Square Neck Puff Sleeve Empire Dress

Name: Square Neck Puff Sleeve Empire Dress
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 4924
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #4924

A women's midi dress with a square neckline, a princess-seamed bodice joined to a pleated skirt under the bust, short puff sleeves with buttoned cuffs and pockets in the side seams. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Square Neck Puff Sleeve Empire Dress

A women's midi dress with a square neckline, a princess-seamed bodice joined to a pleated skirt under the bust, short puff sleeves with buttoned cuffs and pockets in the side seams.

When To Wear

In summer for daytime wear, with sandals or flat shoes.
For garden parties and family events.
With a cardigan or denim jacket in spring.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted high-waisted bodice with a skirt that widens gradually to the hem.

Length: Midi, below the knee.

Neckline: Square neckline finished with an interfaced facing, secured to the zipper tape at the back.

Sleeves: Short set-in puff sleeves gathered at the cap and at the lower edge, with a short slit at the sleeve seam and an interfaced cuff closed with one button.

Front: Bodice with a centre front panel and two side panels joined by princess seams.

Skirt: Front skirt cut on the fold with a box pleat at the centre front; back skirt in two halves with pleats turned towards the side seams.

Pockets: In-seam pockets in the side seams.

Back: Princess-seamed bodice and a centre back seam with a concealed zipper.

Finishing: Hem turned up and finished with blind stitches.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Princess seams, pleats set into a high waist seam, in-seam pockets, a concealed zipper, a faced square neckline and gathered sleeves with buttoned cuffs.

Fabric Recommendations

Dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Concealed zipper
Fusible interfacing (cuffs, neckline facings)
2 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; hem allowance for the dress bottom – 2.0 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 (don't forget to account for paired and symmetrical pieces). When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!

From main fabric:
- Center back - 2 pieces
- Center front - 1 piece
- Side back – 2 pieces
- Side front – 2 pieces
- Back skirt – 2 pieces
- Front skirt – 1 piece on fold
- Sleeve - 2 pieces
- Cuff – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece
- Pocket bag – 4 pieces
From fusible interfacing:
- Cuff – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 2 pieces
- Front neckline facing – 1 piece

Sewing Instructions

Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
Stitch the princess seams on the back pieces, overlock the allowances and press towards the center. Form and secure the pleats on the back skirt (depths directed towards the side seam). Attach the back skirt to the upper. Overlock the allowances and press upwards. Attach the pocket bag to the back skirt, overlock the allowances and press towards the pocket bag.
Overlock the center back edges separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom. Press the allowances open. Insert the concealed zipper.
Stitch the princess seams on the front pieces, overlock the allowances and press towards the center. Form and secure the pleats on the front skirt (center box pleat). Attach the skirt to the upper. Overlock the allowances and press upwards. Attach the pocket bag to the front, overlock the allowances and press towards the pocket bag.
Stitch the shoulder seams. Overlock the allowances and press towards the back.
Stitch the side seams, simultaneously stitching the pocket bags. Overlock the allowances and press towards the front.
Stitch the shoulder seams of the neckline facings. Press the allowances open. Overlock the outer edge. Place the facing on the dress right sides together and stitch the neckline. Clip the allowances, trim at curves, turn the facing to the wrong side and press. Secure the facing to the zipper tape.
Overlock the sleeve edges separately. Along the sleeve cap and lower sleeve edge, stitch with loosened upper thread and gather. Stitch the sleeve seam from the top to the mark, press the allowances open. Stitch to secure the slit 0.2 cm from the edge. Set the sleeves into the armholes matching notches, press the allowances, overlock.
Fold the cuff in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the short sides and the step. Turn the cuff right side out, shape, and press. Attach the outer cuff to the lower edge of the sleeve, press the allowances towards the cuff. Turn the allowance of the inner cuff inwards and topstitch into the seam of the outer cuff attachment.
Overlock the hem allowance of the dress, press to the wrong side and hem with blind stitches.
Buttonhole the cuffs. Sew on buttons.