Color-Blocked Dress With Zipper Pockets
Introducing a versatile women's sewing pattern for a contemporary sheath dress, featuring elegant color-blocking across the bodice and functional zipper pockets.
When To Wear
This sophisticated dress is perfectly suited for a variety of occasions, offering both style and comfort for:
- Professional Settings: Its tailored silhouette and clean lines make it ideal for office wear or business casual environments.
- Daytime & Casual Events: a stylish choice for lunches, informal gatherings, or elevated everyday wear.
- Transitional Styling: Easily dressed up or down, making it a reliable piece for moving between different activities in comfort.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a flattering semi-fitted sheath silhouette that offers a chic, modern appeal.
Neckline: a simple and elegant round neckline.
Front Bodice: Distinctive color-blocking with an upper horizontal panel and a central vertical panel, creating a striking visual design.
Sleeves: Comfortable three-quarter length set-in sleeves.
Pockets: Two practical horizontal zipper pockets are integrated into the lower front section, adding both style and utility.
Closure: a concealed zipper closure at the center back ensures a smooth, uninterrupted line.
Back: a clean back design with a central seam extending to a functional back vent at the hem for ease of movement.
Length: An above-knee length, balancing professionalism with contemporary style.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. This project involves color-blocking, setting in sleeves, installing zipper pockets, and a concealed back zipper, requiring moderate sewing experience.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose fabrics with a good drape and structure to best showcase the design details:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
- Knitwear with medium or low stretch from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- One concealed zipper
- Two decorative zippers
- 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: all seams 1 cm. Hem allowance for the dress bottom – 3.0 cm; slit allowance – 6 cm; sleeve hem allowance – 2 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 details). When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- From main fabric:
- Back – 2 pieces
- Front yoke – 1 piece
- Placket – 1 piece
- Lower front - 1 piece
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing - 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing - 1 piece
- From knitwear:
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back neckline facing - 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing - 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the facing pieces.
- Stitch shoulder and waist darts on the back pieces, press dart depths towards the center of the pieces.
- Overlock the center back seam separately on each piece. On the left back piece, cut 5 cm along the vertical edge of the slit. On both back pieces, fuse 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 allowance of the right side of the slit (6 cm) to the wrong side. Align the pieces along the center seam and secure at the top edge of the slit. Overlock the slit allowances. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the slit corner. Clip the corner of the slit seam allowance on the right. Press open the center seam allowances, press the slit allowances and secure them with machine stitching. Insert the zipper.
- Mark the pocket placement on the lower front. Refine the pocket opening line. Cut the pocket opening. Make diagonal cuts 1-1.5 cm from the end of the pocket. Turn the pocket allowances to the wrong side through the opening, straighten the edges. Adjust the end of the pocket from the wrong side. Place the zipper under the edges of the pocket opening so that the teeth are visible. Stitch the zipper.
- Attach the placket to the middle front parts, press allowances towards the placket and overlock.
- Attach the yoke to the middle front, press allowances towards the yoke and overlock. Attach the lower front to the middle, press allowances upwards and overlock.
- Stitch side and shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch shoulder seams of neckline facings, press allowances open. Overlock the outer edge. Place the facing with the garment right sides together and stitch the neckline edge. Turn the facing to the wrong side, straighten, press. Secure the facing to the main garment at the shoulder seams and center back seam.
- Stitch the sleeve seam, press allowances and overlock. Set sleeves into armholes, matching notches, press allowances and overlock.
- Overlock the bottom edge of the dress and sleeve, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
