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#4995
#4998

Short Sleeve Dropped Waist Pleated Dress

Pattern #4996

A women's above-knee dress with a dropped waist: a fitted bodice with princess seams front and back, a lower skirt section with inverted pleats, short set-in sleeves and two buttoned tabs sewn into the side seams at the front. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Short Sleeve Dropped Waist Pleated Dress

A women's above-knee dress with a dropped waist: a fitted bodice with princess seams front and back, a lower skirt section with inverted pleats, short set-in sleeves and two buttoned tabs sewn into the side seams at the front.

When To Wear

  • Office and daytime wear in spring and summer.
  • In a heavier dress fabric, over a thin top or with tights in cooler weather.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted bodice that extends below the waist to a dropped waist seam; the pleats give the lower part a gentle flare.

Length: Above the knee.

Neckline: Round, finished with an interfaced facing.

Sleeves: Short, set-in.

Front: Centre front cut on the fold with side front pieces joined by princess seams; two tabs with a shaped end and a buttonhole, sewn into the side seams at the dropped waist line and buttoned onto the front.

Closure: Concealed zipper in the centre back seam.

Back: Centre back seam and princess seams.

Skirt: Lower front and lower back each cut on the fold, with inverted pleats; joined to the bodice at the dropped waist seam, allowances pressed up.

Finishing: Hems of the dress and sleeves turned up 2 cm and topstitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Princess seams front and back, a concealed zipper, inverted pleats, a neckline facing and tabs with buttonholes.

Fabric Recommendations

Dress fabrics of natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

  • Concealed zipper
  • Fusible interfacing (neckline facings, tabs)
  • 2 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.

Order Pattern

Standard Sizes

Individual Measurements

Please double-check the file format and paper size. Your pattern is drafted in exactly the format you select; a different format or paper size later is a new order.

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