I’m an experienced sewer but, I haven’t sewn anything complicated in years. This dress was fairly easy. It’s probably not accurate, as are many of the patterns in the Making History series. I couldn’t find any dresses from the period that resembled this when I researched it. The abbreviated, awful instructions found in too many Butterick patterns are here in force. Even worse, several of the illustrations are incorrect or unclear. The pattern calls for 60-inch wide fabric for the outer tunic, and they mean it because the tunic pattern won’t fit on the fabric! You can use 45-inch wide material for the tunic but. you’ll have a seam down the front which actually may help with fit and prevent the tunic shoulders from drooping. Several careful fittings during construction are a must. Ignore the instructions on seaming the sleeves together if you’re using sheer fabric; you’re better off using French seams. If you have heavy upper arms, you may have to cut the sleeves larger at the shoulder. I used a satin and didn’t bother to add the trim called for at the bottom of the tunic, as the pattern construction makes a self trim ribbon.
Caren Johannes –
I’m an experienced sewer but, I haven’t sewn anything complicated in years. This dress was fairly easy. It’s probably not accurate, as are many of the patterns in the Making History series. I couldn’t find any dresses from the period that resembled this when I researched it. The abbreviated, awful instructions found in too many Butterick patterns are here in force. Even worse, several of the illustrations are incorrect or unclear. The pattern calls for 60-inch wide fabric for the outer tunic, and they mean it because the tunic pattern won’t fit on the fabric! You can use 45-inch wide material for the tunic but. you’ll have a seam down the front which actually may help with fit and prevent the tunic shoulders from drooping. Several careful fittings during construction are a must. Ignore the instructions on seaming the sleeves together if you’re using sheer fabric; you’re better off using French seams. If you have heavy upper arms, you may have to cut the sleeves larger at the shoulder. I used a satin and didn’t bother to add the trim called for at the bottom of the tunic, as the pattern construction makes a self trim ribbon.