Pattern: Vogue 1183, a Kay Unger design
Fabric: Olive green doubleknit from fashionista fabrics
Notes: I bought this pattern when it came out, but then promptly forgot that it existed. It’s a bit more tailored and office-like than I generally go for. But… I had this olive green doubleknit to use up, and I only had enough to make a slim fitting dress. I remembered this pattern, so I gave it a go!
This is not, in general, my favorite color. I love green, but I really prefer emerald to olive – too much yellow and I start to develop a bit of a sickly pallor. Having said this, I think this color works pretty well on me – it has enough intensity to make me happy, and it works with red hair. I can wear more warm colors when my hair is red. Speaking of which, I am not going bald – I just have blonde roots that are showing when I pull my hair back! Time to get to the salon.
The dress was easy enough to make, but a bit time consuming with all the topstitching. I did not run 2 lines per seam – I just topstitched the seam allowance down 1/4″ away from the seam. I omitted the lining, and opted to turn and sew under all the edges, so I didn’t really want even more stitching showing.
I am very pleased with the fit in the back. There is no zipper – it goes over my head easily!
I had one major fitting problem with the dress, which I have seen touched on in other reviews. It was too long from shoulder to the top of the midriff, causing the bust to gape open. I removed 1.5″ total from each shoulder, which fixed the issue. I have no gaping on the neckline now! I also removed about 1 inch total at the sides from the underarm to midriff, because it was big otherwise (meaning I had to use 2 sizes smaller on top than bottom… but I think this pattern runs big in the bust.)
If I made the skirt again I would remove the darts – they aren’t necessary in a doubleknit fabric, and just added a strange wrinkle. I had a really hard time photographing this dress – the color is intense, and I have yet to get a lens I like better from my camera. I did, however, get a new phone (the HTC EVO 4G) which has a pretty decent camera – it took the photo below!
I couldn’t get the color to turn out, so I just used one of the downloaded camera filters
I enjoyed this pattern, and I think it’s a nice basic. I will certainly get some wear out of it – I picked up a leopard print cardigan yesterday that goes with it really well (though I will not wear the leopard shoes at the same time… even my animal print love has limits!) I recommend the pattern – just watch out for the upper chest/ shoulder issue!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Nice dress, once again. It’s be fun to pair w/ a pretty, lacy shawl!? I just made Summer Flies shawl & really love it for anything a little plain/basic, to ‘frill’ it up. Very nice work!
Lovely dress! I love the lines of the bodice, and the color is very pretty on you.
Gorgeous!
Very very pretty!
This is beautiful – I love how simple the design is, and how the fabric suits your colouring so well. Yet another brilliant job!
Perfect fit – you look very nice indeed.
Beautiful dress. It looks so nice and flattering on you. And i love the color.
Great fit and the color is great on you too! Love this one!
Love the pattern, the dress and the colour. It looks great
That is really pretty and it looks great on you! You always look so classy and elegant, and I of course love the shoes.
Really nice! I love your consistency in crafting! Very inspirational.
I didn’t really look too carefully at this pattern when it came out, but I love your combination of the slim shape and bright color. Great job!
I love your shoe choice- such classic tailoring with a little pop.
What a lovely dress, and what a smart idea to make it in a double knit. It has a lovely tailored look.
A vert pretty dress!!
Beautiful dress. Fits you to a “T”.
gorgeous!! I love the color! Makes me want to go sew one for me! 🙂
This dress looks lovely and I really like that shade of green. I do like sewing with double knit – I’ve recently attempted it with Simplicity 2054 – I see that you’re also planning on making that dress. It’s lovely and very comfortable.
I love this pattern!
This is dress is really pretty. Maybe this winter I will conquer my fear of knits. Hope everything is going good. I’ve been missing your posts lately.
Love this dress. The colour (or no colour) is great too.
Absolutly beautiful. Very sleek and elegant. You look wonderful in it.
Oh wow, that looks gorgeous on you. I really like that colour. Interesting that you made it in a knit-I bought this pattern when it first came out, cut it out in broadcloth to make a tester and then moved on to other things. The cut pieces are still kicking around and turn up from time to time when I do a clean up. Seeing this has really given me the initiative to get on with it. Thanks!