My ‘Pull Yourself Together’ dress …

It’s amazing what you can create with an old pair of curtains! I like to imagine these once hung in the window of a 1950s library or perhaps the private rooms of an Oxford don, cheered by the huge sunflowers as she worked through her latest paper (though let’s face it, they are probably 1970s school curtains). Romanticism aside, this is my By Hand London Elisalex crossed with a Simplicity 2444 skirt (thanks to Roisin and her many Elisalex posts for the inspiration!).

It felt quite special putting this frock together. I did feel that the bodice might be a bit short as I sewed it up, so I added a waistband to give me a bit more length (it also gave me an excuse to add a bow!). I used the same dark green lining for the skirt and bodice that I used in my Late Christmas Dress, which makes it feel quite luxurious to wear.

I’m really happy with this dress and enjoyed taking my time to put it together, for once it’s very tidy on the inside too. The By Hand London girls are very clever, I found the online support really useful and the princess seams are a satisfying change from darts for me. I love the way you are encouraged to try your own thing, using the pattern as a starting point but given the creative freedom to make it your own style. I did try to put in a lapped zip rather than the suggested exposed one but in the end, the lure of an invisible one was too tempting!

I’m not completely convinced by my choice of sleeve length, in fact I might just, almost certainly, possibly, be taking them up to short sleeves. The neck is also pretty wide for me (bra strap alert), I’ll alter that next time too. I’m not sure I want to show you a back view … not pleasant at this time of year, which sadly makes me think I’ll be wearing a cardi with this dress. Way too much white, winter skin on show, I’m sure you don’t mind!

This curtain fabric was an absolute dream to sew and behaves very well as a full-ish skirt. I do love to swish about in it. I only used one of the pair, so could in theory make this dress again but with all the little perfecting tweaks (am I taking this all a bit too seriously?).

Oh and look how nicely it goes with my new Toast necklace (£12 in the sale)! Now I just need a party to go to and it can have its first outing. I could get ridiculously tipsy, do some ‘mum’ dancing, wobble in my heels and tell everyone I love them just so Jimmy can take me in my curtain dress to one side and tell me to pull myself together!