Edelweiss Patterns Butterick 6285 Pattern Review
When I spotted the new 1950s pattern by Gertie, (Butterick 6285), I thought, “that’s nearly an exact replica of Vera Ellen’s wrap top and skirt from the film White Christmas!” (Albeit minus the collared dickey worn underneath the top in the movie.)
I don’t know if it’s what the designer had in mind or not, but it certainly was a nice surprise! (Every year I also replicate a costume from a classic Christmas movie – last year I sewed Mary’s dancing dress from It’s a Wonderful Life, and the year before that I drafted and sewed the blue dress from White Christmas.)
Butterick 6285 Pattern Review
You’ll notice that the pattern Butterick 6285 has a pleated skirt included, so I opted to use a different pattern for the skirt in order to go for the circular skirt look of Vera Ellen’s (“Judy”) White Christmas costume.
I searched far and wide to find a polka dot knit similar to the one that Edith Head used for White Christmas, but an exact replica proved impossible to find. So I had to settle for larger black polka dots on the red knit. I followed the wrap top directions exactly, and I’m thrilled with the ease of the pattern and the comfy and flattering results. The knit fabric makes for a cozy top that is fully lined, has darts in the back, and closes with a tie that you can place in the front or the back. I chose to wrap my ties all the way around to the back, which made a cute bow to trail down the skirt. The whole top came together in a few hours, and the instructions are well written.
The only thing I would change about this design is the length of it. I’m short-waisted, but I found it continually riding up a bit higher than my skirt waistband which was above my natural waistline… So if I make it again I would add an inch or two to the bottom.
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I wore this outfit to a holiday afternoon tea at the Columbia Gorge Hotel. I guess after five months of marriage it was a good time to introduce my husband to the ritual of afternoon tea. He was a very good sport about it and enjoyed the food more than I thought he would. (Not all men view cucumber cream cheese finger sandwiches as something safe to eat.) I have a feeling this is not the last time we’ll be going to tea together.
So that’s my Christmas dress for 2015! If you made your own dress this year, please link to it in the comments below.
Till next time,
Katrina
Beautiful! I love the White Christmas costumes! It’s so fun to see which costumes you choose to replicate each year!
I had seen Gertie’s pattern but couldn’t think of how it matched to actual 1950’s garments, so thank you so much for sharing the similarity to the White Christmas dress. I will have to watch it again and super analyze it!
I always enjoy your Christmas dress posts so you inspired me last year to sew one of my own.
http://teacupsinthegarden.blogspot.com/2015/12/1957-christmas-party-dress.html
Laurie
Hi Laurie!
That is a totally gorgeous cranberry dress you made! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Happy New Year,
Katrina
The reason Vera Ellen’s outfits all had the high necklines in White Christmas was she had been an anorexic for years. Of course this was before it had a name. By the time White Christmas was made her neck had become wrinkled from the constant purging. Edith Head had to make her outfits to cover her neck but compensated by going the other extreme on some of her outfits to show ALL of her legs which were quite lovely. Your outfit turned out beautiful. I went and looked at the pattern. If I get it I will heed your advise and add to the bottom of the top. I would probably also add to the length of the skirt. I have several circle skirted dresses and the longer ones are so much fun. That much more to swish!
Hi TerriSue!
I’d heard that, too! It’s so sad that some people become so focused on being “skinny” that they makes themselves quite unhealthy. 🙁 But her clothes were just gorgeous in White Christmas, and I loved making this one!
Happy New Year,
Katrina
Oh, I love the dress, and love the tea tradition!
Lovely outfits, as usual. The polka dot top looks super comfortable and put together (I love garments that have both those qualities!). Very fun that you had a new addition to your Christmas tradition. 🙂
Best,
Quinn
Thank you so much, Quinn!! I LOVE all your outfits too! For some reason my computer gives me a lot of trouble when I try to comment on your blog posts, but I read the vast majority of them!
Happy sewing,
Katrina
I love your tea tradition and the lovely, inspiring dresses you sew!
Will you be making Mary’s dancing dress pattern available?
Happy New Year, Coral
Hi Coral!
Thanks so much. 🙂 Oh, do you mean the one that “Mary Bailey” wore? No, at this point my schedule is so cram-packed that I’m doing well just to squeeze in a blog post here and there and an occasional afternoon of sewing, but I don’t have time/plans to release any more patterns in the immediate future. 🙂 Thanks for asking!
Happy sewing,
Katrina
Yes that’s the one! I am so sad to hear this! 🙁 But I understand it would be a big undertaking!! Thank you 🙂
I love your mother’s dress ! I feel called to wear slightly longer skirts and it is just perfect !
I love both of the dresses! Here is my over due Christmas outfit post! http://musingsofasouthernseamstress.blogspot.com/2016/03/christmas-shimmer-1950s-christmas-outfit.html