Rolled Collar Sheath Dress
Introducing a refined sheath dress pattern featuring a soft rolled collar, a tailored silhouette with a waist seam, and a cinched waist enhanced by a belt.
When To Wear
This versatile sheath dress is designed for elegant and professional occasions, making it a perfect choice for:
- Professional & Business Settings: Ideal for office wear or formal meetings due to its polished silhouette.
- Smart Casual Events: Perfect for luncheons, networking events, or daytime gatherings.
- Transitional Day-to-Evening Wear: Easily styled for various occasions, offering effortless elegance throughout the day.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a flattering knee-length sheath silhouette with a waist seam, shaped with darts on the bodice and skirt.
Neckline & Collar: a wide folded collar that rolls softly around the front neckline like a cowl and ends in pointed tips at the center back.
Closure: An invisible zipper located at the center back ensures a smooth and seamless finish.
Sleeves: Elegant three-quarter length, set-in sleeves with darts at the sleeve cap.
Waist: a defined waistline seam, cinched with a matching or complementary belt.
Back: Includes a center back seam with a vent for ease of movement.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in handling darts, invisible zipper installation, collar construction, and back vent creation.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose fabrics with a beautiful drape and some body to best highlight the collar and tailored silhouette:
- Lightweight suiting or dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Invisible zipper
- Fusible interfacing
- Belt (worn with the dress; not part of the pattern)
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Upper Back – 2 pieces
- Lower Back – 2 pieces
- Upper Front – 1 piece
- Lower Front – 1 piece
- Collar – 1 piece
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Fusible interfacing: vent area of both Lower Back pieces.
Sewing Instructions
- Stitch the darts on the back pieces. Press the darts towards the center back seam. Stitch the Upper Back pieces to the Lower Back pieces. Press the seam downwards and overlock.
- On the left Lower Back, cut off 5 cm along the vertical edge of the vent. Fuse interfacing to the vent area on the wrong side of both Lower Back pieces. On the right side, mark the center back seam line (the vent fold line). Press the left piece along the vent fold line; on the right piece, press only the right vent allowance (6 cm) to the wrong side. Match the pieces along the center back seam and baste them together along the upper edge of the vent. Overlock the center back edge of each piece separately. Overlock the vent allowances. Stitch the center back seam from the zipper notch to the vent corner. Clip the corner of the vent allowance on the right piece. Press the center back seam allowances open, press the vent allowances and secure them with machine stitching. Insert the invisible zipper from the top edge down to the notch.
- Stitch the darts on the front pieces. Press the darts towards the center front. Stitch the Upper Front to the Lower Front. Press the seam downwards and overlock.
- Stitch the side and shoulder seams, press the seam allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Fold the Collar in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the ends, starting and ending exactly at the marked neckline seam line. Turn the collar right side out, shape the corners and press. Stitch the outer edge of the collar to the neckline and press the seam towards the collar. Fold under the open inner edge of the collar and topstitch it over the attachment seam.
- Stitch the darts at the sleeve cap. Press the darts towards the back. Stitch the sleeve seam, press and overlock. Set the Sleeves into the armholes, matching the notches. Press the seam and overlock.
- Overlock the hem allowances of the dress and sleeves, press them to the wrong side and hem with blind stitches. The dress is recommended to be worn with a belt.
