Pattern and Instructions: The Butterfly Dress
Inspired by the legendary Japanese designer Hanae Mori, the Butterfly Dress is a semi-fitted, fully lined sheath with a graceful boat neck and fisheye darts (two in front, one in back) for shaping instead of a waist seam.
But best of all, this pattern is a true choose-your-own-adventure. You get three skirt lengths—mini, short, and full-on gown length, with thigh slits for walking ease (and to show off your legs, of course!)—and the sleeve options range from dramatic ankle- or just-past-wrist-length slit sleeves to a classic short sleeve or a short sleeve with a flirty ruffle.
Sew it in silk and sweep through a party, or make it in cotton and wear it to lunch. Swap sleeves, change lengths, go bold or understated; the Butterfly Dress has endless personalities and a whole lot of main-character energy. I can’t wait to see what you make!
IMPORTANT: You'll find the tiled file (for printing at home on A4 or letter size sheets and taping together) and the A0 file (for printing at a copy shop like ThePlottedPattern.com). Please note that we have two size blocks, so make sure to download the correct files for the size you're making. If you have any questions about which size to sew, don't forget to read our blog post with all the details!
Don't forget to share your makes with the hashtags #butterflydress and #charmpatterns!
xoxo,
Gertie
Comments (91)
Are the sleeves interchangable with series bodices, like Lamour or another? Gorgeous 😍🥰
They're not designed to be, but you can trace the sleeve head from a different bodice's sleeve and use that shape at the top of the Butterfly sleeve (just gradually blend your seam lines from the top of the sleeve seam) so you can attach it to a different bodice.
Absolutely Gorgeous! I am making all 3 for myself! Always so much fun! Thank you :)
I would love a version with a mandarin collar. Also, I am sooooo happy we are at place that we can appreciate other cultures influence on fashion and not consider it appropriation. So many cultures have influence on style, and we should not be afraid to explore it or enjoy it. Bravo Gertie, please do more of this, this is DEVINE!
Yay, a boat neck dress! I've been waiting for one of those.
same!
All three versions are divine!! This absolutely is shaping up to be the Best Gertie year ever!! What I love is 1) it’s not tricky for non-experienced sewist and b) you can make it fancy or simple. PERFECTION! 💖💖💖💖💖
Hope we see a few more sleeve variations for this! I love the one adapted for the hostess dress.
If you want to use these sleeves with the Hostess dress that is a pretty easy hack. My favorite is taking the host sleeve and to the cap then take the butterfly sleeve and overlay it. and use the sleeve from the cap down.
Ohh this is gorgeous. I need another wedding to attend just so I can make this. (How will it go with my chunky boots ?🥾 🤣)
Perfectly!!! Literally everything goes best with chunky boots 😂
LOVE!
OBSESSED with the red floral version!!
Oh my… I love it!,,!
Love this!!!
beautiful
Oh, I’m visiting Japan next year and am now definitely going to source everything for this dress during that visit. It’s beautiful!
So elegant! I love the pop of color in the sleeve!
love love LOVE
This is absolutely fabulous! My birthday is at the end of the month, definitely going to try and get a version of this made up to celebrate 55 🥰❤️
I loved (and made) Gunne Sax style dresses in the 70s/early 80s. Probably my favorite of the "modern"ish styles. But I too would like more 40s-50s "day dresses" through "tea dresses" and fewer "cocktail dresses" and "ball gowns." (Though tea dresses can often be gussied up into cocktail dresses, cocktail dresses can't always be simplified into tea dresses.) The basic sheath dress part of this is okay but isn't particularly a flattering style on me, sad to say. It's a "meh" so far this year.
Wow this is gorgeous xxx
Love this! So glam yet can see how could be a day/work dress without the drama sleeves too! 💖🤩 I’ve a conference dinner to attend this Sep and this might just be my pick for it… 🤔 I’m a key organiser so need something that I can move in - those skirt slits would come in handy! 😂
Love the sleeves so I'll have to look for another pattern to put them on . I look bad in boat neck and sheath dresses. I really hoped this would have been a 50s Dapper Day dress pattern. I've been a Patreon since the beginning but so most are a pass for me. I'm hoping my slopers will help me create more to sew. I have a ton of mock ups that never go forward. I just keep holding on for the dream of it.
I'm thinking one of these might be a lovely mother of the bride/groom dress when one of my kids gets married (which one dependent on time of day), made up in colors complementary to the wedding theme colors, but kept understated, not loud, so as to be elegant, but not trying to steal the spotlight. Thoughts?
I think that would be lovely!
Omg so wonderful !
Been in conversation with other Gertie sewist friends this afternoon discussing how to put a 30s twist on this… I am SO SO excited! Xx
Ooh, I would love to know your ideas for ways to 30sfy this!
I truly wish I had more places to wear gowns to. This dress just has such a graceful silhouette and is so stunning.
Years ago I heard a comment (maybe on a Sewing With Threads podcast??) that if you sew up a beautiful outfit for yourself while saying "I don't have any place to wear this," you'll likely find you have more places to wear it than you expected once it's done.
So beautiful! The gown-length version is the kind of dress you were while hosting a soiree at your mansion. And after the guests leave, you take out some poison dust from a secret compartment in your ring and put it in your cheating spouse’s nightcap 🤣🤣🤣 I’m just kiddng, y’all..I see tha happening in the movies.
This is perfection. I like the simplicity of the sheath and the drama of the sleeves! Thanks for another winner!
LOVE THIS!!!!! ♥️
Came for the cute dresses, staying for the civic bravery. You never disappoint on either front.
Nooooo way!!!!! This is stunning 😍…every time you issue a new pattern is a wow effect!!!! But this time is super fabulous!!!
I love that this design has a history lesson and resources! Thank you Gertie! ❤️
How stunning! I had not heard of Hanae Mori, so I’m excited to learn more about her. I love the open sleeves and I’ve been waiting to see a full darted bodice with no waist seams. It’s very 60’s 🥰
Oh my gosh I just fell! Beautiful. Love the dramatic sleeves! I see one in a boho Stevie Nicks version, and another in a wedding dress! I have wedding dress visions with many of the Charm Patterns! Not sure why?😂🫠❤️ wait, another vision in a cherry blossom fabric.
The dress itself leans a little too late for what I prefer to wear, but it’s made up for with the look into the designer. I hadn’t heard of her before, but I’ve definitely seen her work.
It’s stunning! I think I have the perfect silk for it 🥰
GORGEOUS!!! I’m so excited!!!
All of these options are truly beautiful! One day I'll have the skills to make something like this, but I can't wait to learn more about this designer, while I skill build!!
I just went to the instructions to read the info that was included as you suggested in the video and wanted to comment about how well done I thought the piece on appropriation vs appreciation was. I love knowing and understanding how I can do better and it is obvious that there was a lot of thought and care that went into this. Thank you for using your platform to go above and beyond.
Gorgeous!!!
This is Jamala at Malmo.
Even more beautiful than I guessed it would be!
they’re all divine! but i’ve been wanting to make long open sleeves like that for a while now, and especially recently. i am very much in love. 🦋
Oh my god, amazing!!!
Oh my heavens!!!! 😍😍😍😍
BravO!
Really pretty! I’ve been wanting to make ruffled sleeves like that for a while too❤️ I love the 60’s look!! Can’t wait to learn more about Hanae mori as well, she seems really cool and I hadn’t heard of her! Loving the exposure to unsung geniuses this year
Wow, absolutely stunning!!
Oh, wow! So elegant. Today is my birthday, and this is such a beautiful pattern-what a wonderful, unexpected present! I look forward to learning more about this designer!
Happy birthday to you!!! 💕
Sooooo fabulous! 🩷🩷🎉
That’s truly beautiful.
This is so incredibly gorgeous, thank you Gertie !!!
I just purchased vintage kimono fabric. I think I’ll see if I have enough for the long flown with those delicious sleeves!
That version really does pay homage to the inspiration designer's Japanese hertitage! It sounds gorgeous.
Just for the record, I love 60s fashion 💜 no complaints from me
I LOVE IT!
All the Viva sewists just went into missile mode 🩷
Ha! Such a good Viva dress 😍
I love all the versions 😍 I am a sucker for ruffles so ill probably make that one first, but now im yearning for some sort of formal event to wear the longest sleeve version to 😍
This is another miss for me 🫣 high key been disappointed lately
Me too unfortunately 😔
I need gerties shoes!
Omg I’ve had these for least 20 years—they’ve become vintage all on their own!
This is simply gorgeous!!! ❤️ 😍
lol I’m both disappointed and super excited. I was hoping for the ‘50s version of the two sided dress, but I’m also so excited for this
Wait what’s the two sided dress? Do tell!!!
Ok Gertie!!!! Now that's why I am a patreon 😍😍😍 but the question is can I achieve it before Viva?!
Absolutely!! I believe in you!
OH GOODNESS! I am in love with this one! I can’t wait to get back home from my trip & try it out!!!
Yeah no... Another 60's borderline 70's pattern.. This is the end for me.. I can't afford to throw away so much money every month when there has not been much after society dress... Hope charm will go back to the 40/50's again some day. Then i will join again..
Huh! I’m confused by this! Last year was almost entirely 50s, last month was the 40s, and the next foreseeable months are definitely in that era as well. Please share what you feel is missing (if you like of course!)
This is STUNNING! That full length version? Obsessed 😍
Oh yes the drama!!!
Wow its amazing!! 😍
Oooohhhh!!! I love it!!!!!
Oh yeah! This is gorgeous!
😍 Back when I was in college (2008-2011) we had a small unit on her! I'm so excited for this pattern!
Gorgeous! I can’t wait to see what people whip up.
Drama Baby 😍
oooooh I love it SO MUCH !!!! thank you thank youuu !!!
Love it! I'm totally sold on this one.
And what pretty models
Ah! So so cute! This is the best Patreon year for me. 100% bangers, no misses 💛💛💛
I love that! We’ve got so much good stuff on the way too 🎉
Wow 😍🤩