If you follow Sewciety, you know I love a versatile pattern. And what better for versatility than a gorgeous and classic wrap dress? For today’s project, I chose a beautifully soft batiste, perfect for a resort trip or summer party, but I could see this silhouette instantly taken up a style notch with a silk print or stunning ombre!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 6 yards Green Leafy Tropical Viscose Batiste (extra included to match print)
- MDF044 – The Nyssa Dress Free Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Before starting on the garment, take your drawstring pieces and fold them in half along the length and press. Fold the raw edges inward, press, and edge-stitch to close. Set them aside for later.
Start your dress by following the guidelines on your pattern to add the darts to the back panels of your dress, like above. Once they’re all set, connect your back panels at the center back seam.
Along the neckline of your back panel, as well as the straight edge of your front panels, finish the raw edges with a small rolled hem like you can see in the photo above.
Next, fold the straight edge of your front panels inward toward the wrong side of the fabric to create a lapel facing and attach the front and back panels at the shoulders.
Here you can add your sleeves to the armholes before sewing up the sides of your dress. A garment is starting to form!
On the wearer’s right side, leave a tiny opening at the waist for one of the drawstrings to fit through. One the left side, sew one of the drawstrings into the seam so it comes out on the face of the fabric.
Sew the other drawstring at the waistline on the fold of the right lapel. This drawstring gets fed through the hole above and gets pulled toward the front to tie to the drawstring coming out of the side seam.
Lastly, hem your skirt and sleeves with a 1/4″ rolled hem and you’re ready for an adorable beach-side bar!
72 comments
I could have, and should have, said this many times before now. Better now than never. Your designs — and the free patterns you provide to make them — are second to none! I love that, unlike so many independent pattern makers, most of your designs are loaded with interesting lines and enough detail to set them apart from anything else available! I would pay to purchase most of what you share with us; that they are made available at no cost makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning– every single time. And the frequency with which you make new patterns available?? It’s staggering! I truly hope your employer fully appreciates what a gem they have in you–mostly for your sake, of course. But also for mine, because I would hate to see you go!
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment! I’ve been meaning to respond to it all week, but nothing seems to match how grateful I am. I’m so so glad people are enjoying these patterns!! 🙂
I can’t wait to try and make this dress
I would to make these but I am quite tall. How can I add some lenght to the pattern and how many yards will I need? I am 188 cm.
Hello there!
Thanks for visiting the Mood Sewciety Blog! We’re excited to hear that you’re enjoying our free sewing patterns – we’re proud to have released over 300 of them into the community!
As we continue to grow, we’ve decided to focus our sewist support on our patterns that are up to 2 years old. If this pattern hasn’t been recently re-sewn or updated, we won’t be able to respond to any pattern-related questions on these older posts.
But don’t worry, there’s still a way to connect with fellow sewing enthusiasts like yourself! We invite you to join the Mood Sewciety Facebook group where you can share pattern hacks, ideas, and questions.
Thank you for your understanding and happy sewing!
Best regards,
The Mood Sewciety Blog Team
I agree with you
I couldn’t agree more with you
agreed
Super Kleid
This pattern is gorgeous! Can’t wait to make it. I have several wrap dresses but this is totally unique. Thank you 🙂
Lovely pattern! Really like the details of the high low skirt, arm coverage but still pretty and cool for hot summer days and extra interest in the pleating at the front waist. Very nice. Thanks for sharing this great free pattern 🙂
Thank you so much! Thank you for checking out the blog 🙂
How many yards of fabric would you recommend if I were to pattern hack this into a top/blouse?
Hi Kathleen! I can’t give you the exact yardage, but I recommend measuring the printed pattern pieces, or use the 1st page of the download to calculate the area of each piece (each page is 8.5×11). 🙂
Gorgeous!
Thank you!!
Thank you for the pattern. I love that there are so many sizes. My daughter may be getting one of these for mother’s day. I love wrap dresses. Thanks again.
My God, gorgeous! Thank you
This is so pretty! I love the fabric choice and the breezy-ness of the design. It would be perfect for a summer date.
Beautiful and a fabric hog, just what I need for some stash
thanks
Thanks for the tutorial. I cant wait to make it.
Thank you SO much!!
I love this pattern and I usually don’t use
them:)! Hope I finish it.. Thank you.
Oh holy moly! I just discovered your blog and am loooving everything I’m reading! This dress is perfect!! It’s exactly what I’ve been searching and searching for in a wrap dress. THANK YOU!! (And now to buy some fabric and stalk my mailman )
I’m so glad you found us!! Thank you for visiting 🙂
If you used a solid color and didn’t need to pattern match would you still need 6 yards or would it be less?
Hi there! You should be good with 4 yards if you’re using a solid, or 5 just to be safe!
Every time I come back to the sewciety blog, I drool over this dress! I was just wondering, did you use a lining for the batiste or did you just leave it as is without lining the skirt? Is it a bit seethrough?
I skipped a lining! The batiste is fairly opaque and since the skirt is so gathered I figured a lining wasn’t necessary. Plus, it made it simpler to sew! 🙂
I made this dress and wore it to a ballroom dance. Lots of compliments. Making another this weekend!
That’s awesome!! I’d love to see your creations if you get any pictures! 😀
This is so wonderful! Can’t wait to make it! Do you think I could sew this up in velvet for a Christmas dress? Maybe a woven one, or if stretchy go down a size? Thank you1!
Definitely, I think velvet or velour would look stunning for this pattern!
I finally finished my Nyssa Dress. I am planning to wear it for NYE!
https://seamsgeek.blogspot.com/2018/12/nyssa-dress-for-new-years-eve.html
It looks so cute!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Hi! Would this work in linen?
Yes, linen would be lovely for this pattern!
This is really a lovely dress! i want to make it but I don’t know what size I should make it in. My bust is in 7, waist in 12 and my hips are in 14. Any reccomendations for that? I’m quite the beginner
Hi Carmen, the waist and hips on this pattern are fairly free when it comes to this pattern. If I were you, I’d make a size 10 or 12 to accommodate your waist.
Hi, love the pattern!! What seam allowence should I use?
Hi Flora! A 1/2″ seam allowance is included. 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I just made this dress and it is adorable! Thanks for sharing your pattern
This is so beautiful! I’ve done one — ONE — FBA successfully, so now I’m going to take all this new ‘cocky’ and enjoy your lovely patterns, along with Mood’s other generous offerings. 🙂 Thank you!
Can I make this in a knit?
Yes, you certainly could! I’ve made it in a velour as well.
Can’t wait to make this as my first sewn dress! If I’m seeing correctly, are you using french seams?
Yes, I used French seams for this one! 🙂
I just came across this website and I love it so much. Thank you for providing free patterns, this dress is absolutely lovely! I adore it. I was wondering on what size of the paper am I supposed to print the pattern. I only have A4 available currently.
Unfortunately our patterns are sized for US Letter dimensions.
Why do you have. Pinterest button, but when you want to save it to a board, it’s says invalid Parameters, this site does not allow you to save pins? Kinda defeats the object of having the button in the 1st place?
We’re working on getting this fixed asap!
Could you use this pattern to make a robe?
Yes, that’d be lovely!
I’m so grateful for your patterns I’m now able to make my own clothes that fit my unique physic. Thank you so much.
Hi! I am going to attempt this dress in a linen/rayon blend. I have not sewn a dress before but altered or refashioned several pieces. I would love to make the ties wider – aside from making the hole the one tie goes through bigger, can you think of any issues with that? I was so thankful to find this wonderful pattern! I am excited to make the dress!
Hi, Stephanie! No, making the ties wider shouldn’t be an issue! 🙂
I made this dress and I love it! I used a very light and flowy fabric (not sure what exactly it was) and it turned out beautifully. I found the pattern very easy to follow. This was the first dress I’ve ever sewed and I’m sew proud of it (hehe). I was looking for a wrap-type dress that I could use as a swimsuit cover this summer and this was exact;y what I was looking for. I can’t wait to wear it!
I just finished a patchwork version of this dress. My family and I are dressing up as characters from nightmare before Christmas and I’m Sally, but I’m also about six months pregnant, so I needed a dress that would work for that. I wanted it to also be wearable when I’m not pregnant just in case I ever wanted to use it again. Thanks so much for this pattern. The Sally version turned out really cute (I even added pockets which will be very helpful going trick or treating with three little kids).
bonjour, désolée encore de vous déranger mais en tailles française comment peut on savoir nos mesures svp je suis perdue merci bcp
Bonjour Sylvie! Chaque patron a un tableau de mesure indiqué en pouces. 😀
What a beautiful dress, only took me a whole afternoon to put the pattern together, but he what better can you do, then stay calm and puzzle in front of your fan with a cool glass of lemonade.
Thanks for the joy it brings me
My friend is getting married in 2 weeks and I’ve made this dress out of a teal satin to wear to her wedding. It’s absolutely gorgeous and exactly what I was looking for when I went hunting for a dress to wear. I’ll be pairing it with navy blue T-bar heels, a navy blue clutch, a cream fur stole and a red lip. Hopefully it’s a winner on the day!
It looks great! Do you think this can work with a heavier, stiffer fabric? I like the geometric front and would like to try a more geometric feel of the dress overall? Also, do you maybe have an idea for a patter for an alternative – more minimal sleeves I could use? Thank you so much in advance! And thanks for all the amazing patterns really
I am in love with this dress pattern … Thank you! Do you suggest only woven fabrics? As I am looking at it, I wonder if a knit would work? I made your Noelle, cowl neck for Christmas presents and everyone loved them! Also, at 5’0 height, should I shorten the body of this dress, if so what point would be best. Thank you for the amazing patterns that you provide us for free, my next project: the Linda Pants!
Hi Louise! You could probably use a knit fabric, but be mindful of its weight as this dress uses a lot of fabric. If it pulls on the bodice too much, consider removing some volume in the skirt.
Have you ever thought of making this pattern a reversible dress? So that the peekaboo longer back skirt can show not just the back of fabric, but another complementary/contrasting fabric? Imagine, black and red…
Hi Jane, that’s a great idea!!
I’m working on this lovely pattern and I have a question about the sleeves. I saw in previous comments that French Seams were used on this dress. Is that true for the sleeves as well? If so, how did you ease in the sleeve cap? Any guidance on the sleeve attachment is welcome! Thanks so much for this lovely pattern!
Hi Allison! I can’t say for sure the method they used, as this sample was made in 2018 and is no longer in the studio. But if you’re wanting to use french seams on the sleeves, sew basting stitches along curve of the shoulder, and ease the sleeves in that way. After you trim the SA and fold over for that second seam, you shouldn’t run into any trouble!
Hi I don’t know if I am missing something but I don’t get how the drawstrings should be. I did as you guys indicated but it seems a bit confusing as it doesn’t work out it says to feed the right drawstring through the right side opening? Should it not be the other way around? Thank you. ♡ thanks for the free patterns by the way♡
Hello there!
Thanks for visiting the Mood Sewciety Blog! We’re proud to have released over 350 free sewing patterns, and we hope you’re enjoying them.
Behind the scenes we’re a dedicated team of three, and we want to be able to offer top notch support. We have exciting plans for our patterns on the horizon, and as we continue to grow, we’ve decided to focus our sewist support on patterns from the last 2 years. If this pattern hasn’t been recently reduxed or updated, we won’t be able to respond to technical questions on these older posts.
If you come across any pattern errors, rest assured our team is on it – just let us know!
Don’t miss out on our Mood Sewciety Facebook Group – a fantastic space for fellow sewists to connect, share wins, and tackle challenges together.
Thank you for your understanding and happy sewing!