Wrap dresses are iconic for a reason. There are so many ways to reimagine it: short and flirty, long and flowy, elegant, boho, sparkling—you name it! The Nettle Wrap Dress, Mood’s newest free sewing pattern, is just as versatile. Create yours in a gorgeous linen for the perfect transitional wardrobe addition, or try out a translucent voile for more of a beach cover-up vibe!
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 3-5 yards Talamanca Kelly Green Double Cotton Gauze
- 2 pcs Bright Gold Rounded Square Metal Ring – 35mm
- 1 pc Sew-On Snap or Hook & Eye
- MDF298 – The Nettle Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
1. Fold the tie downward in half and stitch around the angled and long raw edges.
2. Clip the seam allowance at the corner, turn right side out, and press.
3. Fold your ring loop in half and sew along the long raw edge.
4. Turn right side out and press.
5. Fold in half, looping two O-rings or D-rings into place and pin or staystitch along the raw edge.
6. Pin the ring loop along one of your front skirt/yoke panels at the side seam, about 3/4″ down from the top raw edge.
7. Attach the front skirt/yoke panels to the back skirt/yoke at the side seams using a regular seam, securing the ring loop within one of the seams.
8. Press the seams open and repeat with the second lining layer of the skirt.
9. Attach the front skirt ruffles to the back ruffle at the sides, this time using a French seam.
10. Press the seams toward the back.
11. Hem the button edge of the skirt ruffle using a 1/4″ double rolled hem.
12. Press along the hemmed edge.
13. Right sides together, pin the skirt ruffle between the skirt/yoke and skirt/yoke lining at the yoke’s lower edge.
14. Pin the tie at the front edge of your skirt/yoke at the opposite side where you placed the ring loop.
15. Stitch, turn right side out, and press.
16. Pin and press the pleats into your front and back bodice pieces following the guides on your pattern.
17. Pin and sew the bias binding/facing face to face along the back neckline.
18. Trim, double fold, and stitch the bias along the inside of the back panel.
19. Press and then attach the front and back bodice panels at the shoulders using a French seam.
20. Clip the bottom edge of your dress bodice at the notches indicating the start of your sleeves.
21. Hem from the front notch to the back notch on each side using a 1/4″ double rolled hem.
22. Press each sleeve hem.
23. Set the bodice into the main layer of the skirt, sewing them face to face.
24. Slip stitch the skirt inside your dress, tucking down the raw edge.
25. Add a snap or hook & eye closure inside your dress at the opposite side of the tie.
22 comments
Ooooh, Like this very much. Thank you!
I love this! Do you think it would work using a knit??
Hi Lisa! Yes, it would most likely work with a knit, you may just have to size down and stabilize the tie. 🙂
The cutting guide doesn’t seem to match the instructions, I can’t see a ruffle on the pattern layout and it doesn’t seem to be lined, nor is there a space for biasbinding as there seems to be a yoke and facing for the back piece, am I missing something major?
Hi, Catrien! I’m sorry for any confusion you may be facing, but the flat does show the ruffle accurately and the back neckline is bound with bias as mentioned in the instructions. 🙂
Hi. Maybe I’m just missing it somehow but I can’t seem to locate the fabric requirements for each size. I see the “3-5 yards” in the description. I downloaded the pattern thinking it might be there and I still don’t see it. I want to make sure I’m ordering enough fabric for a size 8 but not so much that I have too many scraps. Is there a fabric chart somewhere that I’m somehow just not seeing? Thanks.
Hi, Collette! You can see more specific recommendations in the ‘Shop this Look’ widget! 🙂
This is a beautiful pattern. Can’t wait to make it!
Love love love this dress, will be making it in this length, this length as a swimsuit coverup and a longer length dress. Thank you.❤️
This is so adorable. How do you suggest I lengthen it?
Hi, Angela! You could definitely slash and spread the skirt yoke pieces to lengthen it. 🙂
Hi ☺️ I love this pattern! I was just wondering if I could create a satin version and what type of satin would be suitable? Thanks
Hi Audrey! Yes, a satin would be suitable, as long as it has a more flowy or relaxed drape, similar to a crepe back satin. 🙂
Is this pattern suitable for velvet? Will there be an issue with nap?
Hi Kearney! You could most likely make this pattern from a very lightweight velvet, such as a silk velvet. However, we recommend buying an extra 1/2 – 1 yard of fabric to account for nap direction. 🙂
I am currently in the process of sewing the Nettle dress and noticed that on p. 3 of the pattern it says that piece B needs to be cut 2x (mirrored), while on the actual pattern piece B, there is an indication that’s it needs to be cut on fold (so only cut once). Just wanted to let everyone else know the latter is the right way, so no one is left confused 🙂
I’m halfway through this as well, and I think maybe it’s supposed to be “cut 2 on the fold”? At step 13 we’re supposed to sandwich the lower skirt “between the skirt/yoke and skirt/yoke lining”. I thought the same as you, and cut the back yoke on the fold, once: so what I have is four front yokes (that’s fine) and a single back yoke. I think there needs to be another one to form the lining for the back. I’m glad I’ve got some spare fabric and a seam ripper for this one! It’s looking really nice though, pattern struggles aside.
Hi. This is a lovely pattern. I tried my hands on it. Few challenges. I can not understand how my front bodice pleats disappeared. it was pleated at the beginning, however setting the bodice into the main layer of the skirt, i noticed where the facing was didn’t get to Tie edge.. I downloaded a size 24. Is it ok for the pleats to disappear cos it is a bigger size? I used 100% artisan cotton batik.
Hi Tolu! I’m sorry to hear about that! Let’s double check a few common causes: Are the pleats disappearing because the bodice is too big? I find that from the waist up I’m a size or two smaller than from the waist down, and sometimes I have to do some pattern adjustments. Did you cut out all the pattern pieces in size 24? Did you follow grainlines and use the correct seam allowances? Hopefully we can figure this out! 🙂
So this was my first time using mood fabrics patterns and I really appreciate having free patterns! I like the Nettle dress and used a polyester scattered print fabric. Probably not the best choice because the polyester almost makes it look like lingerie. But with some jewelry it will certainly work. I had some difficulty with the layout and the cutting of the pattern. I think it’s because it was my first time and I just wasn’t used to the format. It took me over three hours to cut. With the instructions, I feel like some steps would have been easier to understand if pictured. I am a pretty advanced seamstress so I could figure some things out but a beginner or intermediate level may have a hard time. I could’ve done without the pleats in the front bodice; for larger breasted women it doesn’t flatter. Also, because I use a scattered pattern it just gets muddled (completely my fault for choosing such). I also think more explanation could’ve been given on finishing the yolk under the arm (sleeve) if you decided not to use lining. I simply used color coordinated bias tape on the entire seam connecting the bodies to the yolk and ruffle, so if it’s visible when I raise my arm it matches. Lastly, I’m not a fan of the D ring closure. It slips often and if knotted it looks jumbled and even more like a robe. I think I would’ve preferred having two ties and just simply making a bow. But I guess that’s more of a design issue. Overall, the garment came out well and I can’t wait until it gets warm again to wear it. I had my eye on a jumper that I might download.
Hi Shawanda, thanks for your review! I love the idea of making a tie closure and I think that would be an easy adjustment to make. Happy Sewing! 🙂