Hey hey! Just a super quickie post today all about zippers for those of you planning to make the reversible Elisalex Dress, the Reversalex!

So, it's probably a no-brainer, but if we're going to make a reversible dress, we're going to need a reversible zipper...

The Elisalex Dress pattern was designed to have a feature 30" exposed zipper at centre back enabling you (or someone else...) to unzip the entire dress at the back. Some of you who have already made this dress have instead opted for a standard invisible zipper, ending at the fullest part of the bum, making it a step-in-and-zip-it-up kind of dress. Which is fine! But for the Reversalex, with its reversible zipper, we'll need to revert to the recommended exposed zipper look. Otherwise it will just look like the dress is inside out. The zipper will also need to measure the entire length of your dress so as to avoid the little stumpy "tail" where the zipper ends and the back seam starts. Like a reversible jacket. Only backwards. And much sexier.

Reversible zippers have an ingenious flip-over pull enabling it to be easily zipped up and down from whichever side. Make sure you've decided on the length of your skirt before buying the zip - the zip needs to be roughly 2" shorter than the final length of your dress, measured at centre back. For example, my UK size 8 bodice is about 8" long, and my skirt will be about 24" long. I have bought a 30" reversible zipper.

Reversible flip-over zippers can be bought from most good haberdasheries; the one pictured above is from London's infamous MacCulloch & Wallis. Another great source is Jaycotts - and they literally have them in every length and colour imaginable. To our overseas sewalongers, simply Google "reversible zip" and you'll be sure to find something closer to you.

Hope this has been of help!