D.I.Y. Double Knit Dress with Butterick 5559

This is a OOP pattern that I purchased some years ago. I loved this dress when I first looked at it, but sadly never had the confidence to wear it…so I never made it. Until now! The pattern was not difficult, but it was not as easy as I expected. The darts and stitched tucks were frustrating at first. I had to take the front tucks out and redo a few of them. The back was easier to construct for me, as they were just stitched tucks with no darts.

The fabric is a gorgeous double knit which can be found here. The feel of this fabric is amazing. It has a soft texture but sturdy enough for a nice dress of even a pair of pants. I used some stretch thread for my bobbin and my gutterman polyester thread for the top. Using the stretch thread gives just enough give so your thread won’t pop as your dress stretches. I finished off the hem with my cover stitch machine using standard serger thread.

I made the pattern on the size 14 according to the recommended size guide. After trying it on, I had to take two inches off the width of the dress to get a flattering look. Using a standard 1/2 inch hem with my cover stitch machine, the finished length of the dress was a tad bid shorter than I normally make my dresses.

Overall, I love the look of this dress. The fabric feels great against my skin. I would recommend this pattern to any level sewist. I have no plans on making this dress again, as the style is so unique, I feel like I only need one. As I mentioned, it is an OOP pattern, but you may be able to find one one etsy or ebay. If you are a size 14 and would like it, feel free to contact me and I will gladly send it to you as I will not be making this dress again.