… the water bearer!
So this dress incorporates the design from page 56 of Pattern Magic 2, by
Tomoko Nakamichi. It is described as “a flip turn draped design tie appears from the
slit in the front bodice for a complex and beautiful effect.”
When I was playing with ideas for the Aquarius theme I had in my head; I imagined that front panel as a swimmer shooting out of the watery waves that are embroidered around the hem of the dress, up the front of the dress, and diving back into the water at the neckline. Yeah, I do occasionally have an overactive imagination…. 🙂
To represent the Aquarian waves I embroidered a running stitch sine wave around the lower hem of the dress, and on the full-length front panel. I originally had lazy-daisy water droplets going down the side of that front panel too… but the family veto-ed that one, thought they were naff. Hmf! 😀
Details:
Dress; partly self-drafted, based on the flip turn design from page 56 of Pattern Magic 2, by Tomoko Nakamichi, blue cotton
Sandals; la soffitada Gilde, from Zomp shoes
I drafted the dress a little differently from that suggested in the book… in this case I gave the dress a long darted true A-line skirt with satisfyingly deep deep inseam pockets. To fit the back skirt to my slight swayback, I sewed modified darts in the skirt, and folded pleats in the bodice at the same position. This allows the bodice to blouse out nicely from out of a fitted waistline. The front skirt and bodice have the same dart/pleat thing happening. This is a waist-slimming trick 😉
It is photographed here on Bessie who is bigger than I am, so it does blouse out more blousily on me. The back of the dress is quite plain…
The dress is put on and taken off with a long invisible zip in the left side seam, and that long front panel is invisibly stitched down to the dress at the waistline.
What a wonderfully creative bodice. Such a striking feature. The colour is gorgeous and the length spot on. I think you've created a stylish addition to your summer wardrobe.
Unique and unusually graceful!
That's awesome. You're so inspiring!
Very original and elegant dress 🙂
I have yet to make anything from the pattern magic books I own. This dress really makes me want to try it out though – it's beautiful & elegant 🙂
that neckline is amazing.. the fabric has a lovely shape for this pattern.. perfect match… and of course… you just look beautiful… one of my favourite pattern magic dresses so far!
This is just perfect Carolyn. The bodice v length is spot on. Such an original bodice that looks stunning.
This is a great dress! You are such a talented sewist. I really love this dress on you.
Wow, this is gorgeous!
Very elegant! The bodice drapes beautifully.
Oh I love it! That dress is so peaceful and at the same time so graceful. I also like the color!
So beautiful, and so uniquely you!
Love the length … very pretty ! 🙂
You look stunning in your lovely, very unusual dress.
Cynthia UK
I love everything about this dress. Well done Carolyn. Another winner!
Carolyn I love your new dress, from the colour to the texture and the shape. It is spectacular!
What a beautiful dress!
Love th color. Love pattern magic. Nice work.
I love your new dress. The tie at the neckline is such an interesting feature. Love the fabric too, it looks a bit like a blue osnaberg, fabulous!
Just beautiful. I really like the longer length. I think the proportions are perfect. Also love the wave at the hem. Such a great subtle detail.
Very pretty dress, the color looks so good on you.
Es precioso, un delantero super original para ese vestido tan bonito! Me gusta!
Absolutely fabulous! I love how you put the perfect fabric with the perfect pattern. I have this book and a couple of the designs really catch my eye, you inspire me to try them.
I have a question, is the skirt wrap or faux wrap, or is it closed with a seam. I don't see it blowing open in the breeze, but it has a lovely and slimming wrap look.
becki-c; thanks 🙂 It is neither a wrap nor a faux wrap. It is a plain skirt with pockets, and the front panel is a long tie that is joined at the waistline and hangs free down the front of the skirt.
I love the neckline on this dress – gorgeous
Just love that dress
Lovely dress, Carolyn. Definitely elegant and graceful.
First of all can I just say three little words Ohhh eM Gee. The dress is amazing, it's like an art piece! Sorry but I get so excited over things like that. You are so talented and I cannot even pluck up the courage to make a top. I have scrolled up a few times to sneak looks at the close-ups, I now have repetitive strain.
What a beautiful dress!! I love it.
I love it and the water theme is perfect. Somehow this dress reminds me of some great vintage looks, kind of a 40's retro style. and yet so modern. perhaps it is the length. Which is so nice to wear and yet I rarely make dresses this length.thanks for the reminder. Also love the wave stitching.
It's really pretty!
Beautiful! I'm going to have to remember that blousing dart trick. I like your wave stitching too!
Very elegant indeed !
You are the master of pattern magic! Another chic, elegant and unique dress. Pretty colour of blue too.
great dress, very wearable.Sheila
What a fabulous dress – it looks great on you and
I also love your sandals.
Sandra
That dress is wonderful. I wonder how the top "tie" would react if the envelope were just a narrow slit? (Might have to use a lighter weight fabric?) I would like to make one of these, since if it looks that nice on your much coveted slim frame, it should still look good on someone short and roundish. Making proper use of those waist slimming techniques, of course.
This is outstanding. I am truly impressed with how you translate the obscure pattern magic designs into wearable clothing.
I can't wait to dive into this book and think about shapes like that. What a lovely blue… so soft and cooling on a hot day.
This style is gorgeous. You look fabulous. Thanks for describing how this dress works too.
So interesting! I imagine you with a closet full of unique and one of a kind pieces. This must be true since you show the contents to us! I like the length, and the interesting details, especially the mathematical ones (swoon!) .. and the futuristic water fountain!!
och wow it looks so nice.
Thihs dress is gorgeous. I love everything about it.
gasp! i love this dress! all the details are just perfect. so pretty!
What an unusual design. It's a very elegant design and I'm sure it's very cool and comfortable in the heat. It has a hint of 50's but is very modern, if that makes any sense! You look lovely in it.
I truly admired this dress as soon as I saw it. I love the colour and the fabric and you could wear it every (hot) day and still look elegant!
Beautifully elegant. The bodice detail is perfect in that fabric, and the opening is so nicely finished. I love the longer length and subtle embroidery balancing all the neckline interest. Wow. Very inspiring.
TRES CHIC!
Interesting design, the fabric sounds divine and it looks absolutely perfect on you.
Such a beautiful design, perfectly evoking water and swimming. I love it! All of the details, from the wave embroidery, to the longer length, to the draped and "tied" bodice top are just great. Superb!
Very cool. The bodice is such a neat design and you put it together well.
Stunning and elegant! What else can I say? I love it. The longer length really suits you too.
I love the way the fabric drapes. Lovely dress!
I like that length, too. My imagination went off when I read 'partly self-drafted'…I'm wondering how many steps you are from just designing your own patterns altogether. I'm sure there is a lot of tedious work after that so I just skipped to the pattern envelope at the fabric shop: Carolyn Designs.
What a wonderful dress – you look gorgeous in it! The length is perfect for more elegance, great!
Greets,
Liese
This dress is lovely. It has a retro elegance and glamour to it. The length, the drape, and the texture of the fabric are summer days at the estate. As others have said, this dress is beautiful on you!
Well done Carolyn, I really like this dress and I like that you added your accent to the original design. Looking great as per usual!
So gorgeous and so creative! I like it!
A.Mazing! What a clever design! love your dress!
Beautiful dress! Very interesting details and it does look very elegant on you.
So graceful! So elegant! I think this is my favorite of all you've made. Elle
Gosh. So much detail and such a gorgeous color! Another lovely dress!
Just gorgeous Carolyn another Pattern Magic win.
That is one beautiful dress. Caroline. It looks insanely hard to make!
Wow this is one of my all-time favourites of your makes. Just gorgeous. I love the length and colour.
So So gorgeous! Definitely one of my favourite ever of your makes 🙂 The fold through detailing is very flattering on you.
You said that you threw the fabric onto the floor to cut. Do you cut out your garments on the floor?
You produce an amazing number of sewn items in such short time, as well as knitted items. How in the world can you be so productive? It seems that there are not enough hours in life to do as much as you do. I always enjoy clicking in to see what you are sewing! You are a true sewing wonder.
Your blue dress is quite beautiful!
I am just amazed at the work you are doing from Pattern Magic. These pieces are so interesting to look at, and certainly they must get such a kick from wearing them. Nicely done, Carolyn!
I was just flipping through the book and pondering this dress. It's quite lovely and the tie is so intriguing; the fabric is also a good choice – similar to the "Monaco Blue", one of Pantone's spring colors, I think.
You always make me wonder how these Pattern Magic books would work for me being so short and curvy and shaped completely differently. You look so elegant that you make me think for brief moments that I could do that, too.
Yes, this does look …of another time…? Not old fashioned – your Japanese pattern book wouldn't allow that at all! But the practicality of the clothes do give it a different vibe. I'm not familiar with 'A Place to Call Home', I gather it's Australian. I did google it but found a variety of images that don't all seem to go together. I wouldn't likely watch a 'drama' anyhow…sounds like a soap to me. Also, I am finding that I don't want to watch shows about my lifetime. I remember blatant sexism and repression and I'm not prepared to romanticize it (what I hear about Mad Men). On the other hand, I don't want to go all nostalgic about my childhood and my mother and wish for a return of something that can't be. Maybe this is why I like history before WWII so much? Anyhow, you look lovely as usual and I do adore practical but pretty shoes.