This dress has been a PROJECT (all caps absolutely earned). I started in the fall and then took it all apart and started again in the spring (problems included a conflicted underlining and an ill-fitting skirt). I began with the Elisalex Dress pattern by By Hand London. I tried (and TRIED) but the skirt just didn’t work for me. I ended up using my TNT self-drafted pencil skirt. The fabric is a stretch cotton sateen and I made the piping from silk muslin and 1/8″ cotton cord. I used a combination of couture (learned from Susan Khalje’s Craftsy course) and home sewing techiniques to construct the dress. I lined the bodice with a stretch cotton poplin and sewed the lining to the bodice by hand with fell stitches. I bound the seam allowances on the skirt with Snug Hug and used lace trim on the hem. I stabilized the neck and back with silk organza selvedge. I added drapery weights to the back vent to keep the corners from flipping up. I hand picked (and un-picked/picked/un-picked) a lapped zipper and a centered zipper SIX times; each time the fabric stretched in a highly unattractive way. I finally settled on an invisible zipper and I’m happy to report that I haven’t lost a moment of sleep over that decision! I almost gave up on this dress a number of times, but I am so happy I persevered. I love my new spring dress so much that I bought shoes to match!

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