Pattern Review: Butterick 6168

[This is part of the Dress Up Party, hosted by Sara at Sew Sweetness. Check it out for lots of pattern reviews and giveaways!]

I’ve long been a fan of Liesl Gibson’s designs (Oliver+S, Straight Stitch Society and Lisette), so when I heard she was partnering up with Butterick to release more Lisette patterns, I was all over that one. Yes, please, where do I sign up?

Luckily for me I stumbled onto them back at Sew Expo this spring and bought the Butterick 6168 right away. I made it up using Sara’s new Fantasia voile, which was gorgeous, but I messed up the front somehow and was left with quite the plunging neckline (photos and dress are NSFW!).

So instead of fixing it, I just made another because that’s how I roll.

This version is made with Robert Kaufman’s Essex Linen in Plum and it’s just lovely fabric to work with, of course. I adore that the pattern was totally wearable in both the featherweight voile and the heavier linen, both hanging beautifully and super comfortable.

My favorite feature of the pattern is the bodice. It’s super comfortable without fussing with darts and that narrow strip across is a great little design detail.   

I made a couple of changes to the pattern because I can never leave a pattern alone, it seems. I hate zippers up the back (they are a single girl’s frustration), so I moved it to the right side which makes the pull easier to reach and less intrusive in the design. I used a 9″ deep brown zipper, which worked out just fine.   

I also added darts to the neckline to take in extra fabric left when I placed the fabric on the fold rather than keeping the back seam. The pattern curves slightly along the back, so I had to make up for that and my slightly rounded shoulders by including the 1/4″ darts.   

I really like the back, too! I brought in the back darts an extra inch on each, lengthening them as well, to fit my back waist, but made no changes to the back skirt because of the forgiving gathers. Super easy alterations!  You can also use the optional ties to pull it in if you have a narrow waist, too.   

I’ll be adding pockets and using chambray for  the next iteration of this dress. It’s just so comfortable and flattering, plus easy alterations make this my new go-to pattern.

Pattern Name: Butterick 6168 by Lisette/Liesl GibsonTime Required: 5 hours
Rating:  Intermediate
Would I Make It Again?: Yes!
What I Changed: Moved zipper from back to side, added neck darts, deepened back bodice darts