Scandinavian Christmas: Day 8

Welcome back! Here we are on Day 8 already! Today we have the very talented Rachel sharing with us, who blogs over at Nest Full of Eggs. Rachel is an amazing seamstress and always is sharing the fun and creative items she sews for her children. She has participated in Scandinavian Christmas since it started! She first shared her Nordic Gift Wrap tutorial, then the Dala Horse Crown, a Glögg Tote Bag, and last year shared this adorable Children's Tomte Outfit! Please welcome back Rachel!

Hello Pickled Herring readers! I'm Rachel and I blog at nest full of eggs. I'm American, but half of my ancestry is Swedish. What can I say? Christmas brings out the Scandinavian in me. I'm delighted to be joining the Scandinavian Christmas series again this year. In the past I have shared:

• Nordic Crosses Gift Wrap
• Dala Horse Felt Crown
• Glogg Tote Gift Bag
• Kid Tomte Outfit

This year I am excited to show you the unique, one-of-a-kind Scandinavian Christmas dress I created. I was inspired by Saint Lucia who wears a white dress with red sash and a crown of green leaves. Recently I was out shopping at a local store. In the Christmas decorations there was a Scandinavian section where I found this woven placemat with a Scandinavian motif. Even though it wasn’t made in Scandinavia, I found it ideal for my project since it was all red and white and Christmassy (the design reminds me of Nordic knitted sweaters). It is a higher quality textile since the design is woven and not screen printed.

 This placemat became the fabric that I used for the front yoke on this dress.

 I didn’t even need to separate the two layers of the placemat, I just cut through both layers and that’s how I got the lining for the front yoke!

 So I encourage you to grab any Scandinavian textiles that you fall in love with because you can always use it in a future project.

I took some modeled photos at the American Swedish Institute (in Minneapolis, Minnesota) all decorated for a Nordic Christmas. This photo was taken in front of a Danish Christmas tree in the Denmark room on the second floor of the mansion.

 And this photo was taken on the third floor of the mansion in front of an over one hundred year old green tiled stove from Sweden! I made this lingonberry headband that becomes the perfect accessory for the dress.

 Lastly, one final detail to share, one last touch of red is on the back with three red buttons.

Thanks so much for having me Kathryn!