Tilly and The Buttons (TATB) Alexa Jumpsuit Review
Have you joined a Sew-Along yet? I made the Alexa in The Studio at Number 30 online Sew-Along during lockdown. What a great way to keep sewing with others while we can’t sew together in person. I highly recommend it!
The Alexa jumpsuit pattern is currently only available as a digital pattern and is for confident beginners. If you struggle printing and sticking pdf patterns together like me then there is always the option to get it printed on AO paper – well worth the additional cost to me! I must say the construction and instructions from Tilly are really clear and simple to follow, as with all her patterns. The jumpsuit was fantastically easy to sew together and came together quickly over 4 x 2hour Sew-Along sessions.
I am 5’3 , and in Tilly sizes I am a size 5 on top and size 4 on the bottom, so I graded between the two sizes from the waist upwards. I am also short in the back neck to waist area, so shortened by an inch in the front and back bodice before I started. As always with Tilly’s patterns I did a 1cm forward shoulder adjustment, even though this pattern has a forward shoulder, as I find TATB patterns always pull back around the neckline on me. All of these adjustments worked perfectly for me, however when I’d finished and tried the jumpsuit on the crotch area hung way too low on me. It is meant to hang slightly low, as you need to get the jumpsuit on and off, but it didn’t look attractive! I spent quite a time trying to get this right and, in the end, did a 1.5 cm front crotch adjustment by unpicking this area, taking it off the front two pieces and then sewing back together (see Tilly’s helpful pattern adjustment instructions for the Alexa on her website). I also took 2”off the front bodice below the waistline and 1″ off the back bodice below the waistline.
I tired the jumpsuit on again and hey presto it fitted perfectly! I then decided I missed pockets and as the pattern does not come with pockets, I used my template from another pattern. This is always an option to think about if you feel you want to add something to a pattern and they don’t have a pattern piece included. I am now very pleased with the end result and enjoyed learning through trial and error in my crotch area adjustments!!
I have noted all my adjustments and hacks on my Studio at Number 30 Project Planner to keep with my pattern, so I have a quick reference of the changes I made and material I used for when I want to make it again. I have also noted things I would do differently next time. Check out the Project Planner if you are like me and like to keep organised (Click her for link)
For reference my measurements are:
Height 5’3”
Bust 37”
Waist 32”
Hip 38”
Find Elaine on Instagram @sew_hitchin
