The Eleena Dress

It is now officially Autumn in the Southern hemisphere. It doesn't feel like it at the moment as temperatures reach nearly 40 degrees. A few weeks ago R started school and I decided to stop sewing summer outfits, however I still wanted to sew the Eleena dress, the latest pattern from Olga of Coffee + Thread. I wanted to make something that could be worn now while it is still hot as well as during cooler months. I decided to sew a sleeveless dress. R can pair it up with a cardigan or wear a long sleeve tee underneath during cooler months.

Choosing fabric is the most time consuming part of making a garment for me. I was initially leaning towards denim but R asked to make her a dress from colourful Japanese cotton poplin. I rescued this fabric from a remnant bin at my local Spotlight a long time ago. I was not convinced R actually liked the print. You see, while this fabric is bright and colourful, neither of the colours are her favourite. Previous experience shows that garments that do not have R's favourite colours would not be worn. I checked with R about her fabric choice a number of times over a period of a few days, and every time she said she loved the fabric. While she was sleeping... Well, you know how it goes ;)

I love the pleat. One can play with fabric options to customise the look of the dress. I decided to cut the front of the dress and the pleat as one continuous piece. I simply subtracted the seam allowance from both pieces, taped them together, and viola! OK, I can't really claim to be a genius for doing so. Olga explains how to do this in the instructions.

My good sewing machine was being serviced while I worked on this dress. I used my first basic sewing machine which came with a rather unfortunate zipper foot. I decided to skip the zipper full stop and made a loop and a button closure instead. To do this I shortened the back of the collar pieces by 0.5 cm, attached the collar to the dress as per the instructions, and then made a slit about 8-9 cm long in the middle of the back piece. Because of this I could not follow the construction method provided in the tutorial to sew the armholes. Instead, I used the 'Burrito method'.

It was the collar that drew my attention to this pattern in the first place. I have not made many collars and I feel I am still trying to work out what works best for me. This collar is made from voile that seemed to match the yellow on the body of the dress almost perfectly at a fabric store. In reality it does not. I think my lightweight interfacing is not lightweight enough as the collar poked up a little which is noticeable on the previous photo. The issue is not as prominent after the dress has been washed.

R was (and still is) very pleased with her new dress. Her love for this dress grew even stronger once she discovered the twirl-ability of her new Eleena dress!

You can purchase The Eleena dress pattern for USD7 (regularly priced at USD9) through the 7th of March at 11:59 pm EST. You can try your luck to win two patterns from Coffee + Thread and some fabric.

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If you need some inspiration please check out what other tour participants have made with this pattern!

February, 22 

Bonnie & Lottie, As it Seams, Sew Happy, Call Ajaire

February, 24

In a Manner of Sewing, Skirt Fixation, Stitched Together, 

Made by Sara, The Life of Compulsive Crafter

February, 26

A Jennuine Life, Fairies, Bubble & Co, Hungie Gungie, Doguincho

February, 29

Rebel & Malice, Sew Shelly Sew, Creative Needle and Threads, 

Welcome to the Mouse House

March, 2

Candice Ayala, LBG Studio, Crafty Biggers, Sewing Like Mad

March, 4

Greendoodle, Rita Pirolita, Boevenbende, Kristine Hansen 

March, 7

Les Reloux, Just Add Fabric, Lokakid, While she was sleeping