Flared Maxi Dress with Wide Collar
Introducing a sophisticated women's sewing pattern for a sleeveless maxi dress featuring a distinctive wide collar, a fitted princess-seam silhouette, and a graceful flared hem created by six inset gores (godets).
When To Wear
This elegant dress is perfect for a variety of warm-weather events and elevated casual occasions, making it an excellent choice for:
- Summer Gatherings: Ideal for garden parties, outdoor brunches, or semi-formal daytime events.
- Resort & Vacation Wear: a stylish option for leisurely strolls, dinners, or exploring picturesque destinations.
- Everyday Chic: Easily dressed up or down for a sophisticated and comfortable look in warmer climates.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a flattering trumpet maxi silhouette, fitted through the bust, waist and hips, then flaring to a full hem thanks to six gores set into the center front, center back and princess seams.
Neckline & Collar: Features a striking wide, flat collar that forms a V-neckline, creating a bold and distinctive frame for the décolletage.
Sleeves: Sleeveless design with armholes finished with bias binding, offering a comfortable and airy feel.
Closure: An invisible zipper is discreetly placed in the left side seam for a seamless fit.
Back: The back features a center seam and princess seams; the front also has a center seam.
Length: Maxi length, extending gracefully to the ankles for an elegant and elongating effect.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. This pattern requires skills in invisible zipper insertion, collar construction, bias binding for armholes, and precise insertion of the gores to achieve the desired flared silhouette.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose natural or blended fibers with some body and drape to best showcase the garment's silhouette:
- Fabrics made from natural or blended fibers (e.g. cotton sateen, linen or linen blends, poplin)
Additional Supplies
- 25 cm invisible zipper
- Lining fabric
- Bias tape
- Fusible interfacing
Cutting Plan
- From main fabric:
- Upper Collar – 1 piece
- Lower Collar – 2 pieces
- Gore – 6 pieces
- Middle Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Upper Collar – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Upper Collar.
- Stitch a Gore to the Center Front pieces; overlock the seam, continuing 4 cm above the notch. Stitch the center front seam together with the other side edge of the Gore. Overlock the center seam and the side edge of the Gore. Press the center front seam, pressing the Gore.
- Stitch a Gore to each Side Front piece; overlock the seam, continuing 4 cm above the notch. Stitch the front princess seam (Center Front to Side Front) together with the other side edge of the Gore. Overlock the front princess seam and press, pressing the Gore.
- Stitch a Gore to the Middle Back pieces; overlock the seam, continuing 4 cm above the notch. Stitch the center back seam together with the other side edge of the Gore. Overlock the center back seam and press, pressing the Gore.
- Stitch a Gore to each Side Back piece; overlock the seam, continuing 4 cm above the notch. Stitch the back princess seams (Middle Back to Side Back) together with the other side edge of the Gore. Overlock the princess seams and press, pressing the Gore.
- Stitch and press open the center seam of the Lower Collar. Stitch the Lower Collar and Upper Collar together along the outer edge, turn the collar right side out and press.
- Fold and press the bias binding in half lengthwise. Finish the armholes of the front and back pieces with bias binding.
- Serge the side edges. Stitch and press open the side seams of the dress, leaving an opening for the zipper in the left side seam. Insert the zipper.
- Serge, stitch, and press open the shoulder seams of the dress.
- Stitch the Lower Collar to the neckline, turn under the raw edge of the Upper Collar and stitch it in the ditch of the Lower Collar seam.
- Serge the bottom edge of the dress, fold up and topstitch 1 cm from the bottom edge.
