The By Hook or By Crook Elisalex dress

Right, ever since I became aware of the Elisalex dress pattern, I knew I had to have it. I am one of those people whose body proportions are, quite frankly, annoying. At my most annoying, I was a 34 bust, 30 waist, and a 44 at the hips. Try buying a RTW dress with those proportions, and you will understand why I started sewing. In RTW parlance, I am currently a 14 at the top, and an 18 at the bottom, for fitted garments. No kidding!

Unfortunately for me, the pattern was launched when I was very low in sewing funk, so I bought the pattern, and forgot about it. Then Rachel made hers, and suddenly, completed projects started popping round the blogosphere.  It was not until Rachel's epic meet-up, and after having a nice chat with Charlotte of By Hand London, that I decided to really make the dress. For inspiration, and moral support, I went to Roisin's blog. She makes sewing the Elisalex dress look really easy. The pictures are abit dodgy because Mr.Dibs was having a really grumpy moment as we were running late for work. What is a little bit of lateness when I had to take pictures of my new dress I ask you? Plenty apparently, because Mr.Dibs was not impressed when I whipped out my camera. We did get to the station on time though, so alls well that ends well.

I did a muslin, which many of you thought deserved its own share of sunshine, so I shall be finishing that one soonest. Post muslin, I decided to use a stretch cotton I bought from Goldhawk road 2 years ago. I have loved this fabric for a long time, and my mom even went on her knees for it. I refused of course. Has your mother ever coveted your fabric so much that she had to beg you for it on her knees? My reply was an emphatic "NO", and I did not even feel guilty.

My dress was well and truly on its way, BUT, as fate would have it, my machine broke down. Yes, my faithful Pfaff, went crazy. I don't know if it is something I did, or something I have not been doing, but she, Faffi, would not work. Her bobbin thread kept tangling, and she would not feed fabric through. So I cleaned her, and dusted her, and begged her, but no, she thought I had neglected her for too long, and she wanted to see other people. Fair enough, I plan on taking her to my local sewing machine repair man this weekend. In the meantime though, I had a dress to finish, and a bridesmaid dress to make for my cousin's impending wedding, 2 weeks from now.


So I did what any self-respecting woman would do. I went looking for a new machine. That in its self, is a whole new story, which I shall write about in the next post, but know that I now have 3 machines in my house, with two having bought between Monday and Tuesday. Crazy times people, crazy times, and desperate times call for desperate measures. I was determined tohave that Elisalex dress by hook or by crook.

I finally finished the dress last night. Somehow, while trying it on, I got the front at the back, and decided I like the look. What do you think? Wearing it back to front? Oh yeah baby! Even Mr.Dibs likes it, so there.

I also decided to put some lace trimming at the neckline. You like?




I really like this dress. I have lost some weight since I last made the muslin, because this version feels a bit big on me, especially around the waist and the bust. So yay! to 1 hour dancing sessions.


Charlotte, if you and your crew at By Hand London are reading this, THANK YOU for a lovely pattern. It was beautifully drafted. I might have to try the Charlotte skirt next.