Plus Size Dress with Horizontal Panel Seams
Introducing a sophisticated plus-size dress pattern featuring a fitted bodice, elegant three-quarter flared sleeves, and a graceful tiered skirt defined by horizontal panel seams and decorative trim.
When To Wear
This versatile dress is perfect for various occasions requiring a blend of elegance and comfort, making it an excellent choice for:
- Professional Settings: Its refined silhouette and tailored details are ideal for office wear or business events.
- Semi-Formal Gatherings: Suitable for luncheons, brunches, or evening receptions where a polished look is desired.
- Special Occasions: Elegant enough for celebrations, dinners, or events where you want to make a stylish statement.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: A flattering fit-and-flare midi-length dress, tailored through the bodice and flowing into a full, tiered skirt.
Neckline: A classic, high round neckline, offering a clean and elegant frame.
Closure: Features a discreet invisible zipper at the center back for a seamless finish.
Sleeves: Three-quarter length sleeves that gracefully flare into a bell-shaped cuff, adding a touch of sophisticated drama.
Bodice: Constructed with upper and lower front panels, including a vertical center front seam often highlighted with decorative trim, and shaping darts for a tailored fit.
Skirt: Composed of multiple horizontal panels or tiers, creating beautiful drape and movement, often accented by decorative trim along the seams.
Waist: Defined by a horizontal seam that connects the bodice and skirt, typically featuring a band or decorative trim for emphasis.
Details: Designed with decorative trim or piping along the neckline, center front seam, waistline, horizontal skirt seams, and sleeve cuffs, enhancing its elegant structure.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in working with darts, inserting an invisible zipper, precise bias tape finishing, setting in sleeves, and accurate placement of decorative trim.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose dress fabrics that offer good drape and hold shape well for a refined finish:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Invisible zipper;
- Bias tape (approx. length indicated on lower front pattern piece);
- Decorative trim (approx. length indicated on lower front pattern piece).
Plus Size Dress with Horizontal Panel Seams
Fabric Recommendations
Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers.
Additional Supplies
- Invisible zipper;
- Bias tape (approx. length indicated on lower front pattern piece);
- Decorative trim (approx. length indicated on lower front pattern piece).
Cutter’s Must
From main fabric:
- Upper back – 2 pieces
- Lower back – 2 pieces
- Upper front – 2 pieces
- Lower front – 1 piece on fold
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Cuff – 2 pieces
Important Information
First of all, print the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width may be from 90 cm to 150 cm) in order to determine how much material you will need (do not forget to consider paired and symmetrical pieces).
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches – they must match.
Assembly Instructions
- Stitch darts on the upper front and upper back pieces. Trim dart intake to 1 cm, press toward the center and finish.
- Stitch upper and lower back pieces, press seam allowances upward and finish.
- Finish separately the center edges of the back. Stitch center back seam from zipper mark to bottom, press seam allowances open. Insert zipper.
- Stitch center seam of upper front, press seam allowances open and finish. Topstitch bias tape onto the seam. Stitch upper and lower front pieces, press seam allowances upward and finish.
- Stitch shoulder and side seams of the garment, press seam allowances toward the back and finish.
- Prepare bias tape for neckline finishing equal to neckline length + 4 cm. Fold and press bias tape. Attach bias tape to neckline from the wrong side and stitch. Fold to the right side and topstitch along the edge onto the main fabric.
- Attach cuff to sleeve, press seam allowances upward and finish. Topstitch bias tape onto the seam. Stitch sleeve seam, press seam allowances toward the back and finish. Set sleeves into armholes, press and finish.
- Finish the hem of the garment and cuffs with bias tape.
- Topstitch decorative trim onto the waist seam. Topstitch decoration onto lower panels according to markings.
