Gathered Empire Waist Dress

Name: Gathered Empire Waist Dress
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5832
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5832

A sleeveless, fully lined women's dress ending above the knee, with a one-piece front gathered at the scoop neckline and drawn in under the bust by elastic stitched on the inside, a flared skirt and a zip in the centre back seam. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: lightweight, drapey fabrics from natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Gathered Empire Waist Dress

When To Wear

Summer days, holidays and garden parties, with sandals.
Spring and early autumn with a cardigan or a cropped jacket.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: High-waisted A-line: the front is drawn in under the bust and falls loosely into a flared skirt; the back hangs straight from the shoulders.

Length: Above the knee; 2 cm hem turned under and topstitched on both dress and lining.

Neckline: Wide scoop neckline; the front edge is gathered to length, and front and back are faced with the lining, understitched 0.2 cm from the seam.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; armholes finished with the lining.

Front: Cut in one piece on the fold, with no waist seam; the empire line is formed by 0.5 cm elastic tape or elastic thread stitched along a marked line on the wrong side.

Back: Two pieces with a centre back seam.

Closure: Zip in the centre back seam, set under the seam allowances so the teeth are hidden; the lining is stitched to the zip tape.

Lining: Full lining shaped with darts at the front and back, cut separately from the gathered front.

Level Of Difficulty

Beginner. Few pieces, gathering and elastic stitched flat; the lined neckline and armholes and the zip need some care.

Fabric Recommendations

Lightweight, drapey fabrics from natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Lining fabric
Invisible zip
Elastic tape 0.5 cm wide or elastic thread

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
- Back – 2 pieces
- Front – 1 piece on fold
From lining fabric:
- Back Lining – 2 pieces
- Front Lining – 1 piece

Sewing Instructions

Overlock the center back edges. Stitch the center back seam from the mark downwards. Press the seam open, also pressing the zipper allowances.
Place the zipper under the seam allowances so that the teeth are not visible and stitch in place.
Along the neckline edge of the Front, stitch with loose stitches. Gather the neckline to the required length.
Stitch and overlock the side and shoulder seams of the dress. Press the shoulder and side seams towards the back.
On the wrong side of the front, along the marked line, stitch on elastic tape of the desired length, or stitch using elastic thread.
Stitch the darts on the Back Lining and Front Lining; press the back darts towards the center and the front darts upwards. Stitch the shoulder and side seams of the lining and the center back seam of the Back Lining from the mark downwards; press the seams open. Place the lining right sides together with the garment and stitch along the neckline edge of the front and back. Stitch the armholes in two steps: first the upper armhole edge, then the lower armhole edge. Understitch the seam allowances to the lining 0.2 cm from the seam. Turn the lining to the wrong side and press. Stitch the center back seam allowances of the lining to the zipper tape.
Press the 2 cm hem allowances of the dress and lining to the wrong side, turn the raw edge under and topstitch.