A Tropical Envelope Dress

I have been meaning to make this dress for a few weeks now -- I just had to decide on the right fabric! It's the Envelope Dress by Criswood Sews, a zero waste project.

I first saw this pattern on Instagram, where it was made up in linens & natural tones, and so I thought I would use a brick red linen in my stash. But I just wasn't feeling it. Then I saw this thrifted tropical print. The recommended fabrics for this pattern are solids, but I thought I would give this large scale print a try.

The worry with a print like this is that the flowers will end up where you don't want them. Despite checking my panels first I still got a little too close to chestal foliage. But I think it's still wearable; it's not so noticeable in real life & in movement. I really like how the neckline falls and forms pleat-like folds, and the overall look.

The pattern is more of a tutorial with measurements given either for a one-size-fits-all option or one based on your own measurements. I used my own measurements to get it slightly bigger, which worked out well.

The width of your fabric is the length of your dress,  so this 44" fabric was perfect for me. The length of the fabric is the width of the dress, so when I cut a slice off the end to get my chosen size I had enough to cut some side seam pockets & a tie belt.

I'm glad I did because I like it better with the belt. I like it loose for the poolside, maybe, but for everyday wearing I think I'll go for the belted look.

It's a fun pattern to puzzle out, and depending on your fabric it can be zero waste. I only have a little 8" square left over,  along with the scraps of my pocket pieces. Very little! When finishing I decided not to hem it but to leave the selvage on the bottom as is -- it has such a pretty silky fringe.

I have two other measurements based caftan patterns to try next, one from Sew News magazine & one from Burdastyle. It's just the fabric choice slowing me down!