Shift Dress with Layered Bodice Panel

Name: Shift Dress with Layered Bodice Panel
Brand: Minerva Patterns
SKU: 5897
Price: 5.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Pattern #5897

A sleeveless, above-the-knee women's dress cut in three horizontal sections on the front and back: an upper yoke panel, a darted middle section and a hem band. The middle section starts above the bust and is cut wider than the yoke at the armholes, so it reads as a separate layer over the yoke. Drafted to your own measurements. Recommended fabric: dress fabrics in natural or blended fibres.

Tech. Description

Shift Dress with Layered Bodice Panel

When To Wear

Office and work days, with a jacket or cardigan and court shoes.
Daytime events in spring and summer, on its own.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Close-fitting, shaped by bust darts and waist darts, with straight sides to the hem.

Length: Above the knee.

Neckline: Round neckline finished with a 4 cm bias strip folded in half, turned to the inside and topstitched along its fold.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; armholes overlocked, turned in and topstitched.

Front: Upper front panel, middle front with bust darts pressed down and waist darts pressed towards the centre, and a separate lower front band.

Back: Centre back seam with a zip from the neckline down to the mark; upper back and middle back cut in pairs, middle back with waist darts, lower back band in one piece.

Closure: Centre back zip.

Finishing: The seam between the yoke and the middle section is pressed down and topstitched 0.1 cm from the seam; the hem band is joined with a horizontal seam pressed down; hem turned up and topstitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Beginner. Darts, horizontal panel seams, bias-bound neckline and a zip in the centre back seam; the step at the armhole where the middle section overlaps the yoke needs accurate overlocking and pressing.

Fabric Recommendations

Dress fabrics in natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

Zip for the centre back

Cutter's Must

From main fabric:
1. Upper Front – 1 piece
2. Middle Front – 1 piece
3. Lower Front – 1 piece
4. Upper Back – 2 pieces
5. Middle Back – 2 pieces
6. Lower Back – 1 piece

Sewing Instructions

Mark and stitch the darts on the front and back pieces. Press bust darts downwards, waist darts towards the center.
Stitch the shoulder seams. Overlock the seams and press towards the back.
Overlock the armhole edges, fold them inwards and topstitch.
Cut a bias strip 4 cm wide and as long as the neckline. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Place it on the right side of the neckline, raw edges aligned, and stitch. Turn the binding to the wrong side and topstitch along its fold to the garment. Press the seam.
Stitch the upper front to the middle front and the upper back to the middle back. Stitch the side seams. Overlock seams and press towards the back. Overlock the seam joining the upper and middle parts, simultaneously overlocking the armhole section from the side seam. Press the seam downwards and topstitch at 0.1 cm.
Overlock the center back edges. Insert the zipper from the upper edge to the mark. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper downwards. Press seam allowances open.
Stitch the side seams of the lower front and lower back. Overlock the seams and press towards the back. Stitch the lower front and lower back to the dress. Overlock seams and press downwards.
Overlock the bottom edge of the dress. Fold inwards and topstitch.