Plus Size Denim Dress with High-Low Hem

Plus Size Denim Dress with High-Low Hem

A plus-size women's strapless denim dress with no waist seam, fitted by long darts and flaring to a high-low hem. The upper edge is finished with a double, interfaced band that rises in an arch at the front, curved side front panels shape the bust, and a zip closes the centre back seam.

When To Wear

• In summer, on its own or over a fitted T-shirt.
• For daytime outings and holidays, with flat sandals or wedges.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted through the bust and waist by darts, flaring from the hip; no waist seam.

Length: High-low: the front hem is shorter and runs straight across, the back hem curves down to its longest point at the centre back.

Neckline: Strapless. The top edge is a double band made from the front and back facings, joined at the sides, interfaced and stitched in the ditch of the joining seam; at the front it rises in an arch towards the centre.

Front: Centre front seam, pressed to the right front; curved side front panels at the bust; vertical darts below.

Closure: 20 cm zip in the centre back seam.

Back: Two back pieces with a centre back seam and vertical darts.

Finishing: Hem overlocked, turned up 2 cm and topstitched; the side ends of the band are slipstitched by hand.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Curved panel seams over the bust, a double top band set in with matched seams, and a zip set into the band and the centre back seam.

Fabric Recommendations

Denim.

Additional Supplies

• Fusible interfacing (front and back facings)
• Zip, 20 cm long

Cutter’s Must

From Main Fabric:

1. Back – 2 pieces
2. Back Facing – 4 pieces
3. Side Front – 2 pieces
4. Center Front – 2 pieces
5. Front Facing – 2 pieces

From Fusible Interfacing:

1. Front Facing
2. Back Facing

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

1. Fuse interfacing to the Back Facing and Front Facing.
2. Mark and stitch darts on the back and front. Press back darts towards the center back, and front darts towards the center front.
3. Stitch the Side Front to the Center Front, serge the seam and press. Stitch and serge the center front seam, press the seam towards the right front.
4. Stitch and press open the side seams of the Front Facing and Back Facing. Serge the inner edge of the Front Facing and Back Facing. Fold the facings right sides together and stitch along the neckline edge.
5. Stitch and serge the side seams of the dress's front and back. Press the side seams towards the back.
6. Stitch the assembled Front Facing and Back Facing to the dress, aligning the seams on the facing and the dress. Press the attachment seam towards the facing. Serge the center back edges of the dress and facing, then stitch the center back seam and press it open, leaving an opening for the zipper. Press the zipper opening edges and insert the zipper. Fold under the side edges of the facing and hand stitch. Topstitch the facing into the attachment seam.
7. Serge the hem edge, turn under the 2 cm hem allowance and topstitch. Press the finished hem.