Indie Pattern Month - Finished: Elisalex!

Modern Vintage Cupcakes is hosting Indie Pattern Month this month so I've jumped all over that bandwagon and want to share my most recent make in celebration of all the independent pattern designers out there. Since I've started sewing again I've pretty much only sewn indie patterns and there are still lots on my list to make. There are just so many nice patterns out there and they just keep on coming.

The majority of my patterns (and wish list) are Colette Patterns, I've made a couple of Sencha's and Sorbetto's and also have the patterns waiting for the Violet blouse, Lady Grey coat and currently on my sewing table is the Anise jacket. I'm also a little in love with the likes of Papercut Patterns, Sewaholic and Grainline Studio to name but a few.

But, my favourite at the moment is By Hand London and the Elisalex dress. This is my second go at this dress, the first was made for my work Christmas party in December last year. I really liked my first attempt but after a couple of wears I've come to realise that the fit really needed some work so I tried hard to get it right this time. I made it for another work related party which gave me a tight deadline again but I was determined to do my best!

The size 12 on the pattern are my exact measurements but the bodice was really tight across the chest and shoulders. On my first dress I did a square shoulder adjustment (that I quickly realised was pointless) and took the seam out a little on the princess seam. On this make I decided to do an FBA and adjusted it by 1cm on each side. This amazingly seemed to do the trick, although it still makes no sense to me. I also did a 1cm forward shoulder adjustment as the shoulders seemed to be falling back.

The fabric is a poplin weight cotton sateen from Stone Fabrics and I love it! It's really too drapey for the  tulip skirt but I did it anyway and I think it just about works ok. I shortened the skirt length quite a bit too, I think the finished skirt is 23 inches from the waist. I fully lined the dress in the hope that this would give it a bit body, not sure if it did but it looks lovely inside anyway (except for the hems, I had to rush the night before the party so they need redoing, I was even hand stitching the lining to the zip on the train journey there).

Woop woop! Check out that full lining! (But don't look at the hem).

We had some good news at work recently and so instead of celebrating with a bottle of fizzy wine I decided to treat myself to an invisible zip foot instead, (I might have had a drop of wine too!) and so I did my first ever invisible zip! I don't know why I've put it off for so long, it was easy peasy and looks amazing. I used this tutorial from Colette and it made it really straightforward to insert.

And the best bit? Look at my waist seam matching!!!

I'm sure there's still more I could do to the fit but I'm really pleased with this dress and have plans to make more variations. I really do love that there's so many amazing independent pattern designers out there and it's great to be celebrating them this month and sewing up a great wardrobe too!