Pattern Review: Butterick 4790

Pattern Description:
Misses Walk-Away Wrap Dress: Three pattern pieces, darted in front and back, with back waist and shoulder seams. Back wraps around to the front for a sheath-and-overskirt look. A: Contrast back and skirt. Bias tape finished edges.
Circa 1952

Pattern Sizing:
8-14 & 16-22. I made a 16 with a bust of 18.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
For the most part. The skirt on the pattern envelope is much more stiff, but that’s all because of the fabrics I used.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
They were so easy that I read through just the pictures once and then didn’t look at them again for the rest of the dress.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I. Hate. Snaps. I don’t think snaps should be trusted to hold the entirety of the front of a garment closed, sit down and that pops right open.

Fabric Used:
The brown is linen, the green is a linen blend.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I traded the snaps at the front for small clasps, giving detail to where there was none. I did cut a size smaller at the waist to allow for no overlap. In the back I traded out the button closure for simple ties – much easier to get on and off and much more forgiving if I gain/lose weight.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Gosh yes. I highly recommend it to other sewists.

Conclusion:
This pattern is a quick joy to make. It took a total of 8 hours to put together. Because it has a circle skirt, I did let it hang overnight before finishing it the next day. (Good thing too, the hem difference was up to 6″ in spots – dang crazy linen.)