Hello!
A little while ago Liz contacted me to generously send her copy of the By Hand London Elisalex pattern to me. Thank you so much Liz! Obviously I leapt at the chance to try out this deservedly popular pattern 🙂
One of the most wonderful things about being part of this online sewing community is how we all openly and honestly share our love of sewing and our sewing experiences. I’ve believe the sewing community to be such a friendly group of generous, upbeat and helpful women: so I really want to spread the love and pay it forward and all that, and in turn offer this pattern up to another… a giveaway! Maybe this is a sorta blogging anniversary giveaway, since I have been blogging for four years as of last Friday, but really all the thanks and credit is due to Liz 🙂
As recommended in the pattern instructions, I traced my size onto white plastic table-clothing, which means that the original pattern is still in immaculate condition. I refolded it carefully back into its factory folds; I’m pretty expert at that, if I say so myself. Years of pattern control-freak practice 😀 Anyway, it is all nicely and perfectly intact. And the pattern packaging is exquisite, truly a thing of great beauty, with two nesting envelopes of high quality blue cardboard bearing elegant drawings of the three variations. Seriously, this is a gorgeous thing! So, if you would like this copy of the very popular Elisalex pattern then please leave a comment saying so. I will randomly pick a recipient this Thursday, 17th October.
(Later edit: a commenter has pointed out that my giving away this pattern is morally “iffy” … obviously this is the very last thing I want! so I have decided to withdraw the offer. My sincerest apologies to all, and my thanks for your kind comments and I will rustling up something different for a blogging anniversary giveaway very soon… please stay tuned 🙂 )
I bought this piece of black-and-ivory patchworked silk taffeta from Homecraft Textiles a while back, thinking about those Louis Vuitton shift dresses, and then had second thoughts since the silk is very thin and slightly floaty and so was really too light to work well in a structured shift dress design. Shift dresses need a fabric with a bit of oomph.
I put the idea of a shift dress on ice, but as soon as I saw the big pouffy skirt on the Elisalex the silk leapt to my mind again. The piece was wide but I only had 1.5m so pattern matching was the biggest challenge. Also a lot of the squares were not exactly square but are slightly bigger and smaller here and there, and the corners don’t always match up perfectly. I’m pretty pleased with how I managed to get the dress out of my small piece and got my squares, princess seams, corners and box pleats matching up not too badly. The only area I am disappointed with is the junction between the skirt and bodice at the centre back, where the two ivory squares and two black squares are adjacent with each other and so there is one ivory and one black rectangle instead of squares and the chessboard effect falls into a heap! … but I think I can live with that little quirk. Well, I have to because I wasn’t going to go out and buy more fabric just for that. Although I will admit that I considered it 😉 I have the smallest mere scraps leftover, so I did make very good use of my piece.
My dress is fully lined with cream-coloured polyacetate lining fabric. The pattern does not mention lining the skirt, so I cut the skirt pieces out as narrower versions of the skirt pattern pieces without the extra “pouffe” at the side edges. I also chose to add huge inseam side pockets, because well duh! Sorry to sound like a broken record on the subject, but in my view this design was just screaming out for pockets!! For the pockets I used a lightweight ivory swiss dotted cotton voile.
Details:
Dress: By Hand London Elisalex dress, patchwork silk
Tights; self-drafted, black wool, details here
Shoes; Misano, from Labels boutique
Pattern
Description:
Sizing:
it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you had finished
sewing it?
the instructions easy to follow?
did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The pattern itself is beautifully packaged; this is an exceptionally high quality product.
surprised that the pattern didn’t have pockets considering that the big pouffy skirt could so easily accommodate them. Fortunately it is super easy to put them in yourself.
Used:
alterations or any design changes you made:
you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
yes 🙂
Design-wise; it is an absolutely beautiful and classic design, and I am very pleased with how mine turned out.
Beautiful dress! I've been looking at this pattern for a while… your version is fabulous.
Thanks for the opportunity to win it in the giveaway ( & I might have to buy it if I'm not lucky this time!).
Well done Carolyn, I REALLY like the dress. Regarding the front rectangles – I think that only us, fellow-sewists, see those peeve pets. so don't bother over it. It's plain gorgeous!
I love this dress! You did a fantastic job with the checkered squares. You always do quality sewing time and time again. You continue to inspire me!
This is the best pairing of fabric and pattern I've seen in a while! The angular checkerboard really sets off the curvy shapes of the dress. Fantastic! I have been curious about this pattern, and I guess I'm shyly entering your giveaway, if you don't mind shipping to the US. The skirt shape intimidates me but I just love it on everyone else, and I suspect it could be the perfect party dress (with pockets!) to wear at all those work parties I attend now…
One of the best versions I've seen for elisalex. Great work! Love the pockets too.
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to try this pattern.
I luv your dress. You have such a good eye for putting pattern and fabric together. Your blog is one of the first I check when I do my Blog "rounds" I would like to try this pattern. Anne Szabo
This is stunning – fantastic pairing of fabric and pattern! And it goes without saying, surely, that I'd love to win a copy of the pattern for my very own… 🙂
Great dress with careful pattern placement those squares are in exactly the right place. Jo x
This is such a stylish Elisalex! I love the fabric you've chosen and the addition of the pockets is such a good idea. Please don't enter me for the give-away though as I already have this pattern, and seeing your version has made me want to get it out again!
Carolyn, I LOVE it!! What a spectacular dress!
lovely dress! classic but fun. I'm considering using this pattern to make my bridesmaid dress for my sisters upcoming wedding. Winning a copy would be fantastic 🙂
Love, Love, Love! Perfect match of fabric with pattern!!
That's the most impressive Elisalex I've seen. Not kidding! And if I was still in doubt whether I need this pattern, now I'm screaming from enthusiasm and totally would like to be entered in the giveaway! Thanks so much for sharing this opportunity with others 🙂
A stand out dress! Love it. I'm loving the tulip shape of the skirt! Wonderful. I would love to enter this giveaway only if shipping to Canada is ok. I always love to see what you make next…always inspiring.
Very pretty!
Your timing with this dress is perfect with Bathurst this weekend. I really like it, more so than the inspiration dresses. Well done with the pattern matching, it can't have been easy. This is one dress I have been hankering for but couldn't justify buying.
Ah, beautiful! You picked the perfect fabric for this dress (I think). I'm not all to great a fan of this pattern (not the pattern, the shape of the dress, I'm sure the pattern is well thought-out and all, just not my cup of tea personally) but your version is truly wonderful!
Don't worry about the rectangles in the back, no one will notice and it could have just as well been on purpose, it's so well-aligned.
Stunning.
Love your observation of the pattern and the inspiration. I love this collection. Dress is adorable
It's great you have the height to carry off the boldness of this dress.
What a cool dress! I'd love to get ahold of a copy of that pattern to try my hand at one, although I don't know that I'd have the guts for such a snappy print!
This is the most interesting Elisalex I seen to date. It is gorgeous, I love the way the pleats look with the squares and thought the matching ones at the back were a design feature. I've yet to get my hands on this pattern.
Wow! I love your fabric choice and what you've done with it! Gorgeous dress, I would call it Chess Queen dress 🙂
Genious! Greetings from Germany,
BuxSen
When I saw your picture, my first thought was the Louis Vuitton dresses. You've made a lovely interpretation of the designer dress using a unique indie pattern. Love this! No need to enter me into the giveaway and it's so thoughtful of you to offer this pattern up!
Your dress has real wow factor. Thanks for the extra tips, this beginner definitely needs them. I don't have a copy of this pattern and if you don't mind shipping it back to the UK would like to be considered for your giveaway x
I love your version of the dress. I'm really surprised that the pattern doesn't have any metric measurements, I thought the UK was metric.
Lovely dress and great pattern patching within your constraints.
oh, I forgot to say, please, count me in for giveaway 🙂
That checkerboard fabric is so fun! You have a great eye for stunning fabrics and designs. Also, I'd love to try out this By Hand London pattern. If I were lucky enough to win, I'd even keep up the tradition of sending it on its way! amy.ahearta at gmail dot com
I'm speechless! This dress is so beautiful!
Gorgeous! You sure have a knack for matching pattern to fabric 🙂
Thank you so much for another honest review – I really appreciate knowing the finer points of each pattern and BHL's designs are gorgeous and beautifully packaged – highly desirable – so being prepared for less pictures (and line drawings) & small details such as hem flips etc is invaluable and why I love yours & other sewists blogs. Your version is a glorious match of pattern & style – lovely work as always.
Precioso el vestido.
Love it! What a great use of fabric with this pattern – LV will be looking to you for design inspiration with this creation … J
Stunning dress. I would love to know where that fabric came from?!! Please don't count me in on the pattern offer. I've got too many already and have a good block for self drafting this style.
I love your finished dress – the fabric works really well with this design – I would love to win this pattern please!
What I beautiful dress! I live in Australia (vic) and im amazed at the fabric you seam to find! do you get it here? or order from online? Very nice choice! And you pull it off so well too! Thanks for the chance to try this pattern! I'm new to dress making, and Im really enjoying trying new designers and patterns
Thanks Jessica! I nearly always buy from local fabric stores, we have a handful of great stores here in Perth 🙂
What a beautiful dress and I'd love to make it. I'd love to win this pattern!
Wow! I have the same LV photos in my inspiration box too and your interpretation of the chequered design is just stunning. A truly fabulous dress!!
Amazing amazing amazing dress Carolyn!
Have I mentioned, it's amazing???
Love your dress! I would love to try out this pattern 🙂
So funny, the same collection inspired me to make a white&yellow check dress as well. Your dress reminds me Alice in Wonderland 🙂
Fabulous dress and love the black and white checks, even the rectangle 🙂 Please do not enter me in the draw for the pattern.
I have a copy of this pattern, so don't enter me in the giveaway. I just had to say how much I love your bold checked creation.
What a great dress! Better than the designer inspiration. I would love to try this pattern. Thanks for the giveaway!
-sewingelle
Please don't enter me in the giveaway as I have this pattern already. I did want to stop by and say how stunning your print combination with this pattern is! It is so striking and works really well, in my opinion much nicer than the shift dresses too!
I agree with you on the feedback on this pattern, I struggled to find the required fabric measurements easily. I also feel a line drawing, not a stylized one, would be useful. I didn't buy this pattern until I had seen a few made up. The stylized drawing put me off as the shoulder looked too wide. That said it is such a versatile pattern, I have made two, have cut out another and have a fourth planned!
L.O.V.E. Would love to be entered for this giveaway! cjillian (at) ozemail (dot) com (dot) au
It looks absolutely gorgeous Carolyn! The checkers are very of the moment, being Bathurst and all 😉 I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and I really enjoyed your pattern review as well.
Would love to see what the next person does with it 🙂
I love your version! I hope I'll win it, so I can try it, too!
maryallhandmade (at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win this pattern. I've been watching what seems like the whole sewing community make this up- and each one is so different! Loved your honest pattern review- I always really like to hear the bad so I'm prepared when I get the pattern (it rarely is enough to dissuade me.)
I would Love to win this pattern. I Love the boldnesss in the pattern in your version. Very dramatic.
Your dress is wonderful! It took me ages to find the rectangles on the back – they are so well aligned that they seem correct anyway, so I wouldn't waste too much time being peeved/frustrated! 🙂 I really enjoyed your review – nice to read something that is critical in a helpful way. I have patterns for dresses coming out my ears, so whilst I appreciate your thoughtfulness there are plenty people more deserving a pattern than me. Sweet of you though. Happy anniversary!
Oooh…yes please! We need some oomph patterns this end of the world!
Very modern and eye catching! Btw please don't enter me in the draw, just popping in to say how much I like the dress.
I love your dress and the honest review. This is a bit off putting for me cause I am not sure I am up to figuring bits out myself. But I love love love your dress!
Gorgeous Gorgeous dress. I wasn't sold on the skirt shape but seen so any lovely versions that I'd like like to try it! Please enter me (if you are ok the ship to uk)
Love the checks. I wouldn't worry about the back ones, because hey, you never really see that anyway! 🙂 Excited for a giveaway.
Gorgeous dress! Love your checkered version 🙂
Count me in on the giveaway. Thank you Carolyn and happy anniversary!
Oh my goodness, this is lovely! You've done a wonderful job of matching and highlighting the pattern.
Not sure if anyone's said this yet as you already have loooads of comments. I love the dress, but I'm thinking that using/copying and passing on a pattern like this in a chain is a bit… iffy? Making copies of a copyrighted pattern which is currently in print and for sale internationally… The By Hand girls are getting no income from the new owner (and they're only a small start-up, not a big pattern company), and your blog is very popular so this encourages more people to do the same. Just my two cents. And again, I love the dress – one of my favourite versions of this pattern I've seen.
thanks for the feedback, Gwenan, and I can see your point. I've taken it on board and have decided to withdraw the giveaway offer.
Thanks, glad it was taken well! And sorry i seemingly only come out of my hidey hole for a comment like this. I'm a big fan of all your creations!
Love your version of this. I really must make this pattern up. It joined my merry collection last week. This fabric looks great.
frankly, that's my favorite version of elisalex dress, and i've seen tons of them!
I totally love this dress!:)
This dress looks amazing! and I'd love to enter to win a copy of it. (zoe.livana(at)gmail(dot)com)
I'm the same with pattern folding! I hate seeing crumply pattern pieces. Except for Sewaholic patterns because the envelopes are so tiny and it seems so futile.
What a bold dress! I love it! All of it!
Like you and Inna, I loved this LV collection.. I wonder what collections will be like post Marc Jacobs? Anyway, just love your version of the dress and think it was the right thing to do to withdraw the prize – sady 🙂 I have this pattern in my collection but am yet to make it. I agree with your comments on the instructions – what I want to see in instructions is how to do the hard bits to get a good finish.
Carolyn, this is beyond beautiful. Your sewing is, as always, lovely. As is the fabric. You've managed the fabric pattern so nicely as well. Just love this on you. Thks for all the tips/comments on the pattern itself.
Wow! I think this is my favourite make of the year! A stunning use of both fabric & pattern – I need to get myself this pattern pronto!
Well, if there is no metric measurement, this pattern is not for me. In France, we only use metric system and I would not be able to sew something in another system….
Anyway, your version is very cute, your sewing is so nice!
Carolyn, this is a darling dress on you. I love its playful look, and the B/W is tres chic.
I'm surprised there's no metric, since it's based in the UK. I thought that was something exclusive to us rebellious Americans. 😀
The dress looks great, and with that classic black-and-white color scheme, I bet you'll be able to construct all sorts of outfits for it!
My god it is amazing ! So beautiful.
Absolutely STUNNING version of this dress! What an incredible fabric find.
And very gracious of you to reconsider the giveaway BTW – I know you had the best intentions 🙂
I'm not sure that the giveaway was necessarily a problem. A site like yours sees a lot of traffic, and a giveaway can result in more people going out and buying the pattern (people imagine winning and get excited, they don't win but they have to have it anyway). One possibility is to ask the company owner for permission.
This is an AMAZING dress! Once again you managed to put your unique touch on a pattern!
Both fabric and pattern are great! You chose very wisely my friend 🙂
Gorgeous dress and great review!
This dress is stunning! The pattern matching is wonderful! Love!
The result is beautiful – and thanks for the honest review!
Absolutely smashing, Carolyn! LV has nothing on you and your rad self!
This dress is spectacular. A real show stopper. The pattern matching is amazing.
Wow – this is just stunning, one of my favourites of all your wonderful makes I think! Have you seen Thewallina's yellow and white checkered dress? Imagine if you two met up in these dresses!
I'm really glad to read your honest review of the pattern – although I've made this dress and absolutely adore the design, I found the instructions frustrating too. I think it was Rachel of House of Pinheiro who was saying recently that many indy pattern makers seem to be moving to a model where instructions come more from the sewalongs and online tutes than from the actual pattern instructions (hope I'm remembering this right)… it's an interesting idea but not my preference!
The dress is gorgeous. I was on the fence about this pattern but now I think I have to have it, It is more flattering than I realized. I love the tights too. I will attempt some of these. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love how mod/modern this dress looks with this oversize check! Silk taffeta, you are a seducer.
Oh, I love how the exaggerated pouf in the skirt pairs with the huge b&w checks! It somehow reminds me of a poirot, just a bit dramatic and edgy while still being entirely feminine.
Since I've only ever sewn one princess seam dress, which didn't fit all that well, I will have to keep the ease stitching in mind!
Oh, I love how the exaggerated pouf in the skirt pairs with the huge b&w checks! It somehow reminds me of a poirot, just a bit dramatic and edgy while still being entirely feminine.
Since I've only ever sewn one princess seam dress, which didn't fit all that well, I will have to keep the ease stitching in mind!
Oh, I love how the exaggerated pouf in the skirt pairs with the huge b&w checks! It somehow reminds me of a poirot, just a bit dramatic and edgy while still being entirely feminine.
Since I've only ever sewn one princess seam dress, which didn't fit all that well, I will have to keep the ease stitching in mind!
Wow, wow, wow, and….wow. I have no words to describe this gorgeous version of the Elisalex! It is so fashion forward and all your checks line up perfectly. Check! The black and white is so dramatic! Fantastic job.
I love this! So fashion forward. Well done.
What a cool version of this dress, it looks amazing! Reminds me I really need to find a way to fit this into my sewing queue. I got the pattern a couple months ago and haven't managed to try it yet. Thank you for being so inspiring! And I'm a Carolyn who sews all her own clothes too – but at the other end of the globe in Canada!
I really wouldn't have predicted that a normal human could wear that fabric and look good. So either it is a great pattern or you're not quite normal? (Or I just have a limited imagination, very likely). It is a lovely dress shape and you look great in it. Well done!
Too Cool Girlfriend.
AH, your rendition of it is too fun!
Gorgeous dress, but if the back bugs you then just wear a thin black belt and that would break up the white, the black squares will probably just blend.
To be featured on SSB tomorrow, thanks for permitting.
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