Butterick B6723 is a dress pattern with two views: one is a straight skirt with a shirttail hem and elbow length, gathered sleeves; the other has a full A line skirt and three-quarter-length sleeves with ties. Both views of the dress have a button-fronted bodice and an elasticated waist which gives the whole dress a neat silhouette and helps it to drape nicely on the body. It is finished with a long sash which is tied in a bow at the waist.

I love both versions of the dress and, initially, I thought I would do the full skirted View B but later when my fabric arrived, I decided I preferred the straight version. So, I went ahead with View A. The printed pattern comes in two size bands so be sure to select the correct band. I fall in band B. I made size XL according to my measurements.

This dress is a lovely sewing project that is suitable for all levels of sewing experience. There is a little hand sewing involved in preparing the bodice and finishing the binding on the neckline, but most of the work can be done on a regular sewing machine. You don’t need to use an overlocker/serger but if you have one you can use it to finish the seams.

The instructions are clear and I’m pretty sure an advanced beginner could take this on successfully as well as more experienced seamstresses. The only thing I would like to see included would be some suggestions for finishing the seams. I ended up pinking my raw edges to prevent unravelling, but I think if I made this dress again, I would either use the overlocker or if I were using finer material I’d even consider French seams for the longer seams.

The fabric I chose is a beautiful Tencel twill that came from ClothSpot. This is such a nice fabric that has a lovely weight and has a buttery soft hand. The golden colour looks very sophisticated and I finished it with some complementary buttons from my stash. I think it would be suitable for casual, workwear or a special occasion dress depending on the accessories you chose.

I made one change to my dress as I decided I didn’t want the elastic finish at my elbows and I left the sleeves full to give it a little drama. In addition, although I am quite short waisted, I’d like the waist a little lower, so if I were to make the dress again. I think I would add a couple of centimetres here. Overall though, I'm really pleased with how this turned out and think it’s perfect dressed up for a dinner out and great for winter or spring in this weight of cloth.

Say hi to Elaine on Instagram: laineemakes


Try it for yourself!

Love Sewing Issue 103, which includes this beautiful pattern and lots more gorgeous dressmaking inspiration, is on sale in the UK from 13th January 2021.

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