Dress with a Bottom Band

CUTTER'S MUST

• From main fabric:
1. BACK PANEL – 1 QTY on fold
2. FRONT PANEL – 1 QTY on fold
3. TRIM STRIP – 1 QTY
4. FACING – 2 QTY
• From fusible interfacing:
1. TRIM STRIP – 1 QTY
2. FACING – 1 QTY

Sewing Instructions

1. Fuse the upper FACING and TRIM STRIP with fusible interfacing.
2. Cut BIAS BINDING for finishing the slits on the FRONT PANEL and BACK PANEL. The length of the binding should be twice the length of the slit + 2cm, width - 5 cm. Press the binding lengthwise in half, right side out. Mark the slit line on the pattern piece, cut it. Lay the piece flat along the slit line, place the binding on the right side, aligning the edges, and stitch. The seam allowance along the slit length is 0.5 – 0.7 cm, decreasing to 0.2 cm at the bottom of the slit. Fold the binding to the wrong side, enclosing the seam, and topstitch into the previous seam.
3. Along the upper edge of the FRONT PANEL, stitch with a loosely tensioned thread and gather.
4. Stitch the side seams. Press seam allowances towards the BACK PANEL and overcast.
5. Cut BIAS BINDING from the main fabric, 4 cm wide and equal to the armhole length. Press the binding lengthwise in half, right side out, align with the armhole edge and stitch. Fold the binding to the wrong side and topstitch along the fold.
6. Cut a bias strip 2.5 cm wide and 10 cm long. Fold the strip lengthwise in half, right sides together, and stitch 0.3 cm from the fold. Trim seam allowances close to the stitching, turn the strip right side out and straighten the cord. Cut loops. The length of one loop is 4 cm.
7. Place FACING pieces right sides together and stitch along the neckline edge, simultaneously stitching the side edges and inserting the loops. Trim seam allowances. Turn the piece right side out and press. Press the lower edges inwards. Stitch the upper edges of the BACK PANEL and FRONT PANEL to the lower FACING according to markings. Stitch the upper FACING to the edge of the lower FACING. Press the pieces.
8. Press the TRIM STRIP piece lengthwise in half, right side out. Unfold the TRIM STRIP and stitch into a ring. Press seam allowances open. Along the lower edge of the dress, stitch with a loosely tensioned thread and gather. Stitch the outer part of the TRIM STRIP to the lower edge of the dress. Press seam allowances towards the TRIM STRIP. Press the raw edge of the inner TRIM STRIP to the wrong side and topstitch into the seam of the upper TRIM STRIP attachment.
9. Sew buttons onto the FACING.