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Pleats & Pockets -- Butterick 6459 & 6461

Nothing like a new shirt and pant to welcome Spring!

Even with the wet and gray weather we've been experiencing here in the northwest, sewing with lighter colors and florals brings on a smile.

Butterick 6461 Pockets Pant, cropped version.


Reminds me of what's to come -- flowers and sunshine. Keep an eye on marcytilton.com for the great stretch wovens Marcy offers.


Butterick 6461 Pockets Pant.


The pants have two deep pockets on the front leg which add a nice design detail along with some practicality. An extra deep hem offers the versatility to wear the pant long or to roll up the finished hem for a cropped look.

This top can be worn as both a shirt and a jacket.


Butterick 6459 Pleatback Shirt or Jacket.


It works alone as a shirt or as a jacket layering piece over a tank or T.

Butterick 6459 Pleatback Shirt or Jacket.


A multi-colored version was created using different patterned taffetas.


Pre-washed taffetas waiting to be pressed. Washing softens the taffeta and pressing readies it for cutting.

Taffeta version of Butterick 6458.


Four different taffetas were used in this version. Buttons are vintage.

Fabric swatches on pattern pieces.


Always look for balance and harmony in the design. One way to do this is by shifting swatches around on the pattern pieces. Work with one side of the pattern and then the other when making design decisions.In the photo above each pattern piece is ready to be cut singly in two different fabrics, one for the left side and one for the right.

Curving pleats enhance the back.




Pleats are marked on the inside & stitched to the outside.I like to begin by stitching up every other pleat.


Then finish stitching the remainder of the pleats and press.



The yoke was cut double so there would be more contrast fabric by the face.




The center front facing was trimmed off and tucked up under the the yoke lining/facing.




The yoke lining/facing pinned and ready to be slip-stitched in place.


The yoke and collar crush softly around the face.




Pleats in the back yok repeat the design element and can be pressed up or down.




Back of the taffeta version.



Butterick 6459 (ignore what it says on the photo).

Happy Sewing!
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