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Sparkly

(24,699 posts)
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 05:48 PM 20 hrs ago

Help with a skirt placket?

I'm still working on this little dress for the grand baby. Got the bodice done except buttonholes, and now starting on the skirt.

It has an open placket and I've already misunderstood the instructions! The pattern piece shows an oval-ish line that appears to be for cutting, but it's actually for stitching, and the cut should be a straight slice between. Hence I'll need to patch something. (Zigzagging back the piece I cut out isn't working.)

(If this pattern went out of print, maybe it deserved it.)

The pattern has ONE rectangular placket piece, not two. Here are the instructions.

First, "Turn in seam allowance on one edge; press. Trim to 3/8". Got it.
"Pin placket to skirt back." It shows the placket being sewn on horizontally as though it were applied to the waistband, so I felt like a genius for figuring out that it goes on vertically to one section of the back that's split. (I haven't sewn in a long time!)

"Place seamline along stitching lines. Stitch. Trim." Which seamline and what stitching lines? Picture looks like it's kind of "outdented" away from the edge, so I could do that.

"Press seam toward placket. Turn to outside along fold line. Stitch pressed edge over seam." This picture is clear. I can do that.

"Turn left back edge to inside along seam. Press. Baste." WHAT?!? The picture shows some neat thing with a straight lower edge. There is no reference to right vs. left to this point. Again, there's only one placket piece, and oddly, it's twice as long as it needs to be. The next instructions are for gathering the waist, then attaching the bodice.

I miss my Mommy!!!

I have some extra fabric and I see there are some tutorials online. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Help with a skirt placket? (Original Post) Sparkly 20 hrs ago OP
I'd like to help PennyC 20 hrs ago #1
Thank you, PennyC!!! Sparkly 20 hrs ago #3
Try watching this video. This is the way I learned in 4-H about 65 years ago. sinkingfeeling 20 hrs ago #2
I don't see a video link. Sparkly 19 hrs ago #4
So sorry. Don't know where it went. sinkingfeeling 19 hrs ago #5
Wow, thank you!! Sparkly 18 hrs ago #6
I have another question... ::raising hand:: Sparkly 17 hrs ago #7
Top with narrow seam. sinkingfeeling 17 hrs ago #8

PennyC

(2,325 posts)
1. I'd like to help
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 05:53 PM
20 hrs ago

Those instructions sound VERY complex! Any chance you could at least give me the pattern's company and number? I'd ask you to post a picture of the primer sheet, but I know it's tricky to post images here. I'll just say that I've been sewing for about sixty years and there have been a few plackets in there!

Sparkly

(24,699 posts)
3. Thank you, PennyC!!!
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 06:25 PM
20 hrs ago

It's Butterick 6483 (infant dresses, not misses!).

I just looked it up online and found a "pattern review" site where someone's review said she didn't bother with the placket, figuring the rest of the dress was roomy enough. Wish I'd read that before.

The reviewer also said the arm bands are too small for most babies. I just finished those and thought "I'm not sure these will fit her..." My grandchild is a plump one!

Anyway, any help appreciated!

Sparkly

(24,699 posts)
6. Wow, thank you!!
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 08:13 PM
18 hrs ago

I think I can work with this!! I'll need to do some Frankendress surgery first to fix my initial mistake, but hopefully I can cover it up!!

Sparkly

(24,699 posts)
7. I have another question... ::raising hand::
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 09:15 PM
17 hrs ago

At 2:00, she says, "Now we're going to take it to the sewing machine and we're going to sew right along this edge."

Is the she closing up the slit (folded down now) and sewing the edge at the top, or is she sewing the edge at the bottom of the placket?

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