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#4995
#4998

Short Sleeve Dropped Waist Pleated Dress

Pattern #4996
Tech. Description

Short Sleeve Dropped Waist Pleated Dress

Introducing a chic women's sewing pattern for a short-sleeve dress featuring elegant princess seams, a dropped waist, and a charming pleated skirt.

When To Wear:

  • Office & Professional Settings: Its refined silhouette makes it perfect for a polished work wardrobe.
  • Daytime Events & Social Gatherings: A comfortable yet stylish choice for brunches, luncheons, or cultural outings.
  • Smart Casual Evenings: Easily dressed up for less formal dinners or relaxed evening events.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: A fitted bodice with elegant princess seams transitions to a gently flared, pleated skirt from a dropped waistline.

Neckline: A classic round neckline, designed for a clean finish.

Closure: An invisible zipper closure is set into the center back seam for a smooth and discreet appearance.

Sleeves: Short, set-in sleeves offer comfortable arm coverage.

Decorative Detail: Two prominent decorative tabs with button accents are positioned at the front, highlighting the dropped waist seam.

Back: The back features vertical princess seams and a center back seam with the invisible zipper, leading down to the pleated skirt section.

Waist: A distinct dropped waist seam provides a modern silhouette, connecting the bodice to the skirt.

Length: The dress finishes above the knee, offering a contemporary and versatile length.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Requires confident sewing skills, including pleat formation, princess seam construction, invisible zipper insertion, and setting sleeves and facings.

Fabric Recommendations

For optimal drape and structure, we recommend dress-weight fabrics with a good hand:

  • Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers

Additional Supplies

  • Invisible zipper
  • Fusible interfacing
  • 2 buttons

Women's fitted dress, cut at the waistline, with set-in sleeves, above-knee length. Front and back feature princess seams. The bottom of the skirt has inverted pleats. The back has a center seam with a zipper closure. The neckline is rounded and finished with a facing. The sleeves are short and set-in. Straps are sewn into the side seams and fasten with buttons.

Fabric & Materials

Fabric recommendations: dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers. You will also need: a concealed zipper; fusible interfacing; 2 buttons.

Cutter's Must

If the patterns have a double contour, they include seam allowances. If the contour is single, the patterns do not include seam allowances. Seam allowances: all seams 1 cm. Hem allowance for the garment bottom and sleeve bottom – 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 parts).

  • From main fabric:
    • Center back – 2 pieces
    • Side back – 2 pieces
    • Side front – 2 pieces
    • Center front – 1 piece on fold
    • Lower back - 1 piece on fold
    • Lower front - 1 piece on fold
    • Sleeve – 2 pieces
    • Back neckline facing - 2 pieces
    • Front neckline facing - 1 piece
    • Strap – 2 pieces
  • From fusible interfacing:
    • Back neckline facing - 2 pieces
    • Front neckline facing - 1 piece
    • Strap – 2 pieces

Sewing Instructions

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

  1. Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
  2. Stitch the back princess seams, press allowances towards the center and serge. Serge the center back edges separately. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the bottom, press allowances open. Insert the zipper.
  3. Stitch the front princess seams, press allowances towards the center and serge.
  4. On the lower back and front parts, create and secure inverted pleats. Stitch the upper and lower back and front parts together, press allowances upwards and serge.
  5. Fold the strap piece lengthwise in half, right sides together, and stitch the long and shaped sides. Trim allowances, turn the strap right side out, shape, and press. Serge the buttonhole.
  6. Stitch the shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and serge. Stitch the side seams, inserting the straps, press allowances towards the back and serge.
  7. Stitch the shoulder seams of the neckline facings, press allowances open. Serge the outer edge. Place the facing on the garment, right sides together, and stitch the neckline edge. Turn the facing to the wrong side, shape, and press. Secure the facing to the main garment at the shoulder seams and center back seam.
  8. Stitch the sleeve seam, press allowances and serge. Set the sleeves into the armholes, matching notches, press allowances and serge.
  9. Serge the bottom edge of the dress and sleeves, press to the wrong side and topstitch.
  10. Sew on buttons corresponding to the buttonholes.

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