Double-Layer Skirt Dress

Name: Double-Layer Skirt Dress
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5597
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5597

A women's floor-length dress with a lined, close-fitting bodice shaped by princess seams, narrow straps and a dropped waist seam. The skirt has two layers: a flared underskirt and an overskirt that opens at the centre front, decorated with small gathered puffs. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: lightweight fabrics in natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Double-Layer Skirt Dress

When To Wear

Summer weddings, evening parties and other formal occasions.
Warm-weather events, with a light wrap or jacket over the bare shoulders.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Close-fitting bodice to below the waist, then a flared two-layer skirt.

Length: Floor length; both skirt hems finished with a narrow double-fold hem.

Neckline: Strapless-style top edge that rises to a point at the centre front, with narrow turned-through straps sewn to the front neckline; the back ends are attached after a fitting. The drawing shows a V-shaped pair from the front point and a strap at each side.

Front: Centre front panel and two side front panels; the centre front is gathered along both princess seams from the top edge to a notch.

Back: Centre back seam and princess seams.

Closure: Invisible zip in the left side seam.

Waist: Dropped seam joining bodice and skirts, pressed upwards.

Skirt: Underskirt in front and back pieces; overskirt with two front pieces left open at the centre front, the front edges finished with a narrow hem. Both layers are joined at the top edge. Puffs are marked as 3–4 cm circles on the overskirt, stitched along the line and gathered.

Finishing: Stiff corset tape, cut into six pieces, is stitched to the seam allowances of the princess seams, centre back seam and right side seam to hold the bodice upright.

Lining: Bodice lined with the same panels; the lining is understitched at the top edge, slip-stitched to the zip tape and its lower edge attached to the waist seam allowances. The main fabric can be used as lining.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. A gathered princess-seam bodice fitted on the body, corset tape on the seam allowances, an invisible zip finished with a lining, and a two-layer skirt with gathered puffs.

Fabric Recommendations

Lightweight fabrics in natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Lining fabric for the bodice (or the main fabric)
Invisible zip
Stiff corset tape, 0.75 cm wide

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
Center Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Center Front – 1 piece
Side Front – 2 pieces
Back Skirt – 1 piece
Upper Back Skirt – 1 piece
Front Skirt – 1 piece
Upper Front Skirt – 2 pieces
Also cut strips for the straps.
From lining fabric:
Center Back – 2 pieces
Side Back – 2 pieces
Center Front – 1 piece
Side Front – 2 pieces

Tip: The main fabric can be used as lining.

Sewing Instructions

On the Center Front, along both princess seam edges, stitch with loosely tensioned stitches 0.5 cm from the edge. Gather from the top edge to the notch.
Stitch the center back seam, princess seams on the back and front on the main fabric pieces. Overlock the seams. On the back, press seams towards the center; on the front, press towards the side seam.
Stitch the side seams, leaving an opening for the zipper in the left side seam. Overlock the seams. Press the right seam towards the back, press the left seam open, pressing the opening. Insert the zipper.
Cut the boning tape into 6 equal pieces. Stitch the tape segments from the upper edge of the dress to the seam allowances of the princess seams, center back seam, and right side seam. Press the seams.
Stitch the lining pieces similarly to the main fabric pieces. Overlock the bottom of the lining.
On the Upper Front Skirt and Upper Back Skirt, mark the placement of the puffs in the form of circles with a diameter of 3-4 cm.
Stitch the side seam on all skirts. Finish the center front edges of the Upper Front Skirt with a narrow double-fold hem. Place the overskirt over the underskirt. Secure the skirts together at the upper edge, aligning the seams.
Place the bodice and skirts right sides together and stitch. Press the seam upwards.
Fold the strap strip lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch 0.5 cm from the fold. Turn the strap right side out and press. Attach the strap to the neckline of the front.
Put on the dress, adjust the length of the strap, and attach the back end to the back.
Place the dress and lining face to face. Stopping 5 mm short of the zipper edges, fold back the lining and pin it to the upper edge of the dress. On the right side of the dress, fold back the seam allowances along the zipper and pin them to the upper edge over the lining. Stitch the upper edges. Fold the seam allowances along the zipper to the wrong side. Fold the lining upwards and topstitch onto the seam allowance 1-2 mm from the seam. Fold the lining to the wrong side and attach it to the zipper tape. Stitch the lower edge of the lining to the seam allowances of the bodice-to-skirt seam.
Finish the lower edges of the skirts with a narrow double-fold hem.
On the overskirt, create the puffs: stitch along the marked line and gather.