Sheath Dress with Scarf Collar
Introducing an elegant women's sheath dress pattern, distinguished by an integrated, gracefully draped scarf collar that adds a sophisticated touch.
When To Wear
This dress is designed for versatility and refined style, making it an ideal choice for:
- Formal Business Meetings: Its refined silhouette and unique collar offer professional elegance.
- Cocktail & Evening Events: The draped scarf and fitted design create a chic, upscale look.
- Special Occasions: Perfect for gatherings where a polished, distinctive outfit is desired.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a classic, fitted sheath dress silhouette that gently skims the body, falling to knee length.
Neckline & Collar: Features a unique integrated scarf collar cut from chiffon, gathered at one end, draped around the neckline and secured with a brooch at the front, creating a soft, cascading ruffle.
Sleeves: Elbow-length set-in sleeves, offering polished and versatile arm coverage.
Seams: The front is shaped with princess seams and a horizontal seam joining the upper front to the Lower Front; the back has a center back seam and a horizontal seam between the upper and lower back, contributing to the dress's tailored fit.
Length: Designed to fall at or just above the knee for a refined and versatile look.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in precise garment assembly, working with different fabric types, and constructing a draped, integrated collar.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose fabrics that offer both structure for the dress and drape for the collar:
- Knit fabrics with low to medium stretch, made from natural or blended fibers, for the dress.
- Chiffon for the collar.
Additional Supplies
A brooch to secure the draped collar.
Cutter's Must
- From knit fabric:
- Upper Back – 2 pieces
- Lower Back – 2 pieces
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front – 1 piece
- Lower Front – 1 piece
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- From chiffon:
- Collar – 1 piece
Tip: Cut pieces from knit fabrics are stitched with a special elastic or narrow zigzag stitch. When serging, trim seam allowances to 0.8 cm. The hem allowance is topstitched with a twin needle or on a coverstitch machine to maintain elasticity. You can also stitch pieces directly on a 3- or 4-thread overlock machine.
Sewing Instructions
- Stitch each Upper Back to the Lower Back. Serge the seam and press it upwards. Stitch the center back seam. Serge the seam and press it.
- Stitch the princess seams joining the Side Front pieces to the Center Front. Serge the seams and press them towards the center. Stitch the assembled upper front to the Lower Front, clipping into the corner on the Lower Front. Serge the seam and press it upwards.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the back and front. Press the seam allowances open.
- Clip the collar seam allowances near the 'o' marks. Finish the 'tail' of the collar with a narrow double-turned (rolled) hem. To do this, press the allowance to the wrong side by 1.5 cm, stitch 0.1-0.2 cm from the fold. Trim the allowance close to the stitching. Fold the allowance again and stitch along the previous line. Press the seam. Fold the collar in half lengthwise, right side out. Along the short unhemmed side, stitch with loosely tensioned stitches and gather, reducing the collar width by half. Attach the collar to the neckline, starting the stitching at the lowest point of the front neckline and continuing to the left shoulder seam. In this section, attach the collar only on one side, leaving the second finished side untouched. At the left shoulder seam, secure both sides of the collar together and then attach both layers of the collar together to the back neckline and the right side of the front neckline. Serge the seam and press it towards the armhole. Turn the dress inside out. Secure the seam allowances of the gathered collar side and the seam allowances of the left front neckline together. Stitch the seam allowances.
- Stitch the side seams of the back and front. Press the seam allowances towards the back and serge.
- Stitch the sleeve seams. Press and serge the seam allowances.
- Set the sleeves into the armholes, matching the notches. Press and serge the seam allowances.
- Serge the hem edges of the dress and sleeves. Fold to the wrong side, press, and topstitch.
- Drape the collar and secure it with a brooch.
