Plus Size Short Sleeve Fitted Split V-Neck Yoke Dress
A plus-size women's knee-length fitted dress with short set-in sleeves, front and back yokes, princess seams below the yokes, and a faced slit at the centre front neckline forming a split V. Concealed zip and a vent in the centre back seam.
When To Wear
- Office wear in spring and summer, on its own or under a jacket.
- Daytime events and business meetings.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted, shaped by princess seams front and back that run from the yoke seams to the hem.
Length: Knee length; hem turned up 1 cm, then 2 cm, and topstitched.
Neckline: Round neckline over front yokes that meet the lower front at an angle; a faced slit at the centre front, topstitched 0.1 cm from the edge. Neckline finished with interfaced facings and topstitched 0.1 cm along the back neckline and the front yokes.
Sleeves: Short, set-in, one piece; hem turned up and topstitched.
Front: Two front yoke pieces, a centre front panel and two side front panels; panel seams pressed to the centre and topstitched 0.1 cm.
Back: Back yokes with darts topstitched 0.1 cm; centre and side back panels with topstitched princess seams.
Closure: Concealed zip in the centre back seam.
Skirt: Vent at the lower end of the centre back seam, interfaced and topstitched across the top.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. A faced slit cut open between stitching lines, a yoke joined to the lower front with a turned corner, a back vent, a concealed zip and edge topstitching on every panel seam.
Fabric Recommendations
Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibres.
Additional Supplies
- Concealed zip for the centre back
- Fusible interfacing (neckline facings, back vent)
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Back Yoke – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Center Back – 2 pieces
- Front Yoke – 2 pieces
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front – 1 piece
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Slit Facing – 1 piece
- From fusible interfacing:
- Back Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Back Neckline Facing and Front Neckline Facing pieces.
- Stitch the darts on the Back Yoke pieces. Press dart allowances towards the center. Topstitch the dart 0.1 cm from the seam.
- On both Center Back pieces, fuse the vent on the wrong side. On the right side, mark the center seam line (vent fold line). Overlock the center edge of the back separately on each piece, simultaneously overlocking the vent. Stitch the center edge of the back from the zipper mark to the edge of the vent. Clip the corner of the vent seam allowance on the right-hand piece. Press the center seam allowances open. Press the edge of the right-hand vent under 1 cm and topstitch. Press the vent allowances towards the center and topstitch along the top with a machine stitch.
- Stitch the Side Back pieces to the Center Back (princess seams), press allowances towards the center, overlock and topstitch 0.1 cm. Stitch the Back Yoke to the back, press allowances upwards, overlock and topstitch 0.1 cm. Insert the zipper.
- Stitch the Side Front pieces to the Center Front (princess seams), press allowances towards the center, overlock and topstitch 0.1 cm.
- Overlock the outer edges of the Front Slit Facing. Place the Front Slit Facing on the front, right sides together, and stitch the slit and the upper edge from mark to mark. Clip the allowances at the marks, carefully cut the fabric between the sides of the slit, and trim the corners. Turn the facing to the wrong side, straighten, and press. Topstitch along the upper edge and the slit 0.1 cm from the edge.
- Stitch the shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the Back Neckline Facing and Front Neckline Facing, press allowances open, overlock the outer edges. Place the facing on the garment, wrong sides together, and stitch the back neckline edge and the front yoke neckline edge exactly to the marked lower seam line.
- Insert the lower front between the Front Yoke and the facing and stitch from the neckline to the side seam. Trim allowances at the corners, press towards the yoke and overlock. Turn the facing to the wrong side, straighten the corner. Topstitch 0.1 cm along the back neckline, front yoke, and corner, transitioning to the seam joining the yoke and front.
- Stitch the side seams, press allowances towards the back and overlock.
- Stitch the sleeve seam. Press and overlock the seam. Set the sleeves into the armholes, aligning the notches. Press and overlock the seam.
- Overlock the sleeve hem allowance, press to the wrong side and topstitch. Press the dress hem allowance to the wrong side 1 cm, then 2 cm and topstitch.
