SUMMER MAXI DRESS | BUTTERICK 6758
It’s about that time! The temperatures are rising and the sun is blazing. So let the summer sewing begin. It’s all about cool, easy to wear, breezy garments. I love a good, comfortable maxi dress and I’m absolutely thrilled to add this one to my new wardrobe. Let’s get into the details.
Pattern Information
BUTTERICK 6758 is a drawstring waist dress with v-neck, side seam pockets, button front closure and skirt variations. View A has an added sleeve cuff and curved hem that ends just below the knee. View B has a straight, midi-length hem with a ruffled bottom tier. View A requires 10 pattern pieces, while View B uses 11. There are also two guide pattern pieces, one for buttonholes and the other for elastic.
The company rates the pattern as EASY which is a step beyond VERY EASY. I agree with this rating. If you are an advanced beginner who has experience sewing buttonholes, creating elastic casings for seam allowances, this project may not be too difficult. However, if you are a beginner, who’s ready to advance your skills, I think this could be a great pattern to challenge yourself. Take your time and break it down into manageable steps.
The pattern is currently available in sizes 6 – 22 in both Print and PDF on the Simplicity website. The pattern instructions are fairly straight forward and I found the illustrations to be helpful.
Fabric Information
The pattern calls for Cotton Blends, Linen, Crepe and Challis. I used this beautiful Rayon Crepe that I purchased from Joann’s a long time ago. I absolutely love this fabric because it’s so feminine and soft. You may be surprised that I chose this fabric as a wearable muslin. If you’re not familiar with this term, it’s different from a regular muslin where you only sew together the main pieces to check for fit, eliminating most design details. Whenever I sew a wearable muslin, I’m creating it to check for fit, and how the finished garment will look on me, especially when I’m hacking the pattern or making small changes to the design or functionality. I’ll discuss my changes in the Alterations section of this post.
I think the Rayon Crepe is an excellent choice for this design because of the beautiful drape. This particular fabric is very lightweight, to the point of being a bit translucent. Therefore I knew I would need to wear a slip underneath. As a beginner, working with Rayon Crepe may be challenging because it’s not as stable as fabrics with tighter weaves. I would recommend cotton blends and linen which are easier to sew but still offer some amount of drape.
Inside the Garment
I used my Baby Lock Chorus Sewing Machine to sew the entire dress. Because the fabric is so delicate and lightweight, I chose to sew French Seams for stability and longevity. Here are some closeup photos of the dress on the inside.
Notions Information
The only notions required to sew both dresses are 5/8 yard of 3/8″ elastic, and nine 1/2″ buttons. I used these adorable off-white buttons that I picked up from the garment district in Downtown Los Angeles. I went fabric shopping with Carol from @anncie2001 while she was visiting from Chicago. We found this shop that had all kinds of buttons. Unfortunately, they don’t have a website. I think the buttons are perfect for this dress, very feminine.
Alterations Information
When I first saw the pattern I knew immediately that I wanted to sew View B as a maxi dress. Also, I knew I wanted to sew the entire dress with French Seams, including the ruffle attachment to the skirt bottom. I cut a Size 6 and made several alterations.
I added 15″ to bottom ruffle but ended up cutting away a lot before hemming. It took lots of work to get the hem semi straight. It was the fabric. It’s always recommended to allow your garment to hang overnight before hemming when cut on the bias. This dress was not cut on bias. However, the length grew overnight. Therefore, I just kept folding and pressing, then cutting until I ended up with something I could be okay with wearing. But I plan to go back again and shorten the dress even more.
I did not want to sew a seam allowance casing for the elastic, which is what the instructions include. Instead, I made my own casing. I cut a strip of fabric 3″ wide, with a length equal to the circumference of the waist. Next, I sewed a 1/8″ seam, turned it right side out, pressed flat, and stitched it to the inside of the dress, centered on top of the waist seam. I prefer this method with lightweight fabrics because it provides a more stable casing. You can also use purchased bias tape to sew an elastic casing.
If you use a lightweight fabric and choose to sew a seam allowance casing, I recommend increasing the seam allowance to 1″ to give yourself more room to feed the elastic through. Be sure to add the extra that you took out from the waist to the bottom skirt and ruffle tier. Since the pattern requires a 5/8″ seam, when you add 3/8″ to make it 1″, remember that 3/8″ is being taken from the bodice and skirt which equals 3/4″. If you don’t care about losing that length from your finished garment, then skip adding it back.
I omitted the pockets for my wearable muslin because I did not want the show through. Because this fabric is so thin and light colored, the pocket bags would have shown through the fabric. I really don’t like that look. This dress screams for pockets, so I will definitely be adding them when I sew my next dress.
Note: Because I used a very lightweight fabric, I paired it with a lightweight and soft interfacing. For this reason, the point on the front right neckline doesn’t remain standing. If you look at the model on the pattern envelope, you will see that her neckline stands on both sides. I did not want a stiff neckline so I’m not bothered by one side flopping open. I actually like it. If you prefer both sides standing, use a more structured interfacing.
Styling Options
I made the dress to be worn casually for all kinds of occasions. I wore it to church last Sunday and it is SO COMFORTABLE. I wore it with a pair of flip flops, simple gold jewelry, and carried my cream tote. I also tried it with my brown kitten heels. When I wore it with the flats, I had to tie the drawstring tighter and raise the waist to make it shorter. This is why I plan to shorten the dress again.
What do you think?
I would love to hear your feedback. Scroll to the very bottom of this page to leave a comment.
Thank you for stopping by today! 💕
Other Related Links
- Sewing Project Checklist
- Learn to SEW Course
- Baby Lock Soprano
- Baby Lock Vibrant
- Baby Lock Euphoria
- Baby Lock Chorus
(DISCLAIMER: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. All opinions in this post are my own.).)
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This Post Has 30 Comments
They both are beautiful. You did an awesome job. They look gorgeous on you. Thank you for sharing.
Anita, that dress is beautiful! I passed up that pattern because I believe that it won’t look flattering on my plus sized menopausal body! Your bag reminded me of a Vogue patterns bag that I had sewn in leather several years ago. Maybe I need to take a second look at that pattern!
I recently bought this pattern and was thinking of making it in version A. You got me thinking, and I love your version of view B, though with a shorter ruffle. I love your choice of Rayon Crepe! Very pretty, and as you say, feminine.
I hope you post a video of this dress. I am very interested in seeing how you make your own casing.
Q: To add pockets to that fabric, would a light sewn-in facing (like a 50% Cotton, 50% Silk Chiffon) work to prevent the pockets from showing?
How beautiful! The dress, fabric, seamwork and the finished product. You look wonderful in it. I have this pattern and you’ve inspired me to move it to the top of the sew pile! Thanks for the tips and suggestions.
Dear Anita, as ever, your sewing and fabric/pattern matching is superb! You are truly an inspiration, so much so, your circle skirt tutorial was the one that encouraged me to dust off my late mom’s sewing machine and get going again. At that point, I had recently retired and hadn’t sewn a stitch for years. The next step was to make the button through pleated skirt also using your video tutorial. Then I found my sewing legs after that. Without your guidance and encouragement, I doubt if l would ever have returned to sewing. Throughout my working years, have done a lot of satisfying hand embroidery.
When your husband passed away, I felt your pain keenly, on the other side of the world, in South Africa. The power of the Lord allowed us to pray for you and care about you, my sister. May you and your sons remain blessed.
Much love from Sally in South Africa
Anita, you did it again!!❤️❤️I love your picks. You make them look so easy. French seams look amazing and I liked the buttons too.
I can’t wait to see your next iteration of this pattern. This wearable muslin is beautiful. Do French seams require more seam allowance when cutting out the fabric?
I love the fabric you used, and french seams are a good choice for this fabric. I had same issue with a skirt, I left it hanging overnight and still was challenging to get the hem straight. Yours dress looks great!
Hello,
You did an excellent job on the dress. The inside is nice and clean. The fabric is so adorable! 🔥 I enjoy a beautiful maxi as well.
Wow! That fabric is so delicate and beautiful!
Another beautiful creation! Anita I so love your thoughtful blogs, videos and posts. You have no idea how important your content is to me and I know so very many. Thank you for being a lovely light in the sewing world.
You always make very nice, modest attire. So well made. Always look as if you purchased the garment from the department store. Love, love, love your work. I don’t personally know you, however, to me, you seem like a very godly, elegant, beautiful woman. Thank you.
Anita, your makes are always gorgeous! You sew a lot of maxi dresses, and they look great on you. I wonder if you wouldn’t mind sharing your height. I am 5’3″ and have shied away from maxi dresses because I didn’t know if they would look good on a shorter person. Thanks!
Perfect ANITA…..simply PERFECT.
Anita this dress is beautiful! The French seams are perfect. As usual you did an exquisite job.
Oh, Anita, another lovely creation! What a great pattern; I love the fact that the second tier hits around the knee, not the hip. Making it in rayon means it will be soooo cool for summer, too. If I were to make it, I would need the longer sleeve extension just to cover my wrinkled arms. Like you, I’m not bothered by the floppy neckline; it makes for a nicely asymmetric effect. Both the dress style and the flowered fabric look beautiful on you, and when you shorten the length, you will have the versatility to wear it with both flats and kitten heels. Well done!
I love sewing my own clothes. You are so talented and you always look so polished. Your step by instructions are so helpful. I love this dress its so beautiful. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your community.
lovely dress
Omg! You are so inspirational! I’m have been sewing for years. You make me pay attention to all the details from muslin to
fitting to great looking garment on the inside.
Thanks you so much for sharing your gift to us.
Almost forgot, your outfit is gorgeous!
Love everything about this dress, fabric, pattern, design everything. Perfect for a nice summer evening or casual girls event.
The dress is so pretty, and your workmanship is impeccable. The pictures are so helpful, I love seeing how it comes together, and it’s helpful when you list your tips and techniques. A lovely dress for a summer day!
Thank you so much, Patricia! I’m glad to hear that you enjoy all the details. 💕
How beautiful. You always look so good. Please add more classes to your website besides a beginner course. Example: finishing inside the dress, beyond threading on a serger.
I have a Solaris II sewing machine and an Evolve serger. I would only use a Babylock machine because Nancy Ziemann used one. Thank you for showing us your talents.❤️
Hi Cindy! Thank you so much for your feedback and expressing your desire for another class. I’ve actually had plans to create the next level course. I need to make to time to put that together. I’m listening Cindy. 💕
Your dress is absolutely gorgeous. I find the length to be fine. The material choice is spot on. You have great sewing skills.
Thank you so much, Sonia!
Dear Anita,
I love maxi dresses as well as you, my other “cup of tea” are retro 50’s style dresses😍 Thanks for sharing, you look pretty in your dress as always🙂
Hi Dagmar! Oh, I’m sure you look fabulous in your 50’s style dresses.
Thanks for sharing. I love the way it looks on you
Thank you Lydia!💕