Round Neck Sheath Dress with Front Slit and Contrasting Yoke

Round Neck Sheath Dress with Front Slit and Contrasting Yoke

A women's close-fitting sheath dress, about knee length, with princess seams front and back and a sheer chiffon yoke above a shaped band at the bust line. A wide neckband closes with a button at the back neck; the centre front seam is left open as a narrow slit at the neckline and as a slit at the hem.

When To Wear

• Office wear and business events, with a jacket over it.
• Evening dinners, theatre and family celebrations.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Close-fitting sheath shaped by princess seams.

Length: About knee length; 1.5 cm hem allowance, overlocked, turned up and topstitched; slit at the centre front hem.

Neckline: Round, finished with a wide two-layer neckband (one layer interfaced) that has a button extension and fastens with one button at the back neck; a narrow slit opens the centre front below the neckband.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; the chiffon yoke extends over the shoulders, armhole edges overlocked, turned and topstitched 0.5 cm.

Front: Chiffon upper front joined to a curved band at the bust line; below it centre front and side front panels with a centre front seam stitched between the notches.

Back: Chiffon upper back with darts and a hemmed centre back opening; a straight band below it; centre back and side back panels.

Closure: Invisible zip in the centre back seam up to the top of the band, plus the button on the neckband.

Finishing: The band is a double interfaced facing with the chiffon yoke caught between its layers; princess seams pressed towards the centre.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Joining sheer chiffon to an interfaced double band, a two-layer neckband with a button extension, open sections in the centre front seam, and an invisible zip ending at the band edge.

Fabric Recommendations

Fabrics in natural or blended fibres for the dress; sheer chiffon for the yoke.

Additional Supplies

• Sheer chiffon for the yoke
• Invisible zip
• Fusible interfacing (band facings, neckband)
• 1 button

Cutter’s Must

From Main Fabric:

1. Center Back – 2 pieces
2. Side Back – 2 pieces
3. Center Front – 2 pieces
4. Side Front – 2 pieces
5. Front Facing – 4 pieces
6. Back Facing – 4 pieces
7. Strap – 4 pieces

From Chiffon:

1. Upper Back – 2 pieces
2. Upper Front – 2 pieces

From Fusible Interfacing:

1. Back Facing – 2 pieces
2. Front Facing – 2 pieces
3. Strap – 2 pieces

Assembly Instructions

1. Interfacing

Apply fusible interfacing to 2 pieces of the Back Facing, Front Facing, and Strap.

2. Upper Sections

Stitch the darts on the Upper Back, press toward the center.

Stitch the shoulder seams of the Upper Back and Upper Front.

Stitch the side seams of the upper sections, overlock and press toward the Back.

Overlock the armhole edges, turn to the wrong side and topstitch at 0.5 cm.

Overlock the center back edges of the upper section, turn to the wrong side and topstitch at 0.5 cm.

3. Straps

Stitch the Strap along the inner side, simultaneously forming the allowance for the closure.

Clip the seam, turn the strap right side out and press.

4. Attaching Straps

Attach the Strap with the outer side to the Upper Back and Upper Front, matching notches.

Press the seam toward the strap.

From the wrong side, turn the seam allowance of the strap and topstitch in the seam of attachment.

Press the seams.

5. Facings and Upper Section Assembly

Stitch the Back Facing and Front Facing together along the side seam, press the seam open.

Place the facings right sides together, insert the upper section between them so that the interfaced side of the Strap aligns with the interfaced side of the facing.

Stitch the pieces along both sides: along the short edge of the Front Facing and then along the upper edge of the facings.

Turn right side out and press.

6. Princess Seams

Stitch the princess seams on the Center Front and Side Front, and on the Center Back and Side Back.

Overlock and press toward the center.

7. Center Front

Overlock the center front edges.

Stitch the center front seam between the notches.

Press the seam open, pressing the slit.

8. Side Seams

Stitch the side seams, overlock and press toward the Back.

9. Attaching Facing and Zipper

Attach the facing with the outer side to the upper edge of the dress.

Press the seam toward the facing.

Stitch the center back seam up to the zipper notch.

Press the seam open, pressing the slit.

Insert the zipper into the center back seam.

The zipper reaches the upper edge of the facing.

10. Facing Finish

Turn the open edge of the facing to the inside and stitch to the seam allowances of the dress along the zipper area.

Press the seam.

11. Hem

Overlock the lower edge of the dress, turn to the inside and topstitch at 1.5 cm from the edge.

12. Closure

Work a buttonhole on the Strap and sew a button.