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*2016 pattern shop update*

Aloha friends and Happy New Year! Hoping a wonderfully festive and restful time was had by all. After a fairly challenging year for us here at BHL HQ, we had a much needed break over the holidays and have hit the ground running with plenty of exciting plans for 2016! It's a short and sweet post from us today, simply to check in and share some news and updates...

New pattern!

Some of you may have already caught wind of our latest pattern release, the Charlie Dress, which, along with its accompanying sewalong is available exclusively (and for FREE no less!) with issue 12 of Simply Sewing Magazine (available NOW!). Hold tight, we have all the details on the Charlie Dress coming later this week...

Copyshop files for all patterns!

That's right, we've finally made copyshop files for all our PDF sewing patterns! This has been on the backburner for a while now and boy, does it feel good to tick it off the list. For those of you who have already purchased and downloaded a pattern from us before, you should be getting an email with the updated pattern files - be sure to check your Junk/Promotions folders, and don't hesitate to get in touch if nothing comes through. And if you've been put off PDF sewing patterns in the past, unable to face the prospect of cutting and sticking infinite sheets of paper, today is your day! Click here to browse our pattern shop...

Copyshop files enable you to print your PDF sewing pattern at your local copyshop or printers intact on large sheets of paper, thus skipping the dreaded step of assembling endless sheets of A4/US letter paper at home. Heaven. Just make sure that your copyshop can print on paper that is at least 841mm wide, and from a continuous roll.

*Please note, copyshop files are not yet available for the Victoria Blazer or the Holly Jumpsuit, which are still available in our beautifully printed and packaged form. Copyshop files are also not available for the Polly Top, our free pattern, nor the Elisalex Dress, more details on that below...*

Improvements to the Elisalex Dress!

Ever since switching to PDF, and the freedom that has offered us in terms of being able to quickly and easily correct typos without the pain of having to pay and wait for another print run, we've been meaning to make some tweaks to one of our very first pattern releases, the Elisalex Dress. While she is without a doubt up there with our favourites, and one of our bestsellers too, we're under no illusions that she's perfect... Yet. A number of you have echoed our worries on a couple of points, and for that reason, the Elisalex Dress will be temporarily unavailable while we bring her in for improvements. Namely:

  • We're going to alter the skirt length so that it accurately reflects our samples and technical illustrations, and how we had originally envisioned it to be when made up
  • We're going to take some excess out of the sleeve in order for it to fit more closely and elegantly on the arm, while also hacking some length off, again to reflect the samples and illustrations accurately

Looking back, I think we felt we had to be overly cautious when it came to skirt and sleeve lengths, terrified of dictating lengths that might be too short for some and therefore a horrible waste of time and fabric (there's no way to lengthen something that's too short, after all!). What we've realised from your feedback however, is that having to hack inches off your hem is also a horrible waste of fabric! So, as ever, thank you all for your honesty - it's through your feedback that we can see where improvements need to be made, all with the aim of providing you guys with patterns that are as close to perfect as possible!

Needless to say, anyone who has bought the Elisalex Dress already, will have free access to the updated pattern as soon as she becomes available again. 

Well, that just about sums up our little update (or at least what we're at liberty to share for now...!), as ever we can't wait to see your BHL makes, hacks, and everything that 2016 has in store for the sewing community.

x Elisalex, Charlotte & Victoria

Comments on this post (14)

  • Aug 25, 2016

    Hello -

    Just curious when the Elisalex might come available again. I am dying to make one for a wedding in November!

    — Elizabeth

  • Jan 21, 2016

    Hi Lindsey, we’re aiming to get the Elisalex Dress tweaked and back up for sale in about 4ish months realistically… Keep an eye out here and on our social media for updates!

    — Elisalex - By Hand London

  • Jan 19, 2016

    When do you anticipate the Elisalex pattern will be available again?

    — Lindsey

  • Jan 13, 2016

    Think the copy shop versions are a great idea! To be honest I haven’t purchased from you since the patterns went PDF as I can’t stand assembling them all, but this is making me want to finally take the plunge with the Kim!

    — Emily Jayne

  • Jan 13, 2016

    Hi girls! Delighted to hear that things are back on the up for you, I’m a huge fan. Currently doing my first ever pattern hack and I’m so excited. Can’t wait to see what 2016 brings for you!

    — Niamh

  • Jan 13, 2016

    Hi Lesley, thanks for your kind words! Very much looking forward to seeing your Georgia top – please do send us a link or tag us on Instagram ;)

    About the “aloha” – no particular reason there, we just though it was sweet when we were first writing our pattern instructions. And it just felt more fun than “hello” when I was writing this particular post!

    — Elisalex - By Hand London

  • Jan 13, 2016

    Dear Elisalex and other brilliant BHL girls, what’s with the Aloha? The reason I ask is that I’m currently in Hawai’i and it took me by surprise. I’ve brought with me a lovely little Georgia hacked top for my Princess. Tomorrow I’ll photograph her standing near something uniquely Hawaiin and blog this top, it’s a bare backed beauty! Keep up the good work. BTW is your new dress available overseas like Australia somehow?

    — Lesley

  • Jan 11, 2016

    Hi Christine, we’ll be publishing a post later on in the week with all the details on the Charlie Dress and how non UK residents can get ahold of her… (There’s also a digital version of the magazine that would definitely save you on international postage) We will also be releasing the pattern ourselves after our exclusivity with Simply Sewing mag is up. Hope this helps!

    — Elisalex - By Hand London

  • Jan 11, 2016

    The Charlie dress is lovely… I want it! But I’ve never seen Simply Sewing in my local stores, and I just clicked the links to see if I can get it but it looks like I would have to buy a 6 month international subscription which is quite expensive. Sooooo disappointed! Any suggestions?

    — Christine chin

  • Jan 11, 2016

    Hi Fiona, I think the mag is available to non UK… I need to double check their distribution but I’m putting together an announcement post that will cover all the nitty gritty so hopefully that will shed some light. We will eventually be selling the pattern through our website, but only after our agreed time period of exclusivity with Simply Sewing is up. Hope this helps!

    — Elisalex - By Hand London

  • Jan 11, 2016

    Hi Natasha, yes don’t worry – everyone who has the Elisalex Dress, whether in printed or PDF format, will have access to the updates free of charge. All the best!

    — Elisalex - By Hand London

  • Jan 11, 2016

    Thanks for the updates to the Elisalex! Looking forward to those—I’m in the process of making muslins for my first version and did notice the sleeve and skirt issues. I appreciate that you girls are taking our feedback and making adjustments! #perksofsewingindie

    — Sue

  • Jan 11, 2016

    Great… How I hate pasting 10000 of pages together…just to get my pattern. Thanks for the copy shop version.
    But
    How do we BHL fans, who live outside the uk get their hands on the new pattern…..do you have copies of the magazine that you can post, or are you going to sell the new pattern ???
    Cause I’d really quite like the new one.
    Thanks
    Keep up the good work.
    Fiona

    — Fiona

  • Jan 11, 2016

    Hello ladies! Thanks for the updates, I can’t wait to see what you all have in store for 2016! I have one question… I have the print version of the Elisalex dress, will I have access to any updates online? Or should I just continue with the paper pattern? Thanks!

    — Natasha

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