Hello! I’m wearing a new dress. The cool fingers of winter are tickling at the edges of our days so obviously I had to make a light and fluttery, floaty white linen thing for myself. It was only logical * 😀
Actually, the truth is that I made it a while ago now! when we were still getting very hot weather and I have worn it several times already. The pattern is the Zsalya from Kate & Rose patterns. Kati emailed me to ask if I would like to test one of their lovely new range; thank you so much for the opportunity Kati! It was so hard to choose just one! The Zsalya is a dress or top pattern with two sleeve variations, and I made the dress with short sleeves.
I knew straight away I would love this design. It has no closure, you just slip it on over your head and it is easy breezy, and as cool as. In all senses of the word. 🙂
The sleeves are quite cute. I like how they are tightly gathered in at the top which lends them a sweetly pert and boxy shape, and they have a pretty petal-shaped hemline.
The neckline is so clever. I think it’s my favourite feature of the dress. When I first looked at how open it was I considered putting in a little rouleau loop and button closure, but you know what? there is absolutely no need. Gape-age just doesn’t happen, thanks to the clever design. The crossover yoke is open so you can get your head through quite easily, but once the dress is on it all sits nicely flat and closed with a safe and demurely high neckline. Clever!
I edged the neckline with a patchworked strip of bias cut cotton scraps; this was simply sandwiched between the yoke and yoke facing before stitching them together.
I added in-seam side pockets 🙂
Really, even though it looks blustery as all get-out in these pictures and it was, it was also quite insanely hot and muggy on the day I took them. So a loose little linen number was actually just what the Fremantle doctor ordered! I was getting bored with all my summer dresses so it was nice to have an excuse to make a new one. Summer dresses are such fun, both to make and to wear. And even this late in the season it’s always nice to have a fresh and new-ish summer dress waiting in the wings of the wardrobe over winter 🙂
* Mr Spock, of course
Details:
Dress; the Kate & Rose Zsalya dress, white linen with patchwork details
Thongs, Havaianas
Love this dress! Yet another pattern to go on my list 🙂
I also love your patchwork and I totally understand hoarding pieces of fabric. I'm currently saving up all the denim from a few things I've made to make a patch skirt sort of like the one you made. I don't know if I'll use the pockets though.
Very pretty dress.
Oh that is so pretty. The patchwork just makes it extra special. I love the yoke details.
This is a gorgeous dress and you've done a lovely job with your patchwork (of course).
So creative and lovely….
The added patchwork really makes this dress stand out. Great job!
Very pretty. Love the sleeve and yoke.
I'm a fabric-scrap hoarder, too, and your dress is so inspiring! To my eye, it's a perfect balance between the patchwork and the white.
Beautiful, as always. I love your idea of insetting a patchwork band. I may have to co-opt that idea sometime soon!
Wow…it is beautiful!!!! The white with the patchwork…like a whisper of color in the wind. (Hugs to Sienna.)
Gorgeous! Love the patchwork!
Love the triangles! I'm finishing up repairing a quilt "Ocean Waves" and want to keep using more triangles on everything. This is fantastic, very well done.
That is beautiful! I often wanted to make a linen dress but been uncertain of the type of linen to buy. This looks so feminine and breezy–just lovely!
okay, im going to have to knock off this patch work idea!!
This looks fab. I love the unusual neckline and bodice and your patchwork decoration is a unique addition. Thanks for the post.
Uuuh, very nice. I love the neckline, the sleeve hem and especially the patchwork! Pretty, pretty, pretty. And so summery, this goes on my to-make list.
I love your touches Caroline – and your use of the little bits. The ideal dress for the hot, muggy days – cool, pretty, simple, what more could you want?
Forgive me, I have a nasty headache today – Carolyn. My apologies.
Looks very simple and super..
magnolia fabric
Another stunning garment – and a wonderful use of patchwork. I sometimes feel that the decoration on garments looks contrived but this is just wonderful. Another winner 🙂
It turned out so pretty! I love the sleeves´ detail, it is very cute.
Carolyn, I love this dress and what you've done with the patchwork. Just so fresh and different. Lovely work and fabric choices.
really pretty dress.. love that patchwork panel you added, so clever and so cute
What a beautiful dress. Using the patchwork motifs is inspiring.
Lovely dress Carolyn. Makes me wistful for warmth here in very chilly Melbourne tonight! Great use of scrap hoarding too (don't worry, we all do it!)
Beautiful in it's simplicity. Practical, comfortable and looks great.
So beautiful!!!
Super cute and looks very comfy!
I am not sure how to put this without sounding ridiculously over enthusiastic, but I adore your new dress in every detail! I think you make the perfect match as the pattern tester, it suits your style so well. I'd never heard of these patterns before, but I've book marked their page because I just love them so much. Also I want to compliment you on your photography because – perfection! Those colours! even your lovely dog. It's green and blossoming here in the UK, I love to see the contrast.
It looks like the perfect summer dress! Love the pictures with your dog too.
Yes, as usual you look amazing. The idea of the patchwork is inspired and I've filed the idea away for future plagiarism! I also have never heard of these patterns but will be exploring…
Just beautiful – so quintessentially summery 🙂 And I'm sure scrap hoarders everywhere will be thanking you for what may well be the ultimate vindication!
That looks so perfect! I must make one myself. You are so inspirational to everyone.
Your dress looks so fresh – just perfect for summer! I love the inclusion of the patchwork , it's such a wonderful way to use up your itty-bitty scraps 🙂
Oh, my! What a beautiful, beautiful dress! I love everything about it and it's just what I'm looking for this summer!
Like how the neckline binding echoes the patchwork hem band. Neat dress!
Beautiful work as always. Patchwork doesn't generally grab me, but your application of it is so effective – great choice of colours and proportion. Your photography is always nice, but this is a perfect match on the whites and the ginger tones. Be honest – did you get Siena because she matches your colouring? 🙂
You wear the dress beautifully….and lovely photography:)
Beautiful! There is just something so special about white linen 🙂 I love your patchwork too – very creative use of scraps!! (I save all mine too LOL)
This may sound old fashioned but….this dress is delightful. There is just something so serene about it. I love it when a garment evokes a feeling like that.
the patchwork is genius! i adore that detail. i too am a fabric scrap hoarder… now i have even more reasons to keep it all!
I love this.
Your photography is always such a joy to look at. And I love how you dispersed the colors in your patchwork panel.
The patchwork detail adds to this dress, it looks so cool and sounds perfect for the hot summer days.
Such a beautiful dress! And yet another idea to file away for later. The patchwork was a lovely addition to this dress.
Must be a lot warmer in Perth…bit icy here in Sydney. The patchwork and bias trim take your dress to a new level.
I love the patches and the bias trim!
What a gorgeous dress! What size are the patchwork bits? I think keeping them the right scale would be very important for a good look and you've done that really well – love the matching piping as well. The other thing that comes to mind is that handkerchief linen is pretty thin…what keeps your dress from being see-through?
Shelley: while my linen is very thin and the fibres are super fine it is quite densely woven and so isn't really see through. It is fine enough that I have to think about the colour of my undies, though! I expect my fabric is not really as fine as "proper" handkerchief grade linen.
Well,that's a relief! I'd hate to think of your going around showing more than you intended!
Great dress with beautiful details. Love the patchwork on the bottom.
The patchwork border is just gorgeous! And I love the sleeves and neckline. Beautiful dress!
Thank you everyone for the lovely compliments!
I LOVE THIS!! I love the patchwork and the neckline and everything! I now want to try this!
You are brilliant! I love how you customize the patterns you receive. This patchwork idea is very inspiring 🙂