Sigh. The weather lately has been sooo cloudy and sad lately, that it’s been hard to get outside or even motivate myself to do things! I spent last weekend with my lovely college friends in Chicago, and got to some snow for the first time in a while! (hi chicago friends reading this!)

To bring a little sun into my life, I decided to sew up something a little more summer-friendly – the Meridian Wrap Dress!

Pattern: Meridian Wrap Dress from Papercut Patterns

Fabric: cotton handstamped block print from Fibers to Fabric on Etsy – the exact fabric I used is now sold out, but they sell so many beautiful fabrics that it would be easy to find one that you love! I actually bought 3 other prints that were also on sale.

Regarding the quality of the fabric, it’s very lightweight but still relatively opaque. I didn’t line the skirt and I still feel like it provides full coverage. It’s definitely more suitable for Spring/Summer garments, but it feels very breathable and soft, and the colors are so vibrant! It does ship all the way from India, so it took a little while to arrive – maybe about 2 weeks? But the shipment came with some free items: a few buttons and some decorative trim, which was such a pleasant surprise!

Difficulty: confident beginner – skills include adding in a zipper, inset sleeves, pleats, and lining a bodice. This is a good pattern to start out learning pleats or the sleeves! With a patterned fabric, these small details are quite forgiving. Start to finish was about 3-4 hours.

Changes: I chose the short sleeve, knee length option! I wanted a more summer-y dress given the Texas heat and humidity, and felt that the fabric fit better for this look. I think if you chose a heavier weight fabric or a jersey, it would like great in the longer sleeves! I may make the midi-length eventually, but I generally like to show more leg. The only change I made was instead of adding in the keyhole back, I did a full zipper – there was no specific reason for this other than not wanting to sew on a button! I do think that this is a such a delicate detail to add, so I will definitely consider doing this in the future. I would probably add pockets the next time as well!

Thoughts: I was a little skeptical during the sewing process – the ties look so silly when you’re making it that I was absolutely convinced I had messed something up during the process. I love the look of having a wrap dress with a full coverage bodice, making it perfect for more modest events! I definitely think using different fabrics could totally change the look of the dress. Overall, this is an incredibly versatile pattern and I certainly see myself making several versions of this dress in the future 🙂

Lastly, I am becoming a big fan of this pattern design company! The first pattern I used from them is the Sierra Jumpsuit, which has been one of my favorite handmade garments.

How have you all been surviving winter? Any tips for a Southerner desperate for some sunshine?

Danica ❤