Strappy Sheath Dress with Front Slit

Name: Strappy Sheath Dress with Front Slit
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5340
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5340

A fitted, knee-length women's sheath dress on wide shoulder straps, with a straight neckline cut into a small V at the centre front. Front princess seams from the armholes, a centre front seam open at the top and at the hem, back darts and an invisible zipper. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: silk fabric.

Tech. Description

Strappy Sheath Dress with Front Slit

When To Wear

Summer evenings, dinners and parties.
Over a thin top or blouse, or with a jacket in cooler weather.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Close-fitting sheath through the bust, waist and hips.

Length: Knee length.

Neckline: Straight across the front and back, with a short V-slit at the centre front. Finished with interfaced front and back facings.

Straps: Two straps, each cut from two layers stitched together, turned and topstitched 0.2 cm from the edge. The back ends are stitched on after a fitting, so the strap length is set on the body.

Front: Two front pieces with princess seams from the armholes, pressed towards the centre, and a centre front seam sewn between notches, leaving a neckline slit at the top and a slit at the hem.

Back: Centre back seam and two vertical darts pressed towards the centre.

Closure: Invisible zipper in the centre back seam; facing ends hand-stitched to the zipper allowance.

Finishing: Side seams pressed towards the back. Hem overlocked, turned up 3 cm and hand-stitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Princess seams, a faced neckline with sharp corners, straps fitted on the body and an invisible zipper.

Fabric Recommendations

Silk fabric.

Additional Supplies

Invisible zipper
Fusible interfacing (front and back facings)

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
Back – 2 pieces
Strap – 4 pieces
Front – 2 pieces
Front Facing – 2 pieces
Back Facing – 2 pieces
From fusible interfacing: Front Facing, Back Facing

Sewing Instructions

Fuse interfacing to the Front Facing and Back Facing pieces.
Stitch and serge the princess seams on the front. Press them towards the center.
Stitch the darts on the back and press them towards the center.
Stitch and serge the side seams. Press the side seams towards the back.
Place the strap pieces right sides together in pairs and stitch around the edges, leaving a 3 cm opening in the outer long edge of each strap for turning. Turn the straps right side out and press. Topstitch around the straps 0.2 cm from the edge, closing the opening.
Serge the center front edges and stitch the center front seam between the notches that mark the length of the upper (neckline) and lower (hem) slits.
Stitch the side seams of the Front Facing and Back Facing and press them open.
Serge the lower edge of the facings.
Serge and stitch the center back seam from the zipper mark to the hem. Press the center back seam open, pressing the zipper opening allowances as well. Place the zipper under the opening so that the teeth are not visible, and stitch in place.
Stitch the front ends of the straps to the front. Try on the dress, adjust the length of the straps, and stitch the back ends to the back.
Place the joined facings right sides together with the dress and stitch along the front and back neckline edges. Trim the seam allowances at the upper corners of the front and back. Turn the facing to the wrong side of the dress. Roll the seams to the inside and press. Fold under the ends of the facing at the center back and hand-stitch them to the zipper allowance.
Serge the hem of the dress, fold it up, and hand-stitch.