Strapless Princess Seam Dress

Name: Strapless Princess Seam Dress
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5201
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5201

A women's strapless dress with a straight upper edge, princess seams and centre seams on the front and back, and a skirt that flares from the hip. Supported by corset tape, closed with a concealed zipper in the left side seam and fully lined. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: thin dress fabrics that hold their shape; the sample is made in taffeta 150 cm wide.

Tech. Description

Strapless Princess Seam Dress

When To Wear

Evening parties, proms and cocktail receptions.
Summer celebrations, with a bolero or shawl over the shoulders.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted through the bust and waist, flared below the hip; eight panels shaped only by seams, with no darts.

Length: About 60 cm from the waist, around the knee.

Neckline: Straight strapless upper edge, finished with the lining.

Sleeves: None.

Front: Centre front seam and two princess seams running from the upper edge to the hem.

Closure: 60 cm concealed zipper in the left side seam.

Back: Centre back seam and two princess seams, matching the front.

Finishing: Seam allowances pressed open. Stiff corset tape cut into five strips and sewn from the upper edge down the allowances of the right side seam, back princess seams, centre back seam and the left edge of the zipper opening. Hem turned under and topstitched.

Lining: Full lining from the same pieces, understitched 1–2 mm from the upper edge seam, sewn to the zipper tape, 2 cm shorter than the dress.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Eight-panel fitting, corset tape supports, a concealed zipper and a lining joined at the zipper and upper edge.

Fabric Recommendations

Thin dress fabrics that hold their shape; the sample is made in taffeta 150 cm wide.

Additional Supplies

Lining fabric, 140 cm wide
Fusible interfacing (upper part of all taffeta pieces, down to the waist)
Concealed zipper, 60 cm
Stiff corset tape, 110 cm long, 8 mm wide

Fabric & Materials

Fabric recommendations: thin dress fabrics that hold their shape. You will need: Taffeta 150 cm wide; lining fabric 140 cm wide; fusible interfacing; concealed zipper 60 cm long; stiff corset tape 110 cm long, 8 mm wide.

Cutter's Must

From taffeta:
Middle Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Middle Front – 2 pieces
Side Front – 2 pieces
From lining:
Middle Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Middle Front – 2 pieces
Side Front – 2 pieces
From fusible interfacing: interface the upper part (down to the waist) of all taffeta pieces.

Sewing Instructions

Stitch the center front and center back seams and the princess seams. Press the seam allowances open.
Stitch the side seams, leaving the zipper opening unstitched in the left side seam; press the seam allowances open. Insert the zipper so that the teeth are not visible.
Cut the corset tape into 5 equal pieces. Stitch the tape pieces, from the upper edge of the dress downwards, to the seam allowances of the right side seam, the back princess seams and the center back seam, and along the left edge of the zipper opening.
Stitch the seams of the lining pieces. Place the dress and lining right sides together. Stopping 5 mm short of the edges of the concealed zipper, fold back the lining and pin it to the upper edge of the dress. Fold the allowances along the zipper to the right side of the dress and pin them to the upper edge over the lining. Stitch the upper edges. Turn the allowances along the zipper to the wrong side. Fold the lining up and understitch it to the seam allowance 1–2 mm from the seam. Turn the lining to the wrong side and sew it to the zipper tape.
Press the hem allowance to the wrong side, turn the raw edge in and topstitch. Hem the lining so that it is 2 cm shorter than the dress.