Sleeveless Panel Dress with Hidden Pockets
Introducing a women's sewing pattern for a chic sleeveless dress featuring elegant vertical princess seams, a defined waist seam and discreet hidden pockets set into the front skirt darts.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is perfect for a range of occasions, offering both style and comfort:
- Professional Settings: Ideal for the office or business meetings, combining sophistication with practicality.
- Daytime Events: Suitable for luncheons, gallery visits, or casual-chic gatherings due to its refined yet comfortable silhouette.
- Stylish Everyday Wear: a comfortable and fashionable choice for daily activities when paired with casual accessories.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted through the bodice with graceful vertical paneling, gently skimming the body to a straight, knee-length hem.
Neckline: a classic round neckline, collarless and finished with an all-in-one facing.
Closure: a zipper in the center back seam.
Sleeves: Sleeveless design allows for comfortable movement and easy layering.
Pockets: Two hidden pockets are set into the front skirt darts, just below the waist seam.
Waist: a defined horizontal waist seam separates the paneled bodice from the skirt.
Back: Features vertical princess seams on the bodice, darts on the back skirt and a center back seam with the zipper.
Length: Finishes gracefully at the knee.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in constructing princess seams, inserting a zipper, and creating hidden dart pockets.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose lightweight fabrics with good drape that can hold a structured yet fluid shape:
Additional Supplies
- Zipper
- Fusible interfacing
- Fusible web (or hem tape)
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Center Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Back Skirt – 2 pieces
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front – 1 piece
- Front Skirt – 1 piece
- Pocket Bag – 4 pieces
- Front Facing – 1 piece
- Back Facing – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing: Front Facing, Back Facing.
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Front Facing and Back Facing.
- Stitch the princess seams joining the Center Front and Side Front pieces. Overlock the seams and press towards the center front.
- Stitch the princess seams joining the Center Back and Side Back pieces. Overlock the seams and press towards the center back.
- Mark the darts on the Front Skirt and Back Skirt. Slash the darts on the Front Skirt for the pockets. Place a Pocket Bag right sides together with the garment along the slashed dart edge and stitch. Overlock the seam and turn the Pocket Bag to the wrong side. Press the seam allowances towards the Pocket Bag. Place the second Pocket Bag on top and stitch the two bags together. Overlock the pocket bag edges. Secure the pocket edge fold with fusible web. Press the pocket.
- Stitch the Front Skirt to the front bodice. Overlock the seam and press towards the Front Skirt.
- Stitch the Back Skirt to the back bodice. Overlock the seam and press towards the Back Skirt.
- Overlock the center back edges. Stitch the center back seam up to the notches for the zipper. Press open the center back seam, press the zipper opening. Insert the zipper.
- Stitch the side and shoulder seams of the dress. Overlock the side and shoulder seams of the dress. Press the seams towards the back.
- Stitch the shoulder and side seams of the Front Facing and Back Facing, press the seams open. Overlock the outer edge of the facings. Place the facing pieces right sides together with the garment and stitch the neckline edge of the front and back. Stitch the armhole in two steps: first the upper edge of the armhole, then the lower edge of the armhole. Understitch the seam allowances to the facing 0.2 cm from the seam. Turn the facing to the wrong side and press. Stitch the center edge of the facing to the zipper allowance.
- Overlock the bottom edge of the dress, fold up and topstitch.
