Snowflakes and Lace January 13, 2014 – Posted in: Sewing

Lace. It’s such a feminine detail. It’s one I should use more because I completely love a good lacy edge or ruffle in just the right place. I don’t usually embellish much because fabric speaks to me–the brighter and bolder, the better! So I typically choose simple lines and silhouettes and let my fabric do the talking. But oh how much do I adore this dress!

I realize it’s not technically lace, but it’s got an inherent lacy quality to it and that’s all I need to swoon. This racerback piece is actually crocheted. I wish I could take credit for it but I got it, and a stack of others, at a local sewing expo a year ago and it’s been sitting in my sewing room ever since. The kicker? I paid a whopping $1 for it!!

It was white originally, and after spending an hour in a dye bath, it’s now this gorgeous yellow color. I don’t usually go for yellow, but I. AM. IN. LOVE.

I had to block it after dyeing it, and I’m so glad I decided to dye it, because it needed to be blocked! So if you have crocheted pieces at home, or you find some like I did, be sure to wash and block them so they maintain that perfect shape for the lifetime of the project. I had it laying flat for awhile, then I decided it would be best to block it on my mannequin! So I pinned and pinned and got it perfect, on several paper towels just in case, and left it to dry.

I also wanted my piece to be fully detachable. Knowing I was making a dress for a child, I needed it to be washed frequently. The buttons were the perfect finishing touch and make it easy to remove for dressing and washing.

But oh, this crochet piece. My heart sings when I look at this dress and I’m so, so ready for the cold to leave us and the warm to come again. Sofia loves the dress because her chief complaint in the summer is that her back gets hot. She danced and danced in this dress and kept remarking about her unusually cool back. She wants many more like it and I’ll be happy to make them for her!

Since making her this dress I’ve become a little obsessed with the idea of crocheted yokes and pieces on garments. So I spent some time digging around on Pinterest, Ravelry, and etsy and have compiled an entire Pinterest board of pieces ready to buy or make. And I already know for this summer I’m going to make myself a bajillion of these. So amazing, right?

I’ve loved this dress from the moment I started putting it together and I’m obsessed with the crocheted pieces on clothing. Make sure you come back tomorrow for a tutorial on how I made it and be sure to check out my Pinterest board for more ideas! And don’t forget to stop by the other blogs on the Snowflakes and Lace tour for more lacy gorgeousness!

Enter to win the great prize packages below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway