-piece set-in flared sleeves of elbow length with a narrow topstitched hem, or two-piece set-in sleeves finished with a turn-back cuff.
Waist: A clearly defined seam at the natural waist cinches the figure before the skirt begins its flare.
Back: A center back seam with a concealed zipper; neckline darts on the upper back.
Length: Designed to fall to a sophisticated midi length, typically below the knee.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. This pattern requires confident sewing skills including dart construction, concealed zipper insertion, accurate seaming of bodice and skirt, a neckline facing and setting in sleeves.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose medium-weight dress fabrics with good drape that can hold the flared shape of the sleeves and skirt:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Concealed zipper
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Upper Back – 2 pieces
- Lower Back – 2 pieces
- Upper Front – 1 piece
- Lower Front – 1 piece (cut on fold)
- Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Flared sleeve version: Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Cuffed sleeve version: Upper Sleeve – 2 pieces, Lower Sleeve – 2 pieces, Cuff – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Cuff – 2 pieces (cuffed sleeve version)
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Back Neckline Facings and the Front Neckline Facing.
- Stitch the neckline darts on the Upper Back and Upper Front, press the dart intake towards the center.
- Stitch the Upper Back to the Lower Back, press the seam allowances upwards and overlock. Stitch the Upper Front to the Lower Front, press the seam allowances upwards and overlock.
- Overlock the center edges of the back separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom, press seam allowances open. Insert the concealed zipper.
- Stitch side and shoulder seams, press seam allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the Back Neckline Facings and Front Neckline Facing, clip seam allowances at curves and press open. Overlock the outer edge.
- Place the facing on the garment right sides together and stitch the neckline edge. Clip seam allowances, turn the facing to the wrong side, smooth out, and press. Secure the facing to the garment at the shoulder seams and to the zipper tape.
- Flared sleeve: stitch the sleeve seam, press and overlock. Cuffed sleeve: stitch the elbow and front seams of the Upper and Lower Sleeve, press and overlock. Set the sleeves into the armholes according to the notches, easing the sleeve cap, and overlock the seam allowances.
- Cuffed sleeve only: fold the Cuff lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the ends from the fold to the mark; trim the corner, clip at the mark. Join the Cuff into a ring and stitch from the mark to the raw edge. Turn and press. Place the Cuff on the wrong side of the sleeve, matching the cuff seam to the mark, and stitch it to the lower edge; press and overlock the allowances, then turn the Cuff to the right side.
- Overlock the lower edge of the dress (and the hems of the flared sleeves), press 1.2 cm to the wrong side and topstitch.
