The Elisalex Revisited

It was back in April when I originally posted about attempting to run before I could walk with this dress. I seriously got somewhat ahead of myself in terms of my skills level 😉 Back then, I got some really useful tips from both Sharon at petiteandsewing.blogspot.co.uk and Barbara-Jane from babarajanemade.com on how to go about fixing some of the problems I encountered. Thank you ladies! However, since I made it in tweed-like fabrics, the heaviness of it had put me off revisiting it again until now. The Monthly Stitch’s ‘Amnesty Month’ gave me the kick I needed…

What’s really good about revisiting old projects is that you realise how much you’ve progressed! Seriously, my ‘finish’ on this was truly awful! I’m still a long way from perfect, but progress has definitely been made 🙂

Before

The main problem with this make, and the one that made me most reluctant to wear it, was the unflattering length. So the first thing I did, following the advice referred to above, was to unpick and remove the original zip which was a pretty ugly, big plastic one anyway. The second main problem was the fit of the bodice.

So, as I replaced the zip with a much shorter (and prettier one), I took the bodice in a little either side of the zip. Once in, the shorter zip allowed me to chop off a good few inches off the length of the skirt to a more wearable length.

I was then left with the task of hand sewing the bodice lining back to my outer fabric. But this time, a whole lot more neatly. It’s still not my favourite make, but at least I can now wear it out, although probably only for work. Just in time for the cooler weather.

And after!

 

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Blog Hop Time

Many thanks to Jamie from jamiesews.wordpress.com and Amanda from aebgledhill.wordpress.com who both nominated me for similar blog hops this week. Jamie, who hails from the US, sews and sells her own stunning children’s clothes. Amanda, much nearer over in Leeds, has been sewing since she was seven and uses the most beautiful fabrics to create her lovely, homemade wardrobe. Thank you ladies!

The aim of the blog hop is for bloggers to get to know each other a little better. So, without further ado, here are my answers…

 

Why do I write?

Quite simply because I got bored of my husband’s seriously, non-plussed reactions to my creations! Seriously, a girl needs more than a cursory ‘lovely darling!’ 

I don’t know anyone else who sews in ‘real’ life, so blogging seemed the perfect way of connecting with other like-minded people 🙂 And it has been truly lovely to chat with so many generously-minded and inspiring sewers out there 🙂

What am currently working on?

I’ve just finishing reworking an unloved Elisalex, that didn’t quite work out first time around, and has been languishing in my wardrobe ever since. It’s still not my finest moment, but it’s certainly looking a lot better.

How does it differ from others of its genre?

This is definitely the hardest of these questions to answer! I’m really not convinced that it is that different from others of its kind. I guess every blog has a little of its writer’s personality in it, so maybe that’s as near as I can get to answering this one…

How does my writing process work?

I vaguely plan a couple of posts in my head for the following week. I draft one post at a time, always revisiting the next day, to reduce the waffle. I always write far too much, so I find this process to be really useful to ensure my posts are clear and as waffle-free as I can manage.

The hardest part is always getting the photographs taken. I sacked my lack-lustre husband a while ago, as being pretty tall, he insisted on shooting down, thus ensuring I always looked ridiculously short and stumpy. My two children are much more forgiving, but amuse themselves no end snapping away when I’m least ready…

 

I’d like to pass the baton on to Beth of AfterDarkSewing.wordpress.com who squeezes her sewing into the evenings once her two daughters are in bed. She’s currently and admirably taking part in Sew Selflessly and her posts always make me smile.

My second shout out goes to Kyla, over in Wyoming, who blogs at lifebyky.com, about crafting, her two dogs and her role as a pharmacist for the US airforce. Her weekly Sunday Sew posts are full of sewing inspiration.

 

Waste not, Want not…

Taking part in the OWOP challenge forced me to admit that my first Ginger, see here, was ready to be put out to pasture. I’d attempted to resurrect it once, see here, but it hadn’t really worked out that well 😦

Still, rather than bin it (it was way past the charity bag stage), I thought I’d attempt to turn it into a skirt for my daughter. Nothing ventured…

I simply unpicked the zip (possibly to use again?), cut off the waistband and sewed up the back seam a little higher. Then roughly following the very first skirt patterns I ever made, I turned under the top edge just a little and stitched. Next,using the width of my elastic as a guide, I folded again to form my waistband, sewing it down but leaving a small gap to insert the elastic through. Lastly, I inserted the elastic, pulling it through with a safety pin, and finished up the gap. My daughter was keen to add a little extra detail, so we picked a small mouse patch (£1.99 for three from H and M) to stitch to the bottom, right hand corner. And here it is…

 

This conversion from mum-skirt to daughter-skirt took me all of an hour. I’m really pleased with it and so is my daughter. While she’s still a lot smaller than me (and that really won’t be for long, even at the age of six, she’s catching me fast) this is something I’ll definitely try again. The perfect play skirt 🙂