I am so excited to be able to finally share this make with you! I was lucky enough to be a pattern tester for Sew Over It's NEW Elsie Dress Printed Pattern, sewn with one of their equally beautiful fabrics. I knew this dress was going to be something special and it's been super hard not to gush all about it this past month!

Here's a peek at the pattern:

Again with the beautiful illustrations and beautiful Lisa!

Elsie is a stunning 1950s inspired dress (and skirt) pattern, with a princess seamed bodice and a full skirt exaggerated by the large pleats giving the dress a great structure, especially when worn with a petticoat underneath.


So the Elsie pattern is pretty good looking, but 'what about the sewing' I hear you ask! I found Elsie, overall, a pleasure to sew. There were a few techniques in this dress which I was reasonably new to. For example, when sewing the bodice lining the technique in this pattern was something I have not yet come across. Whilst I struggled with this step, the finished effect is wonderful and totally worth the bit of extra care. Also with my fabric being a weighty cotton sateen, it's a little thicker than some fabrics which probably added to my struggles.

Inside the dress, I really like the lining. It's part facing and part bodice lining and I used my floral fabric for the facings and black cotton for the lining and find the finished look to be really professional and clean looking. I'm thinking about filming a 'Behind the Seam's video on Elsie, would you be interested?

Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Sew Over It - Elsie Dress Printed Dress Pattern

Fabric: Stretch Cotton – First Date

Notions: A 22" invisible zip.

Sewing time: A day.

Modifications: None

Fit: Great, other than my need for a full bust adjustment.

Difficulty: Perfect for confident beginners! There's lots of great skills to learn in this one.

Watch out for: Tidy pleats and matching them with the bodice seams.

Make Again?: Absolutely! Elsie's a winner in my eyes.


You may have noticed something in my hair.... Every lover of vintage style knows your wardrobe isn't complete without a hair flower (or 10) and the Veronica's Roses Clip in Light Pink from Daisy Jean Floral does not disappoint. It's a show stopping piece without being too large or heavy on the head. It feels so secure to wear and I think this gorgeous pink option was destined to be worn with my Elsie dress!