CharliAnne Wrap Dress Hack for Beginners

I can feel summer just around the corner and that can only mean one thing...time to get the summer wardrobe ready!

I picked up this gorgeous drapey fabric (maybe a rayon??) from Spotlight some months ago now, and put it aside to make a CharlieAnne Wrap Dress as soon as I felt capable. It was time.

I decided not to make the crossover top. I'm not sure if it's because I didn't feel skilled enough for it or whether I was just being lazy, but I do also believe I will wear this dress more by skipping that and using a shortened Night Garden PJ top template for the top instead.

Trying on my mock up with Lindsey

My first step was making a mock up. My son was getting rid of his old doona cover, which was perfect for cutting up and using as my mock material - I love sewing on a budget! This was great. I have never made a mock up before (yes I know I should have done!) but it really allowed me to see what was working on the dress and what needed adjusting.

Luckily I was also catching up with Lindsey so I tried on my mock-up with her and she helped me figure out what I needed to do. (Please ignore the slipper socks in the photo 🤣) I ended up widening the shoulders slightly, adjusting the length at the waist and bringing in the skirt at the hips. Mock up done. It was time to cut the real fabric.

I'm actually surprised that this was a fairly quick and easy sew, with no problems to report! Once I had made the shortened Night Garden Top and the skirt from from the CharliAnne it was just a matter of sewing them together and adding elastic at the waist to create some shape. What do you think? Check out the photos below.

I am one happy and proud sewer. It's a great pattern for any beginner that has already got the basics and tackled a couple of easier makes such as the Bondi Top. If you've given this dress ago let me know below and #sewtogrow and #charlieannewrapdress on the socials 😁