I’ve made my Swedish souvenir 🙂
I bought this linen-mix with a Swedish designed print in Stockholm during our Scandinavian holiday. I fell in love with the bold and yet delicate print in orange, soft greeny-browns and black on a creamy background. Bold and delicate?! sounds like an oxymoron but I think this design does magically manage to fit into both categories somehow! The pattern is Vogue 2900 and I “framed” each piece in the design with a skinny strip of black cotton to highlight the piecing in this quietly interesting dress design.
I chose to do this because I felt the broad sweeps of a bold – yet delicate! – print like this could lose much of its impact upon being cut up into small pieces… I think the black framing successfully highlights the piecing of the pattern as a feature of the dress, while still being subtle enough to allow the print to hold its own and shine equally as a feature of the dress as well.
In its own way, the black framing is a bold and delicate thing, too!
I’ve long admired all the many beautiful versions of this pattern made by Yoshimi. Beth recently wrote about the concept of a “pattern whisperer”; and in fact, during Yoshimi’s stay with me she recommended this pattern to me, saying that she thought it would suit me. I have very high regard for Yoshimi’s taste and style and so paid careful attention to her “pattern whisper”. And I am glad I did because I love it! Thanks Yoshimi!
I took my time with this dress, cutting and precision-stitching the bias cut strips of black cotton and lining up all the black corners and edges just exactly right. All the seams are highlighted in this way, except for the bodice centre front seam; I couldn’t see it working in neatly with the edging on the centre front split at the top, and the centre back seam, which again, having the black edging would not have worked successfully with the white invisible zip closure. All the edges; the armhole edges, neckline edge, pocket edges and the lower edge of the dress, are similarly edged with the same black cotton.
It’s funny; I’ve had a large piece of this black cotton on a big cardboard roll for so many years, and it’s come in so very handy for so many little touches to about a zillion projects, to the point where I felt that it was like a never ending supply. With this project I suddenly realised I’m down to the last half a metre! Panic! I’m going to have to buy more!!
I used my own tip to perfectly align those black strips on either side of the invisible zip.
Details:
Dress; Vogue 2900, Swedish print with black cotton edging outlining each piece
Sandals; Zomp, from Zomp shoes
It looks so cool! I'm very excited to fabric shopping in Sweden now 🙂
This is so fun! Love the textile!
Love may not be a strong enough word. I love the pattern, the print, and the cotton binding. It goes together so well, really sophisticated. Can you give a little more detail on the framing/binding, I'm not an advanced sewing but I'd love to replicate?
I did take a few pictures actually in case someone asked, so I will write a how-to; thank you for the interest! 🙂
Beautiful! I love the print and the black outlining.
Very beautiful. It really does suit you well.
This is a beautiful dress. I love everything about it.
Now THAT is gorgeous. Is the black cotton inserted like piping? Really well done.
Stunning!
This is a stunning dress, you really topped yourself this time. The black edging with this unusual and beautiful print is just perfect and elegant. This dress suits you down to the ground.
The black strips successfully highlight that beautiful print! What a wonderful dress!
A beautiful marriage of pattern and fabric. Orange is a colour I am loving at the moment. It looks fantastic with the black trim.
Seriously – I gasped when I opened up this post. That dress is classy and suits the fabric perfectly. As usual, beautiful work!!
Also… can you jot down some notes on the trim/binding for your readers? It is so striking, I would love to be able to do something like that. Any little details would be well appreciated! I have so many of your posts bookmarked to refer to later….
thank you Angela! I did take a few pictures and will write a how-to. Thank you for asking 🙂
A work of art. It reminds me of stained glass.
Maybe the most beautiful garment I've seen you make. Beautiful in every way and the trim is perfection!
That is just so lovely. I love the colours. The black edging makes it so striking. The shape of the dress is just fabulous. The band gives it a slightly drop waist look, which you know I'm a fan of 😉
It's just beautiful…
I rarely ever wear dresses but for this I would change my mind. The black binding is genius.
Beautiful! can I just write "genius" after every one of your posts!
What a lovely dress, and a beautiful job constructing it! Congrats!!
I literally said "Wow" at my Mac when I opened my RSS reader to find this dress! Great great job! You look so pretty in it. What a lovely dress, and the black bindings make it the most beautiful garment.
And… thank you for your kind words on me :,-)
Me too. WOW is right!
You are an artist, Carolyn!
It's lovely.
Amazing! The Vogue pattern is perfect for this fabric and the black edging showcases this gorgeous print so beautifully! A work of art!
Wow. This is just stunning. I wouldn't have thought that using trim to highlight the pattern piecing would be so successful with such a large print fabric, but I can't argue with your results.
What a lovely dress. Delicate-strong. Also Elegant-comfortable, and simple-complicated. A truly oxymoronic dress. I love the zip tip too. Thank you.
This is a masterpiece, Carolyn – in execution, as always, but also in the pattern you chose and how you included the piping. And it suits you perfectly. What a gorgeous dress!
Super bir elbise :))
Wow! This photo looks like it could be taken from a page in a high fashion magazine. Seriously. It is so beautiful.
Stunning! The black edging really makes the dress, it compliments the pattern beautifully. If I were on Project Runway jury, I'd say that the look is also "very now", and yet one could see the dress being worn ten years from now.
I love this so much, the piecing, the fabric and the fit are all fantastic. The binding really makes this a standout dress. X
Very beautiful Carolyn, the fabric is just perfect with the contrast binding. I've had this pattern since it was first released, its gorgeous in your special fabric and Yoshimi's dresses are lovely too.
Oh this made me gasp with how lovely it is. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, but you're unreal!
Beautifully executed!
You just keep getting better and better!
It is stunning.
Long live piping/edging/framing! We love the seams and piecing of the patterns, we have to show it to the world 🙂
Totally gorgeous. I would never have thought of the piping but it works brilliantly!
May I add to the superlatives? Inspiring. Seeing all the lovely details of this dress makes me want to sew. Better.
The 2 last dresses you made are so pretty. Congratulations for your work.
You've outdone yourself. A magical piece of art.
The black strips are fabulous! What a gorgeous make. You look fantastic in it!
Stunning, Carolyn. This is the first version of this pattern that I've liked! Your use of piping strips really sets it apart. Very creative. Fabric is lovely.
Gorgeous! I can definitely feel the delicate yet bold vibe of the print, and I think the black edging is the perfect compliment. It's like a line drawing.
Wow! Your black piping adds the just right detail to bring out the absolute best in this gorgeous dress. Your work is stunning!
Your dress is fantastic! Love all the detailed work. The piping is excellent and shows up the seaming in this dress as well as the beautiful fabric. The fabric reminds me of paintings by Joan Miro.
This is gorgeous! You are a very creative person, Carolyn 🙂
That's stunning.
love it. that is so pretty. I have had this pattern since it was new and never used it yet. Although I want to. And another DK pattern I believe? her patterns for Vogue are great. Perfect marriage of fabric and style. the piping is a great touch.
This is fabulous and something I'd really like to achieve for myself. The workmanship is terrific.
Stunningly beautiful!
This dress is very beatiful, i love the details, specially the dress cotton. Good job¡¡ 🙂
This is fabulous! The black does balance nicely with that large print. I agree with your bold yet delicate theory! Well done!
stunning dress! beautifully made! and what a great idea with black edging
What a beautiful dress. I fell in love with this pattern when it was first released and your version is gorgeous.
Your dress is beautiful! And that black trim? Just brilliant. I just love it and you look fantastic in it.
Oh this is so beautiful and gorgeous work, love it!
you have such an eye! the trim highlights the seaming so well. love this!
Wow, your talent and patience with your craft–actually you're an artist–you blow me away with your talent. This dress is beautiful.
You look fantastic in this dress. To me, it looks like a piece of art. Congratulations and thanks once again for sharing your talent and inspiring us all!
This dress is so beautiful and artistic! The black framing is a brilliant idea, it makes the warm colors of the dress stand out. Fantastic job, again!
Well, it's simply gorgeous. I love the print you chose and the "framing" you did to dress it up. I recently purchased this pattern after wondering for years if it would look good on my small busted self. Since midi-length skirts have made a bit of a comeback, I decided to give it a try. I hope mine turns out as beautifully as yours!
I love 'Scandi' prints too. They look beautiful on this dress, and the black framing is just right – not too much or too little.
It's so beautiful! Yoshimi is right, it really suits you!
Gorgeous dress you made, and it looks so nice on you, wow!!
Oh wow- the black binding absolutely ramps this up- the fabric totally pops and shows of its Scandi awesomeness! Amazing work 😀
Absolutely glorious!
What a showstopper it is fabulous. Jo x
So beautiful! It was the right pattern choice to do the fabric justice 🙂
It's a beautiful dress, Carolyn! The black binding highlights the piecing really very well, withoug detracting from the print. 🙂
Genius! Your dresses are jaw-dropping fabulous, and very obviously well-fitted and well-made. Congratulations on another great make.
This dress is especially beautiful. Well Done! I appreciate the tutorial sooooo much. It was clear, concise and wonderful! Something I can't wait to try!
What a stunning dress! And such workmanship! Thank you Caroline for being so inspirational.
Harika!!! Sizin dikiÅŸinize bayılıyorum zaten…
What a perfect marriage of fabric, pattern and trim! Your dress is stunning and suits you beautifully.
beautiful and eye-catching!
you have such good taste! It's gorgeous.
Really, really gorgeous. Well done you. (Deleted previous comment due to typo. Ack.)
Wow. This is really gorgeous. I'll have to remember next time I'm using a busy print to highlight the seams like this. Such a simple idea that you perfectly executed.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for making up a version and posting this! Vogue 2900 has been sat in my stash for 2-3 years, lacking inspiration, but you've done such a lovely job reinterpreting it. Nice work as usual!
Yes I gasped too as soon as I saw your dress, the fabric is gorgeous and you have done an amazing job, you have a very good eye for fabric and what suits you. Well done, very inspiring!!! and thank you for sharing.
Wow – looks amazing with that black cotton highlighting the design lines ;o)
Oh! This is pretty much my favorite dress pattern ever. I have made three of them, all in the same version A that you made. I love your black framing–sharp and perfect for the print.
Honestly Carolyn! Between this swedish dress and your blue ray dress you're not making clothes anymore, you're making ART! So beautiful!
It is such a special dress, very striking with your framing technique, and so perfectly suited to you. What a beautiful creation from your wonderful souvenir fabric.
Love this Carolyn!! The black is perfect!
Beautiful dress Carolyn. The contrast bands are very striking.
Of all the beautiful things you've made, I believe this is my favorite. And my favorite accessory of yours – your gorgeous dog – would look perfect beside you. Yes?
thank you Robyn! and haha, yes, she would go quite nicely with the dress too! 🙂
HI
I have been browsing your blog today and this dress caught my eye. It is absolutely stunning, in fabric and style. You wear it very well.
I have just started learning to sew and your blog is very inspirational.
Michelle :o)
http://stitchunpickrepeat.blogspot.com.au/
I'm about to purchase this pattern and was wondering if you also went down 2 sizes from your measurements? Thanks! I love the pattern!
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