Pattern Review – New Look 6600 Wrap Dress

After binge-watching Tidying Up in 2 days, I aggressively Marie Kondo’d my closet, leaving it empty of spring dresses. Be prepared to see lots of dress refashions on this blog, like this bed sheet to wrap dress upcycle.


The Pattern

New Look 6600 offers 3 views of the classic wrap dress. I chose view A because I liked the short sleeves and wrap around tie. I cut out size 12 for the bust and size 16 for the waist.


I usually raise the waist on most patterns to fit my short frame, but I could tell by eye-balling the pattern piece that the waist would hit me an inch above the belly button, which it did. If you have a longer torso, I recommend extending the waist.


The Fabric

This wrap dress started life as a bed sheet I rescued from the Burlingame Goodwill Outlet. It’s a Martha Stewart, 100% cotton flat sheet in like-new condition. The sheet feels like a crisp, shirting fabric, perfect for spring. At $1.79 a pound, this sheet cost me less than $1.


The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

No sewing drama with this refashion! The wrap dress was easy to sew, but it did take a week of nightly sewing to finish because of all the pattern pieces. I was worried the ties could be troublesome, but it was easy-peasy.

I heart the cute pleat on the sleeve which adds a nice little poof. The pattern called for a button on the pleat, but I left it out for a clean, minimal look. The bust darts gave the bodice a slimming fit at the top, and the wrap tie finished the fit at the waist. The neckline was sewn with a facing that incorporated the ties at the waist.


I’ve bought wrap dresses that didn’t have enough overlap at the front of the skirt, which made me accidentally flash too much leg while walking around. That’s not a problem with this dress as the front skirt panels provide plenty of coverage.


My one small knit-pick with the pattern is the absence of pockets, which I noticed when I was laying out the pattern. It’s easy to add them, but I was feeling lazy the day I cut out the fabric.

The one detail that’s holding me back on this wrap dress is the A-line shape of the skirt. The way it flares out looks a tad hausfrau to me. Maybe the skirt would look different if I used a fluid, flowy fabric. Or maybe I can get away with size 14 instead of size 16. Or maybe I need to reshape it into a pencil skirt. I’d fiddle with fabric and size on the next iteration.


Final Thoughts

New Look 6600 is an easy, casual dress I’d wear on the weekend puttering around the house. I’ll try it again in a different fabric that drapes closer to the body. For now, I consider this project a wearable muslin.

For more sewing inspiration, check out my blog Pivot Point Patterns.

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  • Annie Doherty Annie Doherty on Jul 31, 2021

    Lovely dress, the fabric looks lovely, fresh and light. Beautiful result. ❤️

  • Stacy Stacy on Oct 03, 2021

    I just love a wrap dress and not to mention you were able to find a sheet in polka dots.....love, love, love. I just discovered you on Home talk. I am very happy I did.


    I read your what you thought about this pattern. So this would be alright for a beginner?


    Great job!!

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