Halter Neck Sheath Dress

Name: Halter Neck Sheath Dress
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5203
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5203

A women's fitted sheath dress above the knee, with a sweetheart-shaped front, wide straps cut in one with the side fronts and back straps fastened with three buttons and rouleau loops. Princess seams front and back, centre back zipper, fully lined. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: firm fabrics of natural and blended fibres; the sample is made in gabardine 150 cm wide.

Tech. Description

Halter Neck Sheath Dress

When To Wear

Summer evening events, dinners and parties.
Cocktail receptions, with a jacket or bolero over the bare shoulders.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Close-fitting sheath shaped by princess seams on the front and back running from the bodice to the hem.

Length: Above the knee.

Neckline: Sweetheart-shaped front neckline formed by the middle fronts; the side fronts continue up as wide straps towards the neck, leaving open sections between the straps.

Sleeves: Sleeveless, with cut-in armholes that leave the shoulders bare.

Front: Centre front seam, pressed to the left, and two princess seams.

Closure: 35 cm zipper in the centre back seam, with the teeth hidden; three buttons on the end of the right strap and three rouleau loops on the left one.

Back: Centre back seam and princess seams. Separate back straps, cut on the fold, run from the side backs to the front straps; their length is adjusted at a fitting.

Finishing: Seam allowances overlocked; hem overlocked and sewn by hand with blind stitches.

Lining: Full lining cut from the same pieces; it finishes the upper back edges, armholes, strap edges and front neckline, and is 1.5–2 cm shorter than the dress.

Level Of Difficulty

Advanced. A lined bodice with clipped corners at the neckline, straps joined by hand after a fitting, narrow rouleau loops, princess seams and a concealed zipper.

Fabric Recommendations

Firm fabrics of natural and blended fibres; the sample is made in gabardine 150 cm wide.

Additional Supplies

Lining fabric
Fusible interfacing (all main fabric pieces above the waistline)
Zipper, 35 cm
3 buttons

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
Middle Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Middle Front – 2 pieces
Side Front – 2 pieces (cut in one with the strap)
Bias Tape – 1 piece
Back Strap – 2 pieces (each cut on fold)
From lining:
Middle Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Middle Front – 2 pieces
Side Front – 2 pieces (cut in one with the strap)
From fusible interfacing: all main fabric pieces above the waistline.

Sewing Instructions

Fuse interfacing to the main fabric pieces above the waistline.
Stitch the center front seam and the front princess seams. Overlock the seam allowances. Press the center seam to the left and the princess seams towards the center.
Stitch the back princess seams and the center back seam, leaving the zipper opening unstitched. Overlock; press the princess seams towards the center.
Stitch the side seams, overlock and press towards the front.
Insert the zipper so that the teeth are not visible.
Fold each Back Strap right sides together along the fold line and stitch along the long side. Turn the straps right side out, press and baste them to the upper edges of the Side Backs.
From the Bias Tape, make the narrowest possible rouleau. Cut it into 3 parts and shape each piece into a loop. Baste the loops to the end of the left strap, with the tops of the loops lying on the strap and the ends of the loops on the seam allowance. The size of the loop depends on the button diameter.
Assemble the lining pieces in the same way as the main pieces. Place the lining and the dress right sides together and stitch the upper back edges from the zipper, the armhole edges, the outer edges of the straps and the front neckline edges, leaving a section of the front straps unstitched between the marks for the upper ends of the Back Straps. Trim the seam allowances to 2–3 mm from the stitching, diagonally at the strap ends, and clip the neckline corners perpendicular to the seam, stopping 1 mm short of the stitching. Clip the seam allowance at the cross marks. Turn the lining to the wrong side, baste and press. Turn under the lining edge and sew it to the zipper tape.
Pin the upper ends of the Back Straps under the open edges of the front straps. Try on the dress, adjust the length of the straps and stitch them to the open edges of the front straps without catching the lining. Turn under the lining and slipstitch it over the seam.
Overlock the hem allowance, press it to the wrong side and hem with blind stitches. Hem the lining with a turned-up hem so that it is 1.5–2 cm shorter than the dress.
Sew the buttons to the end of the right strap to correspond with the loops.