Fitted Strap Dress with Back Vent

Name: Fitted Strap Dress with Back Vent
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 4944
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #4944

A close-fitting women's strap dress below the knee, with a sweetheart neckline, princess seams front and back, a centre back vent and a concealed zipper. The strap length is set at the fitting. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Fitted Strap Dress with Back Vent

A close-fitting women's strap dress below the knee, with a sweetheart neckline, princess seams front and back, a centre back vent and a concealed zipper. The strap length is set at the fitting.

When To Wear

In summer on its own, or over a fine top or blouse.
With a jacket or cardigan for the office.
For evening events and dinners.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted through the bust, waist and hips, narrowing towards the hem.

Length: Below the knee.

Neckline: Sweetheart front, straight across the back; finished with an interfaced facing.

Straps: Folded and turned straps topstitched 0.2 cm from the edges, set into the front facing seam with a small pleat and stitched to the back facing above the princess seams after fitting.

Front: Centre front panel and two side fronts joined by princess seams running to the hem.

Back: Princess seams and a centre back seam ending in a vent; the vent is reinforced with interfacing.

Closure: Concealed zipper in the centre back seam.

Finishing: Facing secured to the princess and side seam allowances; hem turned up 3 cm and topstitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. A centre back vent, a concealed zipper and a shaped facing with the straps caught into the seam.

Fabric Recommendations

Dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Fusible interfacing (facings, vent)
Concealed zipper

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
- Center back – 2 pieces
- Side back – 2 pieces
- Center front - 1 piece
- Side front – 2 pieces
- Strap - 2 pieces
- Back facing – 2 pieces
- Front facing - 2 pieces
From fusible interfacing:
- Back facing – 2 pieces
- Front facing - 2 pieces

Sewing Instructions

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

Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
Fold the strap lengthwise in half, right sides together, and stitch the long edge. Turn right side out, centering the seam, press. Topstitch at 0.2 cm.
Stitch the back princess seams, press allowances towards the center and overlock.
On both back pieces, reinforce the vent with interfacing on the wrong side. Overlock the center back edge separately on each piece. Overlock the vent allowances. On the right side, mark the center seam line (vent fold line). Press the left along the vent fold line. On the right, press only the allowance of the right side of the vent (1 cm) to the wrong side. Align the pieces along the center seam and secure at the top edge of the vent. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the vent corner. Clip the corner of the vent seam allowance on the right. Press the center seam allowances open, press the vent allowances and secure them with machine stitching. Insert the zipper.
Stitch the front princess seams, press allowances towards the center and overlock.
Stitch the side seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
Stitch the center seam of the front facings, press allowances open. Stitch the side seams of the back and front facings, overlock the bottom edge. Place the facing on the garment, right sides together, and stitch the upper edge, inserting the straps at the front and creating a pleat on them. Clip the allowances, turn the facing to the wrong side, press. Turn the center edges inwards and secure to the zipper tape. Secure the facing to the allowances of the princess seams and side seams.
Put on the dress, adjust the strap length, overlock the lower edges and secure them to the back facing above the princess seams.
Overlock the hem, press to the wrong side and topstitch.