V-Neck Short Raglan Sleeve Dress
A women's knee-length dress in fine knit fabric with short raglan sleeves, a deep V-neckline finished with a wide double-layer neckband, and a centre back seam.
When To Wear
- In summer, for everyday wear and for work.
- On its own or with a cardigan or light jacket in spring and autumn.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Gently shaped at the waist through the side seams, slightly widening to the hem. For knit fabric.
Length: Knee length.
Neckline: Deep V at the front, scooped at the back, finished with a wide band in two layers (outer layer interfaced). The band is set in two halves from the centre front to the centre back seam, so it forms a clean point at the V.
Sleeves: Short raglan sleeves, hems topstitched 2 cm with a twin needle.
Back: Centre back seam; no closure.
Finishing: Neckband seam allowances overlocked together; dress hem topstitched 2 cm with a twin needle.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Simple raglan construction, but the two-layer neckband has to be clipped and set exactly at the point of the V, with a small patch of interfacing to keep the front corner from fraying.
Fabric Recommendations
Fine knit fabrics.
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing (outer neckband and a small patch at the front V)
- Twin needle for the sewing machine
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Front – 1 piece on fold
- Back – 2 pieces
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Neckline Trimming Placket – 2 pieces on fold (outer and inner)
- From fusible interfacing: the outer Neckline Trimming Placket only.
Sewing Instructions
- Press the fusible interfacing to the outer Neckline Trimming Placket (Heat-activated interfacings are pressed to the wrong side of the piece with a hot iron).
- Stitch the center back seam and side seams. Press seam allowances open.
- Stitch the sleeve seams. Press the hem seam allowances of the sleeves to the wrong side and topstitch at 2 cm with a twin needle.
- Set the sleeves into the open armholes. In the upper parts of the armholes, press the seam allowances towards the front and back.
- Fold the outer and inner Neckline Trimming Plackets in half, right sides together, pin and stitch the center back edges. Press seam allowances open.
- Place both neckline band parts right sides together and pin the neckline edges. Stitch. Trim seam allowances close to the stitching, clip to the stitching at curves and along the center front line.
- Turn the neckline band right side out. Baste and press the edge, baste the open edges.
- To prevent the front corner from fraying, press a small piece of interfacing to the wrong side of the front over the marked stitching line for attaching the neckline band.
- Pin the neckline band to the neckline from the center front line to the center back seam, aligning the marked stitching lines of the neckline band and the cross notches. The outer neckline band lies on the right side of the garment.
- Stitch the neckline band, securing the beginning and end of the seam with backstitches. Clip the front seam allowance along the center front line to the last stitch.
- Then pin and stitch the second half of the neckline band to the neckline from the center front line to the center back seam. Secure the beginning and end of the seam with backstitches.
- Overlock the seam allowances of the neckline band attachment together and press towards the front, back, and sleeves.
- Press the hem seam allowance of the dress to the wrong side and topstitch at 2 cm with a twin needle.
