Try out this do-it-yourself wrap dress

PHOENIX - It’s that time of year when we say goodbye to the cooler weather and usher in eight months of higher temperatures. The queen of no-sew and all things creative, Girl Friday Laura Mahoney has now created a new wrap dress that will keep you stylish and cool this spring and summer.

Adding to the interest of this new design is its versatility to take you from a day by the pool right into the evening for cocktails looking fabulous. Laura Mahoney calles it the toga of 2011!

Here are the do-it-yourself directions:

1. Take 2 yards of fabric (I like working with jersey or a stretch nylon for by the pool)

2. Fold the fabric in half and wrap it around your body with one arm out and the other shoulder covered including your arm.

3. Stretch the fabric for a nice fit and then pin the fabric that is under your arm so that it falls nicely to the side.

4. This is the tricky part to explain. You basically now have two layers of fabric because you folded it in half. For the arm that is covered, lift the top layer of fabric and then mark where your shoulder hits. Take the dress off and then cut a hole where you marked your shoulder arm area. The jersey fabric will give and you do not need to hem. Start with a small hole because it will stretch.

5. Put the dress back on and now chalk mark the length that you would like the dress. I recommend starting with the underneath layer first.

6. Once you stitch up the side where you have pinned you are done. This design is incredible because of the unique way it falls on your body and has a wonderful built in wrap from the extra fabric covering your one arm.

All of the dresses in the segment on Sonoran Living Live were paired with an the handbag company, Just Jane Handbags .

And if you have any questions creating your Lady Wrap Dress, Girl Friday can be reached at 480-370-4520 or girlfriday-laura.com .