Wrap Dress Pattern – Free Sewing Pattern

This is a relaunch of one of our most popular patterns ever on So Sew Easy.   This cute wrap dress pattern is fun and easy to make and looks great.

The front has a cross-over bodice with pleats, there's a straight skirt and an optional elastic waist, with a matching tie belt.  Only the bodice wraps over leaving you safe from embarrassing wardrobe malfunction that can happen with wrap skirts.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

How To Download

We will continue using the new Payhip web store to distribute our patterns. 

Our patterns are still free, but now you have the option of making a small contribution if you like our work! We'd appreciate it, and it will help us keep going with new and fun designs like this. Even a dollar or two goes a long way.

Thanks so much in advance for helping us out.  You can use any credit card, and you don't need a Paypal account, although you can use one if you have one.

Can I see some more pics before I decide?

Of course you can.  Here are some other views of the wrap dress.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Features:

  • Cross-over bodice
  • Optional tie belt
  • Waist seam with optional elastic waist
  • Pleats on front bodice
  • Separate sleeves
  • Straight skirt
  • Multi-sizes pattern from small to extra large

Making up your pattern

Your pattern is conveniently split into 4 pieces to make it more manageable.  Each is labeled with a letter and number.  Numbers run top to bottom and left to right.  Cut off or turn under the page edges and match the borders with the adjoining pages.  If you need more information on how to put together your pattern, you can read more in the Summer Drape Top.

The bodice back pattern consists of 6 pages starting B and should be laid out as below.

Wrap dress pattern. Free sewing pattern for a knit wrap front dress with optional elastic waist and belt. From So Sew Easy.

Left-bodice-example

The left bodice front comes on its own and it prefixed with L, pages 1-9.  Laid out 3 rows of 3 sheets.

Right-bodice-example

The right-hand side bodice piece and the sleeve come on 12 pages, prefixed with R, and are set out as below.

Skirt-example

And lastly, the skirt piece is prefixed S, pages 1-8 as below.

{UPDATE} – a new digital pattern is now available to download.  It replaces this hand-drawn one from 15th June 2014.  It is easier to print, uses 20% fewer sheets, and should be easier to put together.  There are 28 sheets, and these are set out 1 to 7 in each row.  Once assembled, it should look like this –>

Wrap-dress-jpg-with-lines-a

What Size Do I Need?

The dress is made from a stretchy knit fabric and is intended to be a comfortable fit on the body with ease in both the bodice and skirt.  Fitting ease is also included in the pattern so you can adjust and take in for your own personal measurements.  The size I made for myself I am calling the Medium.  My measurements are high bust (around the back and over the bust high under the arms) 36, Bust 37, Waist 32, Hips/Thigh widest point 40.

The amount of stretch and drape in the fabric will alter the fit and feel of the dress so use this table as a guide only.

  Bust Waist Hips
Small 32-34 25-28 34-36
Medium 36-38 29-32 38-40
Large 40-42 33-36 42-44
Extra Large 44+ 37+ 46+

If you fall in between sizes, you can also cut between the lines, and you can ‘grade' from one size to another by, for example, cutting a large in the waist curving out to an extra-large at the hip if you need to.

Always test the fit using the paper pattern pieces, or an inexpensive test fabric before cutting your expensive fabric for this dress.  If in doubt test the larger size and adjust for fitting at the side seams during construction.

Adjustments to length.  The dress is designed to fit an average height – I am 5'6″, and hits above the knee.  If you are taller or prefer the skirt to be longer, simply add some length to the skirt piece at the bottom.

Cutting your fabric

If you need directions for cutting out your fabric, follow the general directions for the Summer Drape Top.  I was able to comfortably cut the size Medium from 2 yards of 54-inch wide fabric, with some leftover.

Wrap Dress Sewing Instructions

Seam allowances – 5/8th of an inch throughout unless mentioned.  Use stitches appropriate for stretch such as a narrow zigzag or a stretch stitch if your machine has one.

Start with the right-hand front bodice piece and using a disappearing fabric marker, draw lines from the inward and outward points of the zig-zags at the side seam, following the length shown on the pattern, making all lines finish evenly.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Pleat those lines together, matching the lines carefully and evenly, and pin in place.  You should make 4 pleats.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Sew along the lines marked.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Press pleats downwards.  Don't worry if they are a bit uneven (like mine), it will look just fine.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

On the left front bodice piece, mark the pleat on the wrong side, pin, and then sew.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Press the pleat.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

With right sides together, match shoulder seams, pin and sew.  You may choose to stablise with a stay tape such as this knit stay tape at the shoulder seam (optional).  Press shoulder seams open.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Iron on stay tape to the whole front cross-over edge on both bodice pieces and along the back neckline.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Turn over a 5/8 inch hem along the whole edge and topstitch.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Cross over front bodice pieces with the right-hand piece on top, showing the 4 pleats.  Match up the center front and notches, then pin and baste into place close to the edge, along both of the side seams and the waist seam.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Optional – add a stay tape to the bottom edge of the sleeves.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Pin the sleeves to the bodice, matching the sleeve center with the shoulder seam, and ease the sleeves to fit the opening.  Sew.  Trim seam and finish edges (optional.)

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Pin side seams and sleeve seam.  Try on to check fit.  Adjust as necessary.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Sew side seams and close underside of sleeves all in one seam.

Optional – trim seams and finish edges.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

With right sides facing, pin skirt side seams.  Try on for fit, adjust as necessary and sew side seams.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

With right sides facing, match bodice with the skirt at the waist seam.  Match center front and center back of the bodice with the center of skirt pieces and match side seams.  Pin in place, then try on for fit and adjust if necessary.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Sew waist seam with 5/8th inch seam allowance.  You may either leave as is and trim and finish the seams, or add an optional elastic waist.

To add elastic waist, make a casing by closing edges of waist seam without trimming, using an overcasting foot and stitch, or by sewing close to the edge.  Leave an inch open and thread through a narrow 3/8th inch elastic.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Adjust to fit waist comfortably then stitch elastic ends together with a zig-zag stitch and close casing.

Try on and check skirt length.  Optional – iron your knit stay tape all along the bottom hemline of the skirt for a crisp wrinkle-free finish.

Turn up skirt hemline and finish.  I prefer a twin needle finish, but you can finish with a narrow zig-zag if you like.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Turn up the hem on sleeves and finish with a twin needle or using your preferred method.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

Cut 6-inch wide length of fabric for tie belt.  Test to check what length works best for you.  With right sides together, sew close to the edge with a narrow zig-zag stitch along the whole length and to close one end, either square or to a point.  Turn tube the right sides out, turn under a small hem on the open end and finish either by hand or with a machine topstitch.

Wrap dress - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.

You may also like the belt made from contrasting fabric or use an existing belt.  The dress can also be worn without a belt if you prefer.

And you are finished!  Wear and enjoy your new dress and don't forget to send me your photos.

Wrap dress pattern - free sewing pattern. Easy to sew and great looking wrap dress - everyone should have at least one of these. From So Sew Easy.


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Carol
Carol

I’ve done a lot of sewing but the pleats on the right bodice have got me beat. I see others have asked questions about them too. You replied to one query that if we should fold the pleats so as to get a straight edge. The only way I can get a straight edge on the bodice side seam is by folding the pleats as I would normally fold pleats, matching the marked lines to form a pointy triangle at the top. But if I do this then sew along the marked line there is no space at all between any of the pleats which is clearly not right. The way the zigzags are drawn in the pattern would also suggest that there is no space between the pleats. I can see in the photos in the instructions above that there is quite a bit of space between each pleat but I can’t see how I can replicate this from the pattern. Can you help me please because this looks like a lovely dress to make. Obviously I’m missing something.

Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member
Reply to  Carol

Yes, pleats can be tricky…

Gmammy
Gmammy

Loved this pattern here is my picture finally I had posted earlier that this was the best wrap dress patter I ever did, I am a new sewing and this was so easy I made 5 dresses with different sleeves

5FA94D42-17F4-48FF-B0C1-FEF0BE7F32B4.jpeg
Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member
Reply to  Gmammy

Oh Yes!! What a fabulous dress on you!

Gladys
Gladys

Most addictive pattern i have ever downloaded. I made 5 dresses with different variation sleeves on this. I will post a picture for ease of reference. I am a plus size and recently been feeling unhappy with weight gain and wardrobe freeze. I am an advanced beginner in sewing and this was so easy to put together and still look so elegant. i am using the pattern to make the same for my cotton with variations to the measurements. Best pattern ever. thank you for giving me confidence back

Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member
Reply to  Gladys

Great to hear; if you are using cotton, don’t forget to place a zipper from the neckline to at least 3″ past the waistline.

shoshi sufrin
shoshi sufrin

I downloaded this pattern: wrap dress pattern Thank you for the opportunity to get such a pattern for free. my a question is how I can know what color is the right pattern for me. By the tablet I’m Large. Thank you so much. Shoshi

Dalene
Dalene

Hi thx for this great pattern, busy making it. The steps are very clear and easy to follow. Cant wait to finish it and wear it!!!!!!!!