Knitted Balloon Dress with Stand Collar and Soft Tucks at the Neckline and Hem

Knitted Balloon Dress with Stand Collar and Soft Tucks at the Neckline and Hem

A sleeveless women's dress in low-stretch knit, cut from just three pieces: front, back and collar. Stitched tucks at the neckline give fullness over the bust and shoulder blades, and tucks at the hem draw the lower edge in, so the dress takes a balloon shape. A folded stand collar finishes the neck.

When To Wear

• In spring and summer on its own; in autumn over a fine long-sleeved top or turtleneck.
• For the office with a short jacket or cardigan.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Loose and straight through the body, narrowed at the hem by tucks into a balloon shape.

Length: Short, ending around the knee.

Collar: High stand collar cut as one band, joined into a ring, folded in half lengthwise and set into the neckline with its seam at the left shoulder.

Front: Cut on the fold; stitched tucks radiate from the neckline, with matching tucks along the hem.

Back: Cut on the fold, with tucks at the neckline and hem like the front.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; the armhole edges are overlocked, turned to the wrong side and topstitched.

Finishing: Seams sewn with a stretch stitch or on a 3- or 4-thread overlocker and pressed towards the back; hemline levelled at fitting, then turned up and topstitched with a twin needle or on a coverstitch machine.

Level Of Difficulty

Beginner. Three pattern pieces, no closures; the work is in marking and stitching even tucks and setting a folded band collar.

Fabric Recommendations

Knit fabric with low stretch, in natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

• Twin needle or coverstitch machine for the hems