Pattern name
Butterick 6213, View B
Butterick 6213
Size range
8-24
Butterick 6213 finished garment measurements
What size did you make?
I cut a 20 at the shoulders, grading out to a 22 at the bust, waist, and hips.
What are your measurements, height, and body type?
48″-42″-51″
What adjustments did you make and how long did they take?
I wanted a plain knit dress with no embellishments, so I omitted the buttons/zipper on the right side by folding the center piece down the middle and cutting the “plain” side on the fold. That made assembly a snap – 2 hours max (after cutting the pattern and fabric).
What was the construction process like? Did the instructions make sense to you?
Like most of the Big 4 patterns, the instructions are pretty straightforward, but miss some of the extras (diagrams, sewalongs, and other more explicit step-by-step hand holding) that I like from the indie pattern houses. The one problem I had with construction is the sleeves – the bottom seams don’t line up and I didn’t realize that until I had already sewn on one of the sleeves (which was then terrible skewed). Thankfully, I had some extra room so just trimmed the seam and resewed it on. Just make sure you match your notches and you should be fine.
B6213 front and back views
How do you like the pattern’s fit? Do you think the design works well for your particular body shape?
This is hands-down the most comfortable dress I own. It is very flattering for a pear shape (very forgiving in the butt/hip area), but does accentuate the bust. So if you are boobtastic like me, you’ll want to think about how the bust seams may make you look even more generous. (I found that an artfully placed scarf took this dress from “pretty nice” to “I will never take this off.” Plus, the pockets are AMAZING.
B6213 plain, accessorized with scarf, and accessorized with kitty
Will you make the pattern again? If so, what fit or design changes will you make?
In the final fitting stages, I ended up taking in about 2 inches on each side to create a closer fitting silhouette. I might reduce that to 1 inch on each side in the future, since I have a little pulling across my butt and an unflattering underwear/tights line at my belly if I don’t stand up straight.
I can’t wait to make more – I can see this being an amazing winter dress in a thicker ponte, or maybe even a stretch tartan (although the idea of matching plaid on those pocket pieces makes my eyes cross). And next time I will make the full-length sleeves. (I only omitted them this time because I didn’t have enough fabric.)
Do you have any advice on this pattern for other curvy sewers? Are there any resources (blog posts, fitting books, tutorials) that helped you sew this piece up?
You can comfortably size down (1 size) when cutting this pattern. You’ll likely find that you can take out some additional ease once the pieces go together, but I suggest that you wait until most of the construction is done, just in case!
Pattern Rating System:
Size Range (1-5): 4
Instructions (1-5): 4
Construction Process (1-5): 4
Final Fit (1-5): 4
Overall Rating (1-5): 4
Final word:
This dress is a definite keeper, and something that you can dress up or down and adjust for seasonal temperature fluctuations based on fabric choice. I can see myself making more of these down the road, and with some tweaking for a perfect fit this could be a 5!
And here’s a gratuitous kitty outtake from my photoshoot!
Psssssssst!!!!!! YOUR ROCKING THIS BY THE WAY
This is Da’Bomb…..I’ve ordered the pattern and cant wait to try it out….It should be nice in black for Christmas celebration….thanks for the tip to place the front on fold….. 🙂
That looks terrific. I passed this one up a couple of times because of the assymetrical buttons and the roomy pockets which I thought would make my hips look even bigger. Love how it turned out on you! I will definitely have to pick this up next time Butterick patterns are on sale.
This pattern is already in my stash and I read the instructions about the zipper and decided that sounded tricky and wondered about eliminating it. Thank you so much for doing it and now I’m sure that I will, too, cause yours turned out great!
Definitely eliminate the zipper — who has time for it? (Besides, I didn’t want it feeling scratchy against my skin.)
This looks lovely. Soft grey really works
I did another version in solid charcoal gray this weekend (with extra long sleeves and a cowl neck) and it is even better than the first!
Please share that pic, would love to do this with the cowl neck.
Just posted a photo on instagram (@weboughtamanor. It’s hard to see the cowl, but essentially I just raised the neckline cut about 1.5 inches, cut a wide piece of neckband (same length as the pattern, but about 16 inches wide), folded the neck piece in half with wrong sides together, then sewed it to the bodice right sides together, easing where necessary. Good luck!
Hello I don’t have instagram….can you share pic…. 🙂
Wow! What a cute dress. It’s so much cuter on you than the pattern envelope! I plan to make one based on your example. Great review!
Thanks! I spent the evening making one from a mid-weight charcoal jersey (w/ spandex for amazing recovery). I added a cowl neck and extra long sleeves — and might love it even more than my original…
Great looking dress. Very flattering.
Thanks Kathy!
Jennifer, both Katherine and Marcy Tilton posted your review on their Facebook page! Your 15 mins of fame! Katherine loved your choices.
I’m famous!! Honestly, seeing these comments come in over the last 24 hours has made me feel so special and loved.
Really cute dress and a great find. who doesn’t like an easy to sew dress, with pockets, that can be made or styled for any season. great review.
Thank you! You should definitely give it a try.
This looks fantastic on you and I am buying this pattern as soon as i can. I want five tomorrow.Thanks for such a helpful review.
Thanks — I bet that you love it!
Great dress on you! You look lovely!
Bonnie @ sewplus.blogspot.com
Thanks Bonnie — it’s a special thing to find a pattern that both looks great and feels great. (It’s definitely a “secret pajamas” situation.)
Love, love, love on you Jennifer. Inspired me so much it’s in my shopping bag already! I love it without the zipper and buttons and will use your sew-along to make my own. I love how it fits you – you look amazing and beautiful in it!! Great blog.
Thank you very much! Seriously, Butterick should hire me because I am positively evangelical about this pattern. I bet that you LOVE IT!
Ooh, Jennifer, this is great! I have to say, this is a pattern that looks so much better on a body with curves than on the model- it’s so shapeless on her, but just perfect on you! Love your outtake, too!
Thanks Meg! As a relatively new garment sewist, I still have a hard time translating in my head how a pattern will look on my body in comparison to the pattern drawing and photos. I definitely lucked out on this one.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would never ever of thought this for my (our) body shape. I love your changes, especially about the zipper! I am going to wait for the next pattern sale, (maybe) and make this. But I am also seriously looking at this, and thinking of this great J.Crew plaid jaquard double knit I have, to use that for the side pieces that are under the pockets and a matching solid for the back and the front. OK, just talked myself into doing this sooner, nuts to sales!
Do it! And then post photos — several of us here are dying to see this pattern in plaid!
Like every other person here (seemingly), I would never have looked twice at this pattern before I saw you in it! I love it. Quick question: does the pattern specify how much stretch is needed in the knit? Or what do you recommend, percentage wise?
Just dug the pattern out of my “maybe this weekend” stack to check on the stretch suggestions — it says that 4 inches of fabric should stretch to 5.25 inches. If my math is correct, that’s a 30% stretch.
Thank you for the info! I’ve seen so many patterns calling for 50-60% stretch lately, but I’ve had trouble finding knits with that much stretch that aren’t too sheer for a dress. I’m putting this one on the list for sure now. 🙂
This looks fabulous on you!!and comfortable!! I am similar size and shape and have been looking (depressed about) finding a dress pattern for the holidays, I think this will be a perfect little black dress, or maybe red! No cat ,will have to accessorize with my longhair mini daschund.
Cat and mini daschund accessories are VERY on trend. 🙂
Looks great!
Thank you!
Love, love, LOVE that dress! I am more of a pear than you are and I would have never given that dress a second look, but your version makes me seriously reconsider. I’m a beginner sewist and I think I could pull this off. Honestly, the pockets might emphasize where I don’t need it, but I still think it is a good design. Thanks for sharing!
I think because the pockets are “supposed” to be big/prominent that it can actually do a great job of camouflaging larger hips — or at least making it seem like we’re at the cutting edge of design. 🙂
I am willing to give it a try if I can find the right knit!
Does this site allow advertising?
No, and I’ve deleted the comment.
Just a quick question? How tall are you? That will make it easier for me to decide if my sister will need extra length in the torso so the pockets are in the right place! Thanks.
I’m 5’5″. Or sometimes 5’6″ with curly (eg puffy) hair. 🙂
Thank you for doing this pattern and posting it. It’s one I wouldn’t have even given a thought too, interesting style but maybe a bit baggy in the pictures but Wow in making! I’m definitely buying this one. It looks terrific on you, good job!
Thank you! I am eager to see my curvy colleagues storming the streets in this pattern!
I have almost the same measurements as you (and I’m also a jennifer!), so this is awesome seeing a preview of what it would look like on my body. 🙂
I’m curious though: I would have chosen to make the 24, so what made you make the sizing decisions you did? I’m assuming you made the 20/22 before you took it in by 2 inches, so if that’s wrong, please correct me!
You are correct. I always size down with Big 4 patterns, since they make them for giants (vanity sizing? I don’t know the reason)…
I love your dress! When I saw the picture from the pattern envelope I had reservations how nice it would look made up. But I was presently surprised. You look awesome in that dress!!!
Love your dress. Will add this pattern to my purchase in the future list–not too distant future.
Thanks! I got the pattern during one of those amazing pattern sales at Joann, so I think I only spent $1.50 on it. The Art Gallery knit fabric was another $$$$$$ story.
This is one CUTE dress, like it so much better without the zips…your pockets are just right did you have to move them up? After your review I’m going to make this dress too!
Thank you! I was initially worried that people would read this review and be like “you lazy git, the dress is all about the zipper/buttons!” I am intensely relieved to find that you agree that its SO. MUCH. BETTER. without the embellishments.
To answer your question, I followed the pocket construction exactly as directed. They are PERFECT.
That is a seriously cute dress. I agree with the others – I probably would not have looked twice at this pattern but seeing it on you changes my mind!
Thank you! I have to be honest, it’s been hard to even look at other patterns in my bin, knowing that this one is ready and waiting for more makes…
Your version of the dress looks infinitely more appealing than the pattern envelope and drawings! So pretty, comfortable, and versatile looking. If I were looking at just the pattern envelope, it would have been an instant “nope”. But your choice with removing the zipper/button feature was a good call, and you are totally rocking the pockets. I have 3 yards of black ponte in the stash and a hankering for a new winter dress… Hmmm…. Thanks for the great review!
Three yards will definitely be enough for long sleeves — I had only 2.5 yards and had to eke out the final pieces. I think ponte will be a fabulous fabric choice — while my Art Gallery knit is like wearing a snuggly kitten next to my skin (but not in a creepy way, if that’s possible), it does have a smidge more drape than I’d like. Next time I’ll go with something with a little more body so it’s not so clingy.
When I saw the pattern, I thought, well that won’t work for me. Then when I continued to read and saw how you omitted the zipper–I got excited. It looks great and has a lot of styling possibilities. Thanks for the review.
Yes! Because the pockets are single-layer, it would be SO EASY to make it shorter for a tunic, longer for a maxi dress, etc. Make it… make it now!!
Cute cat. I like the dress, and like you, I like the IDEA of it in a plaid. Would the plaid work better on the bias? Or do plaid insets and the main dress in a solid? Just tossing some ideas out there… I like that scarf too.
I thought of that too. Great design lines for color/texture blocking.
Yes, yes, yes! I love your thinking about bias-cutting the plaid. I have to be honest, unless you come over and do it for me, I’m not sure I have the patience to even attempt a plaid. But now I expect to see others cropping up — and then I will take credit for starting the trend!
(The scarf was $8 from Target. I wear it at least weekly.)
I’m the wrong person to help you with plaid. I’ve never sewn with it.
Nice review. I had been eyeing up this pattern since it came out. I didn’t like the zipper and wondered what it would look like on a more substantial woman! Looks really great on you! If my opinion means anything I do not see boobtastic at all. Just really nice shape and a woman who is loving her look!
Great job!
THANK YOU!