Wrap Up Your Holiday Sewing with these Gorgeous Dresses

as I write this, I can look out my window where it's a lovely September day, sun shining, weather in the low 70s. It's a crisp nearly fall day, and I'm enjoying every bit of it. And then I turn back to my computer screen to write about Christmas. It's a 

Last year, we made our December Boxes holiday dress themed, and the feedback that we got was to make our holiday box a month earlier so you could have more time to sew. Given that some holiday parties are early in the month, that made sense, so here we are.

And this year, our holiday/party dress theme is Woven Wrap Dresses.

We love wrap dresses. They're easy to sew and the look is flattering on many different body shapes. And when you can sew it yourself, you don't have to worry about fit issues like gaping necklines. You can add sneaky snaps and the like to make your dresses as wearable as they are beautiful. 

So let's take a look at the four boxes we're offering for November!

Calvin Wrap Dress by True Bias 

Sometimes things just fall into place at the right time, you know? We've been wanting to do wrap dresses for a little while now, but hadn't found those four perfect patterns. And then last month, Kelli from True Bias changed all that by releasing this stunning, classic woven wrap dress.

When you think about a wrap dress, it's probably something like this pattern. Bias binding finishes all the edges and creates the long, thin ties for the closure. A hidden, optional snap keeps the top closed, and adjustable, bra-like straps mean you can customize your fit. And best yet, the pattern is designed for all sorts of fabrics, from linen to silk, meaning it's not a bad option for adventurous and fearless beginners. 

• Charcoal Sandwashed Rayon - With the look of sandwashed silk, this silky soft, rayon has a great hand with just the right amount of body for pattern. The charcoal color is mottled, adding a cool visual element to an otherwise solidly colored fabric. To us, it's reminiscent of slate, and it will make a stunning little (not so) black dress for the holiday season.
• Red Plaid Rayon Challis - Anybody else watch that one episode of Sex in the City where Charlotte has an entire dress made out of red tartan plaid and think, "Yes, I want that"? If you're like us, you did, and now you get a chance! A bright red, white, and black tartan, this fabric is a rayon challis: lightweight, soft, and with a gorgeous, semi-fluid drape. It's perfect for this pattern, and will sew up into a one of a kind dress.
• Hunter Green Viscose Linen Silky Noil - We've used this silky noil in other boxes, but the amazing thing about this fabric is its versatility. It can just as easily be used in jackets and trousers as in dresses and tops. This is the perfect option for sewers who want an easy to sew fabric that's not super slinky. Plus, the deep, hunter green is perfect for the holiday season (and beyond).

Meridian Wrap Dress by Papercut Patterns

Recently on Instagram, there was a theme of "Twists and Ties" in which you sewed one of the many patterns out there that had knots, ties, loops, twists and other manipulations of the fabric in them. And the Meridian Dress from Papercut Patterns is a perfect example of this theme.

Not exactly the classic wrap dress that you think of with the open front and two side panels, we love this interpretation on the look nonetheless. Two long ties at the front of the dress are wrapped around the waist to create the appearance of wrap dress. Not only is it a bit of pattern magic, it also eliminates the worry of too much cleavage, a common complaint about wrap dresses.

• Royal Blue Viscose Twill - We adore this viscose twill. On top of the color (by now you know we love royal blue), it's incredibly soft and has just the right amount of body for this dress. With a subtle sheen, the fabric will look dressy while still feeling like secret pajamas. Dress it up or down, save it for holiday parties or wear it to work, the choice is yours.
• Black Floral Rayon Poplin - Who said florals are just for warm weather? A dark floral is just what the doctor ordered for winter parties. Sophisticated and stunning, this rayon is silky soft, with a great, almost fluid drape. It will fall beautifully with the shape of this dress and it will be one of a kind at any party you go to.
• Rose Gold Silky Noil - Cold weather shouldn't mean dark colors. Be the standout at the next party in this rose gold linen viscose blend. With a slight nubbly texture, this silky noil is lightweight, with a soft drape and even softer hand. And the color? We're smitten with this peachy pink, somewhere between a hipster pink, a blush pink, and a rose gold. Whatever it is, we love it and can't wait to make a dress in it.

Bonita Wrap Dress by Style Arc

Style Arc has been around for a while, but it's only a recent development that they are offering multi-sized pattern going up to size 30. And we are so happy about it. This Australian pattern design company has so many great patterns and we can't wait to start using them.

The Bonita Wrap Dress is a perfect example of the patterns Style Arc has to offer: stylish, fashion forward, and deceptively simple to sew. What looks like a traditional wrap dress is actually a faux wrap with an elastic waist hidden underneath a fabric tie. The loose fitting skirt is mirrored in the flutter sleeves, and the neckline, held closed with a hidden snap, is flattering and soft. All that is to say, we love this dress!

• Black Rayon Satin - Heftier than a polyester or silk satin, this rayon has great body for this dress. No panty lines, no problem, am I right? The satin weave gives the fabric an amazing sheen, and the rayon makes it eminently sewable and breathable. We just imagine this fabric as the flutter sleeves of this dress, and it makes us happy. Say hello to your new favorite little black dress.
• Dotted Waves Printed Rayon - If you've been paying attention, you know we love botanical prints, and this black printed rayon is a sneaky botanical! Multicolor dots form a wavy leaf pattern that is unlike anything we've seen before. And the drape of this fabric is to die for. Slightly heavier than a rayon challis, from the addition of nylon, it's perfect for this dress and it will look absolutely stunning at your next party.
• Magenta Viscose/Cupro Twill - This fabric is all about the color. We've used other colorways of this viscose-cupro blend, and there's a reason we keep going back to it. The cupro gives a matte, sandwashed look, and the viscose gives it a fluid drape. Add to that this magenta color, and you've got a killer combination for a party dress. And wanna know the best part? It's washable!

Magnolia Wrap Dress by Deer & Doe

Ok, we know this is a mock wrap dress, but we couldn't help using this knockout pattern in our wrap dress boxes. It's too gorgeous! Seriously, the long version is what our party dress dreams are made of. We're swooning.

And it's really two different dresses in one pattern. You get to choose which one suits you. With its statuesque silhouette and killer neckline, the long version is perfect for a fall wedding or a classy new year’s eve. The long sleeves and maxi length balance the depth of the mock-wrap neckline with elegance, and a slit adds interest and movement to the ample skirt. The short version is a cute declination of the longer version, less sensual and more sweet! The neckline is more modest and bra-friendly, the skirt is shorter, and the sleeves turn into wide butterfly sleeves!

• Black Tencel Twill - This fabric feels exactly like silk twill and has the same sheen and drape, without the dry clean only headache. Supple, with a gorgeous sheen, it will make for the best long black dress you could wish for. We're channeling our best Morticia Adams (and we mean that in the best way possible) when we think of this dress, and we can't wait to make one of our own.
• Purple and Blue Zig Zag Charmeuse - If you're going to make a long dress with a plunging neckline, why not go for broke with a fantastic fabric. This charmeuse has a very large scale chevron pattern created by thin blue, pink, and purple lines. It's a nod to seventies fashion, but completely modern, a favorite dichotomy of ours.
• Firework Dot Velvet Chiffon - We have sort of shied away from sheer fabrics in our boxes, but the holiday party dress boxes seem like the time to break that trend. A light, airy chiffon, with a subtle velvet dot pattern, it's an amazing fabric to use as an overlay over a black silk-cotton voile underlay. The way we see it, the bodice and skirt will look amazing with the underlining, but the sleeves remain sheer to accentuate the volume. But no matter how you underline this fabric, it will be beyond stunning.

*****

That's it for this month! In our Classic Boxes, we'll be reprising our party dresses from last year, so if you missed out on the fit and flare styles from last December, now is your chance to get your own.

Now, time to go back to enjoying the warm weather while it still is here. I hope you all get to do the same.

Until next time...

Happy Sewing,

Mary