It's A Wrap!

Wrap dresses are so versatile and figure flattering!  Kasey added this fashion classic to her closet using a 16oz Ponte Knit in Grey with pretty machine embroidery for a personal touch. You can follow Kasey at Kasey Sasser Embroidery and Gifts.  Thanks, Kasey!

Butterick 5030

I’ve just finished my first wrap dress, Butterick 5030. The pattern calls for wovens, as well as “matted jersey”; I used the 16oz ponté in grey. As I have previously said about this ponté, the fabric is lovely to work with, well behaved, and I had no problems with it. I even used a heavy embroidery design and the fabric is holding it well.




This pattern has a variety of sleeve and collar options, including facings, but I chose to do a simple turned edge to finish the neck and hemline. 

The ponté doesn’t ravel so I didn’t bother to overcast the raw edge, though of course, you could to keep things tidy. I serged the major construction seams and chose a topstitch to finish the neckline, hem and sleeves.

I did add in-seam pockets to the skirt, and to help support them in the dress I added twill stay tape at the waistline.

 I used a lighter weight stay tape along the rest of the waistline as well as the pocket edges.

I also added the twill tape to the shoulders; the ponté is a bit heavy, and since much of the weight will be hanging from the shoulders I wanted to support the dress. (I used a doubled-sided positioning tape to keep the twill in place, but I didn’t care for the product much, was a bit gummy on my needles and pins.)

The pattern calls for “hook and eye” for the closure, but otherwise only uses the belt to close it. I used the sturdier “trouser” hook and eye and placed one on each side (don’t forget to use the stitches Eileen taught us!)

I chose the sash belt for this dress, mostly so I’d have room for embroidery! I used topstitching again to finish the turned edge, but when I tried on the dress a couple of stitches popped in the belt; I haven’t found them yet but when I do I will repair them with a knit stitch. I think the straight stitch will be OK on the main body of the dress, but since the fabric stretches and the belt will be pulled tight, topstitching with the knit stitch (the lightning stitch) would probably have been better. If I find any stitches popping on the dress, I’ll repair them the same way.

As for stabilizing the neckline, I used a double-sided fusible stay tape; since it’s a knit, and on the bias to boot so I didn’t want any sagging. It’s a permanent adhesive, not a piece of fabric, so it moves with the knit but allows it to keep its shape.  I did use a regular knit stay tape along the front edges of the skirt, just because they were long and free-hanging.

So why the peacock embroidery? To match my little jacket from last fall! I used the remaining fabric for this dress and decided to have it match. Perhaps not the chicest of travel outfits, but I think it’s comfy and will serve me well on long flights and car rides. If you’d like details on how I did the embroidery, visit my blog here.