Original Early 1960s Butterick Pattern No. 9698 - Sheath Dress and Jacket

Original early 1960s Butterick Pattern No. 9698 for a misses' and women's sheath dress and jacket designed for women's daytime wear. This polished design features a slim sheath dress with a shallow neckline, short set-in sleeves, and a self belt, paired with a waist-length cardigan jacket with above-elbow sleeves. View A is finished with self binding and tab details; View B is made without binding. Complete Nice Condition; the envelope shows wear.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: Butterick No. 9698
• Year: While we have no confirmed date, the style and envelope point to the early 1960s.
• Garment: Misses' and Women's Sheath Dress and Jacket
• Size: 14 (34" Bust, 26" Waist, 36" Hip)
• Condition: Complete Nice Condition, Worn Envelope

Design

Butterick Pattern 9698 is a coordinated sheath and jacket ensemble. The dress has a shallow neckline, short set-in sleeves, and a slim skirt, defined at the waist with a self belt, and closes with a side zipper. In View A, the neckline is self-bound and finished with a buttoned tab, and the waist-length cardigan jacket is self-bound along its edges, with buttoned tabs at the lower front and above-elbow sleeves. View B makes the same dress and jacket without binding for a cleaner line. The jacket measures about 18¼ inches from the back of the neck in size 14. Butterick suggested crisp cottons, linens, silk shantungs, silk linens, failles, crepes, checks and tiny plaids, and tissue wools.

A Moment in Fashion History

In the early 1960s, the slim sheath worn under a short, boxy jacket became the uniform of the polished woman, a look carried into the public eye by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Butterick Pattern 9698 offers that pairing to the home sewer, with neat self-bound edges and buttoned tabs that echo the clean, tailored detailing of the period. The envelope's suggestion of checks and tiny plaids reflects the crisp, graphic fabrics that suited these simple shapes.

Illustration

The cover illustration has been digitally restored and enhanced by Judy Yates to highlight the original fashion artwork while preserving the character and artistry of this historic Butterick pattern envelope.

Connections

This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Pillbox and Polish - a growing collection tracing the bridge between 1950s structure and 1960s youth culture. Come take a look.