A modern take on a classic knee length wiggle dress that features a backless silhouette with optional back straps, a square neckline, & ribbing details throughout.

This is a great pattern for you if:

• You love a modern-vintage look.
• You want to add a sexy dress to your handmade wardrobe.
• You want a custom fit garment made to your measurements.

USING THIS PATTERN
To ensure a custom fit that hugs in all of the right places this pattern uses:

• Swanky Emu Knits - Sizing with Spreadsheets (SWS) framework,
• optional bust, tummy, & booty darts,
• and frequent try-ons.

The SWS framework uses your individual body measurements and an Excel spreadsheet to generate your custom pattern. Taking your measurements may be a little more work on the front end, and trying your dress on throughout may be a little more work all around, but I promise you the result is a dress that fits just right!

To ensure that this pattern performs the way it’s intended to I’ve included some resources:
TAKING YOUR MEASUREMENTS: 2 pages of tips for taking your own measurements.
TIPS, TUTORIALS, & SUGGESTED TRY ON SPOTS: Tips & tutorials to help you make your dress, suggestions on the best places in the pattern to try on your dress, what to look for to ensure that you’re on the right track, and what to do if something isn’t fitting right.
SIZING RESOURCES: Resources for those who don’t want to take their own measurements and typically fit a standard size that are okay with getting a “close enough” fit.
DIRTY DANCING DRESS LOOKBOOK: A LookBook showcasing how the dress looks on different body sizes & shapes along with body measurements, and how the dress can be styled.

Video tutorials are included for all advanced techniques & transitions, including darts. It will be necessary to have a basic understanding of how to use Excel to use this pattern. We are happy to turn your custom pattern into a PDF and email it to you if you don’t want to use Excel. You can purchase your custom pattern PDF here: https://www.themarvelousmrsmaker.com/shop/custom-pattern-pdf

CONSTRUCTION
The Dirty Dancing Dress is knit in one piece from the bottom up.

TECHNIQUES
Old Norwegian/German Twisted cast-on, 2x1 rib, simple increases and decreases, darts using German short rows, and seaming/grafting. Tutorials for advanced techniques and transitions are provided.

STYLING
The Dirty Dancing Dress will look beautiful on its own or layered over your favorite blouse or Henley. If you intend to wear your Dirty Dancing Dress on its own, please note that the dress offers little boob support and you may need a sticky bra or boob tape to feel comfortable and secure. Adding optional back straps will make for a more supportive top half.

FIT
The Dirty Dancing Dress has a form hugging silhouette with -6 inches of ease throughout.

SIZES
Custom made to your measurements.

If you are plugging in body measurements from the Standard Size Chart:
Size 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) with a Finished Bust Circumference of 24 (28, 32, 36, 40) (44, 48, 52, 56, 60) inches to be worn with -6 inches of ease.

MATERIALS
Knit Picks Swish DK or similar yarn. You may also use a fingering weight yarn held double, or held single with mohair.

Please note that substituting yarn may impact your fabric in the following ways:
DK Weight: Makes for the thickest fabric, provides the most support, stretches out the least during wear.
Fingering Weight Held Double: Slightly thinner fabric with slightly less support and slightly more stretch.
Sport Weight: Makes for a thinner fabric with less support and more stretching during wear.

Fiber content other than wool/wool blends: Fibers might stretch out unexpectedly. This is especially true for plant-based fibers and those animal-based fibers that typically have more drape: mohair/alpaca/cashmere/etc. If you choose to deviate from the suggested fiber content, proceed with immense curiosity and a willingness to frog if it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.

YARDAGE/METERAGE
Your exact yardage is included in your Dirty Dancing Dress Excel pattern.

Based on standard sizing:
627 (707, 787, 866, 938) (1017, 1096, 1164, 1242, 1320) yards

NEEDLES
Size 4 (3.5 mm) - circular needle*
Size 4 (3.5 mm) - DPNs or straight needle for grafting.
Or size needed to obtain gauge.

NOTIONS
14 stitch markers, Scrap yarn, Darning needle