Knit Dress with Open Keyhole

Name: Knit Dress with Open Keyhole
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5794
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5794

A knee-length women's dress in knit fabric with a round neckline and an open keyhole at the centre front, a raised waist seam with belt loops for a 2 cm leather belt, and three-quarter set-in sleeves. The neckline facing is turned to the right side and topstitched, and folded strips are stitched on 1 cm above the dress and sleeve hems. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: knit fabric with medium or low stretch, from natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Knit Dress with Open Keyhole

When To Wear

Office days in autumn and winter, with tights and court shoes or boots.
Everyday wear in spring with flat shoes.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Bodice shaped with bust darts, joined at a raised waist seam to a skirt that widens slightly towards the hem.

Length: Knee length; hem turned up 2 cm and topstitched.

Neckline: Round neckline with a keyhole at the centre front, the keyhole edge bound with folded bias binding. The interfaced front and back facings are stitched to the wrong side, turned to the right side and topstitched, so they show as a band around the neckline.

Sleeves: Three-quarter set-in sleeves, hem turned up 2 cm and topstitched, with a stitched-on strip 1 cm above the hem.

Front: Upper front in one piece with bust darts; lower front in one piece.

Back: Upper back in two pieces with a centre back seam; lower back in one piece.

Waist: Horizontal seam under the bust on the front and back, with self-fabric belt loops topstitched along the markings to hold a 2 cm leather belt.

Finishing: Strips 4 cm wide, sewn into rings with both long edges pressed under 1 cm, topstitched 1 cm above the dress and sleeve hems. Seams sewn with a stretch or narrow zigzag stitch or on a 3- or 4-thread overlocker.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. A bound keyhole, a facing turned to the right side and topstitched, and applied bands in knit fabric.

Fabric Recommendations

Knit fabric with medium or low stretch, from natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Fusible knit interfacing (neckline facings)
Knit tape (or bias binding), 4 cm wide, for the keyhole
Leather belt, 2 cm wide

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
Upper Back – 2 pieces
Lower Back – 1 piece
Upper Front – 1 piece
Lower Front – 1 piece
Front Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
Sleeve – 2 pieces
Belt Loop – 1 piece
Hem bands – 3 strips 4 cm wide, cut by measurement (1 for the dress hem, 2 for the sleeves)
From fusible knit interfacing: Front Neckline Facing, Back Neckline Facing.

Tip: Cut pieces from knit fabrics are sewn with a special elastic or narrow zigzag stitch. When serging, trim seam allowances to 0.8 cm. The hem allowance is topstitched with a twin needle to maintain elasticity. You can also sew pieces directly on a 3- or 4-thread overlock machine.

Sewing Instructions

Fuse interfacing to the Back Neckline Facing and Front Neckline Facing.
Stitch the bust darts on the Upper Front. Trim the dart fold, serge, and press.
Finishing the keyhole edge of the front: press the bias binding in half lengthwise, right side out. Place the binding right sides together with the keyhole, matching the binding's seam allowances with the keyhole edge allowance, and stitch. Turn the binding to the wrong side and topstitch along the fold from the wrong side.
Stitch the center back seam of the Upper Back. Serge the seam and press.
Stitch the shoulder seams of the back and front. Serge the seams and press towards the back.
Stitch the facing pieces together. Serge the seams and press. Press 1 cm to the wrong side first on the short edges, then on the outer edge of the facing. Place the right side of the facing on the wrong side of the back and front and stitch around the neckline. Turn the facing to the right side and topstitch.
Attach the Lower Back to the Upper Back, press the seam allowances downwards and serge.
Attach the Lower Front to the Upper Front. Press the seam allowances downwards and serge.
Stitch the side seams of the back and front. Serge the seams and press towards the back.
Stitch the sleeve seams. Serge the seams and press.
Set the sleeves into the armholes, matching the notches. Serge the seams and press.
Serge the bottom edges of the dress and sleeves. Turn to the wrong side, press, and topstitch.
Cut 3 strips 4 cm wide: one as long as the dress hemline +2 cm, and two as long as the sleeve hemline +2 cm. Stitch each strip into a ring. Press 1 cm to the wrong side along both long edges. Position the bands 1 cm above the hemline and topstitch them in place.
Fold the Belt Loop strip in half lengthwise, right sides together, align the edges and stitch 0.5-0.7 cm from the edges. Turn right side out, roll the seam to the fold, and press. Cut the belt loops to size and topstitch them on according to the markings. Thread a 2 cm wide leather belt through the loops.