digital library dress sewing pattern
This sweet, little mock-wrap dress includes a wide front waistband with optional piping, a pleated skirt, and buttons up the back. It can be sewn in two different versions: a short-sleeve dress with a collar or a three-quarter-sleeve dress with notched cuffs.
Share your photos on Instagram with the hashtags #librarydress and #oliverands.
-
Digital Patterns
This style is provided as a digital pattern. It may be printed on both home printers (using either 8 1/2" x 11" or A4 paper) and at service bureaus that handle 36" wide sheets. When you complete your order, you will be provided with a unique code to instantly download the pattern. See our digital product policy for full details.
Printing Information, Sizes 6M-4:
- Instructions: 15 pages
- Tiled pattern pieces: 26 pages
- 36-inch pattern sheets: 1 page
- A0 pattern sheets: not available for this pattern
Printing Information, Sizes 5-12:
- Instructions: 15 pages
- Tiled pattern pieces: 38 pages
- 36-inch pattern sheets: 1 page
- A0 pattern sheets: not available for this pattern
This sweet, little mock-wrap dress includes a wide front waistband with optional piping, a pleated skirt, and buttons up the back. It can be sewn in two different versions: a short-sleeve dress with a collar (View A) or a three-quarter-sleeve dress with notched cuffs (View B).
Skills Used
Each of our patterns calls on a unique set of sewing skills. Haven't ever done one of these things before? Don't worry. We'll walk you through it, step by step.
After successfully sewing this pattern, you will have developed the following skills: buttonholes, collar, flat piping, and flat-set sleeves.
Suggested Fabrics
Light- to medium-weight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, broadcloth, lawn, poplin, shirting, voile, linen, fine-wale corduroy, and silk shantung.
Notions
Coordinating thread, 1/2" buttons or snaps (six for sizes 6M-4, nine for sizes 5-12), lightweight fusible interfacing.
Fabric Guide (fabric width: 44" – 45")
SIZE 6-12 M 12-18 M 18-24 M 2T 3T 4 View A 1 1/4 yards 1 1/2 yards 1 1/2 yards 1 1/2 yards 1 1/2 yards 1 3/4 yards View B 1 1/4 yards 1 1/4 yards 1 1/2 yards 1 1/2 yards 1 1/2 yards 1 3/4 yards View A, Waistband 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard Piping, Both Views* 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard
SIZE 5 6 7 8 10 12 View A 1 3/4 yards 2 yards 2 yards 2 yards 2 1/4 yards 2 1/4 yards View B 2 yards 2 1/4 yards 2 1/4 yards 2 1/2 yards 2 1/2 yards 2 1/2 yards View A, Waistband 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard 1/4 yard Piping, Both Views* 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard 1/2 yard * Optional
Finished Measurements
SIZE 6-12 M 12-18 M 18-24 M 2T 3T 4 Chest 21 1/2" 22" 22 1/2" 23" 23 1/2" 24 1/2" Dress Length* 17 1/2" 18 1/2" 19 3/4" 20 3/4" 22" 23 1/4" Short Sleeve Length* 10 1/4" 10 1/2" 10 3/4" 11" 11 1/4" 11 1/2" 3/4 Sleeve Length* 15 1/4" 15 3/4" 16 1/4" 17" 17 1/2" 18 1/4"
SIZE 5 6 7 8 10 12 Chest 25 1/2" 26 1/2" 28" 29" 30 1/2" 31 1/2" Dress Length* 25" 26 3/4" 28 1/2" 30" 32" 34" Short Sleeve Length* 11 3/4" 12" 12 1/4" 12 1/2" 13" 13 1/4" 3/4 Sleeve Length* 19" 19 1/2" 20 1/4" 21" 22" 23" * Measured from shoulder at neck
-
English System Size Chest
(in)Waist
(in)Hip
(in)Height
(in)Weight
(lbs)6-12M 19 19 ½ 19 ½ 27-29 17-22 12-18M 19 ¾ 20 ½ 20 ½ 29-31 22-27 18-24M 20 ½ 21 21 31-33 27-30 2T 21 21 22 33-36 30-33 3T 21 ½ 21 23 36-39 33-36 4 22 ½ 21 ½ 24 39-42 36-39 5 23 ½ 22 25 ½ 42-45 39-44 6 24 ½ 22 ½ 26 ½ 45-49 45-55 7 25 ½ 23 27 ½ 49-52 56-64 8 26 ½ 23 ½ 28 ½ 52-54 65-72 10 28 24 30 54-56 73-77 12 29 25 31 ½ 56-58 78-82 Metric System Size Chest
(cm)Waist
(cm)Hip
(cm)Height
(cm)Weight
(kg)6-12M 48 50 50 69-74 8-10 12-18M 50 52 51 74-79 10-12 18-24M 52 53 56 79-84 12-14 2T 53 53 56 84-91 14-15 3T 55 53 58 91-99 15-16 4 57 55 61 99-107 16-18 5 60 56 65 107-114 18-20 6 62 57 67 114-124 20-25 7 65 58 70 124-132 25-29 8 67 60 72 132-137 29-33 10 71 61 76 137-142 33-35 12 74 64 80 142-147 35-37 -
Average rating: (4.9 of 5) based on 13 reviews
Perfect, Next to Try in KnitReviewed by Rachel (✓ Verified Buyer) on 03/03/2020My 7-year-old is very happy with her dress, she likes the wide "belt" as she calls it in contrast fabric. The instructions were great as always. I want to try the next one in knit as she generally prefers to wear knit dresses to school.Was this helpful?Best dress ever!Reviewed by Cathy McCue (✓ Verified Buyer) on 07/15/2019That is what my 8 year old granddaughter said about her birthday dress this year! Such a great pattern and directions so clear. Now the other three granddaughters would like the same dress.Was this helpful?Made the Library dress with knit fabric and love it!Reviewed by Kathy (✓ Verified Buyer) on 03/05/2019I have a stack of Oliver + S patterns now, I make them for my grandkids, who live across the country. I followed the blog and other online directions to make this from knit fabric and it is so sweet! The report is it fits. As directed I made it 2 sizes smaller than the grand girl wears, but added length.Was this helpful?My girls love their dresses!Reviewed by Kaitlin (✓ Verified Buyer) on 01/05/2019My girls don’t wear dresses. They just don’t like them. BUT, when they can pick the fabric and style, they will wear them for a few hours. All of their dresses have been made from Oliver + S patterns. The instructions are so easy to follow. I have a great time making them because I know I won’t get frustrated. This dress was no exception. It came together quickly and beautifully. My girls were thrilled with the results and happily wore them.Was this helpful?Library dressReviewed by cristina emslie (✓ Verified Buyer) on 01/06/2018I bought this pattern a few weeks before Christmas and completed it very quickly. It is absolutely a lovely design and comes with easy instructions. I have only made 6 dresses for my daughter and they have all bee Oliver&S. I love them all!Was this helpful?Well worth the explorationReviewed by jane doe (✓ Verified Buyer) on 01/05/2017I loved this pattern from day one, but was a little intimidated by its level of construction (beginner sewist here). Fortunately, someone on my sewing site encouraged me to give the Library Dress a try, and the result was pretty great. I used a quiet Japanese gauze print for the dress and two wonderful brocade ribbons, purchased at boltandspool.com, for the sash. I went way rogue on sash construction and then had to wing skirt attachment. Nevertheless, the dress came out beautifully, and I was astonished that it fit V perfectly. Now that I've dabbled in experimentation, I think I'll take the control route next time I make this fabulous dress.2 of 2 customers found this helpful.Was this helpful?Library DressReviewed by Nancy (✓ Verified Buyer) on 04/18/2016I love this pattern and have it in both sizes! I have sewn 3 sets of Big Sister/Little sister dresses from it! One of my favorite oliver+s!!! I have sewn for years, but I always pick up a hint from the pattern directions!
I wish all of the patterns were available in paper! Call me old-fashioned, but I would love to sew more oliver+s patterns if they came in paper and not just digital.4 of 4 customers found this helpful.Was this helpful?Love this pattern!!!!Reviewed by Deebee (✓ Verified Buyer) on 12/19/2015Great pattern, easy to follow instructions, I'd give it 10 stars if I could.Was this helpful?Oliver + S designsReviewed by Jan on 08/29/2015I bought this pattern to make for my grand-daughter and I love it. I love all the Oliver + S patterns I've tried so far, they are beautiful easy to make designs.Was this helpful?So Cute!Reviewed by Kate (✓ Verified Buyer) on 08/29/2015Bought this when it was on sale and so glad I did. A quick sew, easy instructions and it looks so cute! Can't wait to see my grand-daughter in it.Was this helpful?Great Pattern- fun Sewing- beautiful Result!!Reviewed by Katrin Füchtenschnieder on 05/22/2015This pattern was my first o+s pattern- and one of my first garment patterns- and I was really happy with it! A detailed tutorial with helpful photos made this sewing experience a very good one! My daughter loves the dress and I will definitely sew another one with this pattern. Worth every $- or €- greetings from Germanyð2 of 2 customers found this helpful.Was this helpful?Precious DressReviewed by Sherry Cragen on 02/21/2015I just finished this dress with short sleeves, no collar, and a contrasting waistband; and it is adorable. I rated it 4 stars, because it seems that the pictures accompanying the directions may not be quite accurate when attaching the waistband and waistband lining. Maybe I'm wrong, but the waistband is pictured upside down. Regardless, I love the pattern and the finished product.2 of 2 customers found this helpful.Was this helpful?Beautiful Christmas Dress!Reviewed by Sharron on 12/07/2014I think this pattern is even cuter than the pattern shows! I made a long sleeved one, by extending the 3/4 sleeves straight down to the right length for my daughter. It was beautiful in a green fine-wale corduroy with red/white striped trim. It was really easy to make, and explained well, just like all O + S patterns. I posted about it on my blog, www.oneclevermom.blogspot.com.1 of 1 customers found this helpful.Was this helpful? -
Errata
- In the first printing of the printed version of this pattern, there was a minor error in the illustration for Step 3 of the section Assemble the Front Dress. The original illustration shows the waistband being applied upside-down. Please refer to this corrected illustration for the proper alignment of the piece. This error has been corrected in the digital version of this pattern that is now available.
Determining Which Printing You Have
As errata are discovered, they are marked for correction in subsequent printings of the pattern. To determine which printing of an instruction sheet or pattern sheet you have, look at the copyright box which appears on each. Toward the bottom of the box, there is a series of numbers.
The lowest number you see there indicates which printing you have. For example, if the lowest number in the box on the instruction sheet is "2," you have an instruction sheet from the second printing. Any errors in the instructions mentioned for the first printing have been corrected in your version. If the lowest number in the box on the pattern sheet is "1," you have a copy of the pattern sheet from the first printing.
Pattern sheets and instructions sheets can be printed separately, so be sure to check the errata notices for pattern pieces against the printing number on the pattern sheet and errata notices for instructions against the printing number on the instruction sheet.
-
From the Discussion Forums
Discussion on the digital library dress sewing pattern from the Oliver + S Discussion Forums.
-
Your Photos
A selection of your photos from the Oliver + S Flickr group.
Find and share more photos on Instagram using the hashtags #librarydress and #oliverands.
