New Look 6123: tweed sheath dress

New Look 6123 Grey wool mix tweed sheath dress with side flounce

New Look 6123 is, IMO,  a pattern you have to have in your stash readers. Why? Because it is essentially two completely different dresses in a single envelope. Two patterns for the price of one, so to speak. Have a look at the line drawings:

New Look 6123 line drawings

Do you see that there are two completely different bodice variations and two completely different skirt variations, not to mention the sleeve variations and the side skirt flounce? Whoooweee!

I chose to  make the bodice with flange (snigger snigger for those British readers who know who Keith Lemon is) sleeves from view D, with the skirt from view A/C and the flounce from view B/D in a grey wool mix tweed fabric.

The dress I made is essentially a classic sheath dress. Although I do love the look of a sheath dress, I rarely buy them RTW because of the problems I have in getting them to fit. If they fit on the hips they will be too big on the bust. If the fit on the bust, they are too tight on the hips. You all know what I am saying. Then you need pants reinforced with steel girders to suck you in when you get the dress on. So making this dress (my first sheath) was quite….empowering….because I got to make a sheath that fits ME. My usual size on top, grading out two sizes bigger on the hips.

New Look 6123 Grey wool mix tweed sheath dress with side flounce

Still being very much on a learning curve in terms of my sewing education, there were a few tutorials out there which I found invaluable in making this dress:

1. I made a full tummy adjustment. I know it just doesn’t sound terribly flattering, but sometimes you just have that little bit of a rounded tummy. I followed a combination of the tutorial on coletterie and also the Singer method, which I found on this blog.

2. In addition to the above, I read that having front darts is not the most flattering for a rounded tummy, so I converted the front darts to ease, using this tutorial on Frabjous Couture’s blog. It worked out pretty good for me, because the wool mix tweed I was working with lent itself well to being steamed.

3. I used this tutorial  by Sewing Divas to learn how to hem by hand and I am very pleased with the results.

New Look 6123 side flounce

New Look 6123 flange sleeves – don’t know if they stick out a little too much. Husband muttered something about star trek when I tried the dress on.

New Look 6123 side flounce/ back view.

Here’s my review of the pattern:

Pattern Description:

Misses’ dress with sleeve and bodice variations including flattering drape and ruffle detail. I made the bodice with flange sleeves from view D, with the skirt from view A/C and the flounce from view B/D.

Pattern Sizing:

8 – 18

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes, think so.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes, I think on the whole they were, although I didn’t follow them totally as I did a full tummy adjustment, converted the darts to ease and also fully lined the dress (the pattern is for an unlined dress).

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I love the fact there are potentially 2 different dresses in this envelope. I like the all the variations in the envelope. I think it is a very flexible pattern. Nothing I didn’t like about it.

Fabric Used:

Wool mix tweed with acetate lining.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I made a fully tummy adjustment, converted the front darts to ease and fully lined the dress. I also lengthened the dress by 2 inches.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I might well be tempted to sew one of the other variations, yes, and yes, I would definitely recommend to others.

Conclusion:

Very pleased with my first sheath dress. It’s warm, comfortable, wearable and washable. What’s not to like?

New Look 6123 Grey wool mix tweed sheath dress with side flounce

Happy christmas!