Halter Neck Collar A-Line Dress
Discover our made-to-measure pattern for an elegant a-line dress, featuring a sophisticated halter neck with a collar and striking contrast paneling.
When To Wear:
- Cocktail Parties: Its elegant silhouette and chic neckline make it perfect for semi-formal gatherings.
- Summer Soirees: The open back and light fabric recommendations suggest suitability for warmer weather events.
- Special Occasions: a refined choice for dinners, celebrations, or formal daytime events.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: An elegant a-line silhouette, fitted through the bodice and waist, then gracefully flaring out to the hem.
Neckline & Collar: a distinctive halter neck with a shirt collar on a stand and a deep V-opening at the front, filled with a narrow contrast inset; the lined upper front is shaped with a short dart and soft gathers.
Waist: Defined by a wide midriff band on the front and back, cut from the companion fabric.
Back: Open halter back; the upper back edge is finished with elastic tape for a snug fit.
Closure: Zipper in the left side seam.
Hem: Finished with a broad hem band in the companion fabric, complementing the a-line flare.
Length: Midi length, falling below the knee.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires accurate sewing of multiple panels, collar construction, zipper insertion, and working with lining and elastic tape.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose light to medium-weight dress fabrics with good drape, suitable for both the main garment and a companion fabric:
- Light dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
- Companion fabric for contrast panels
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric
- Fusible interfacing
- Elastic tape, 0.5 cm wide
- Zipper
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Upper Back – 1 piece
- Lower Back – 1 piece
- Upper Front – 2 pieces
- Lower Front – 1 piece
- From companion fabric:
- Middle Back – 1 piece
- Lower Back Placket – 1 piece
- Middle Front – 1 piece
- Lower Front Placket – 1 piece
- Front Inset – 1 piece
- Collar – 2 pieces
- Stand Collar – 2 pieces
- From lining fabric:
- Upper Front – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Collar – 1 piece
- Stand Collar – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Stand Collar and Collar.
- Stitch the Upper Back to the Middle Back, press the seam allowances towards the middle piece and overlock. Stitch the Middle Back to the Lower Back, press the seam allowances towards the middle piece and overlock.
- Press the Front Inset in half crosswise, right side out. Place each Upper Front and its lining right sides together and stitch the center front edge, inserting the Front Inset. Stitch the armhole edge. Clip the seam allowances at the curves and turn the piece right side out.
- On the Upper Front, stitch the dart for 4 cm and press it open. Sew a line of loose gathering stitches along the lower edge and gather the marked section.
- Stitch the Upper Fronts to the Middle Front, press the seam allowances towards the middle piece and overlock. Stitch the Middle Front to the Lower Front, press the seam allowances towards the middle piece and overlock.
- Stitch the right side seam (the seam allowance at the upper edge of the back is 1.5 cm longer), press the seam allowances towards the back and overlock. Overlock the left side edges separately, stitch the seam from the mark down to the hem and press it open. Insert the zipper. Overlock the upper back seam allowance, press it to the wrong side and topstitch. Stitch the elastic tape along the upper back edge, stretching it slightly.
- Stitch the side seams of the Lower Back Placket and Lower Front Placket, press and overlock. Stitch the hem band to the dress, press the seam allowances upwards and overlock. Overlock the lower edge of the dress, press it to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Place the upper and under Collar right sides together. Stitch the ends and outer edge of the collar. Trim the seams. Turn the collar right side out, shape and press. Place the Stand Collar pieces right sides together with the finished collar sandwiched between them, match the notches and stitch, stitching the ends of the stand at the same time. Start and end the stitching exactly at the marked neckline seam line. Turn the collar right side out and press.
- Stitch the outer Stand Collar with the collar to the front neckline, fold under the open edge of the inner Stand Collar and topstitch it over the attachment seam. Press the remaining open seam allowances of both stand layers to the wrong side and stitch the stand layers together.
- Tip: The dress can be worn with a belt.
