*Patterntesting

• Name: Zazu (from The Lion King)
• Pattern: Alix Dress from By Hand London
• Fabric: Viscose crepe from Vietnam

“Chimps are going ape, giraffes remain above it all. Elephants remember, though just what I can’t recall. Crocodiles are snapping up fresh offers from the banks. Showed interest in my nest egg but I quickly said “No thanks!” We haven’t paid the hornbills and the vultures have a hunch. Not everyone invited will be coming back for lunch” – Zazu

Ever since Elisalex from By Hand London showed us a not so sneak peak of the dress pattern back in May, I fell in love. The interesting bodice and drape, what’s not to love? If that wasn’t enough later she revealed that the pattern didn’t have the use for a zipper OR  buttons! It’s an all-you-can-eat-just-loosen-the-bow kind of dress. Isn’t that awesome?

So after dreaming in what seems like forever, I finally got the chance to be a pattern tester for this gorgeous detailed pattern. So it was time to figure out what fabric to use. I’m in a delicate situation right now, money is as tight as it has ever been *cough* wedding next year *cough*. So I had to find something from my stash. I found this perfect viscose crepe that I got from my cousin who was in Vietnam this summer. It’s draping nicely and has a nice fall color.

In the beginning of October we had some below zero degrees in the mornings here in Trondheim, Norway, but during the day it will creep up the scale and turn out to be pretty warm in the sun. The day I took these pictures it was about 7 degrees in the shadow, but warm in the sun. The sun that day was beautiful and oddly gave me a flawless skin complexion! I mean, I only use mascara and lipstick (because I don’t know how to use anything else).

Here are some details from the beautiful dress pattern. The pleated sleeves makes it a tad more interesting than a regular sleeve. There is also pleats on the bodice cups, which make your boobs a bit pointy, but someone suggested that you could gather this bit instead. I’m trying this on my next dress! The front yoke gives you a plunging V-neck, but it’s not that vulgar if you don’t have that big of boobs as my sister said. The back yoke has cute little pleat and the tie in the back is all you need for fitting.

So if I didn’t convince you with my dress, maybe some of the other testers do! Head on over to Instagram #AlixDress or the round up on testers for the pattern on the By Hand London blog.

Happy sewing!

Sophie Bach Meuche