Butterick 6962
Pattern Picture:
Project Photo:
Pattern Rating:
According to Butterick, this is an easy pattern. I would also say it is an easy pattern.
Pattern Description:
Girls’ a-line dress, above mid-knee has elastic/partial drawstring neck, front slit/raised waist, short sleeves with elastic hem, back zipper, narrow hem. A) flounce A/B) contrast over-dress
Pattern Sizing/Sizing Used:
This pattern is plus-sized girl’s 8 1/2 to 16 1/2 ; I made an altered size 14 1/2
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
It somewhat does, with the plus size girls’ the waist fitting is less and/or should be on my dd and is with my alteration.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions were easy to follow, really had no questions of what they wanted done.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I have a couple of issues with this pattern. 1) has an elastic neckline would you need a zipper too? I really thought this was overkill and omitted it from my version 2) that the finished waist measurement on this was so small for a plus size girl 3) the way they want you to complete the elastic in the neck and the tie is impossible as written 4) since this is the over-dress suggested in a sheer fabric why not include some better instructions for sewing on sheer fabric (a few French seams).
Fabric & Notions Used:
I used a polyester sheer georgette, navy with white polka dots, from Vogue Fabrics; A solid navy lightweight polyester for the under-dress.
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
The main alteration was to increase the waist/tummy area on only the front of the dress. My plus size dd has a full tummy, therefore needs the extra through that area. I used my typical slash/spread the front pieces. This means I had to attach the bodice pattern piece to the skirt pattern piece. I than measured the waist of the pattern front piece, along with the area 2 inches below the waist (my dd’s fullest tummy area); I compared the finished front measurements to dd’s actual front measurements. I then added the extra I would need to the fullest part of her tummy to maintain the ease of the original dress. This slash & spread method maintains the added fabric through the bodice then into the skirt. Once I have added the extra needed I separate the bodice & the skirt pattern pieces as the original pattern.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I might sew it again, but doubt it. This is not the best-looking dress on my plus size dd. I think the way the dress is made and cut is just not a style that looks good on the plus size girl. I also think the neckline is a little wide.
Tips:
Before sewing the casing on the neckline read carefully! I really do not like how Butterick did the neckline. The way it reads the elastic should run to a shoulder point on the neck, and then you run the tie in? I really don’t like the neckline the way they did it. I ran elastic through the entire neckline, and then only attached the ties to the front portion.
Conclusion
DD says she likes the dress, but I noticed it is not the first one she will put on. I should probably let this pattern go now, as I doubt I would make it again. It just is not a design/style that looks the best on my dd.
