I am super excited to be launching the
Lodo dress sewing pattern today. It's the dress that was missing from my closet. A little more elevated than a casual tshirt dress, but still comfortable enough to wear every day. It has two views. View A hits at midcalf for a modern silhouette and View B ends a couple of inches about the knee for. Both versions have a flattering V neck and are straight through the waist and hips for a subtle cocoon shape.
I think that View B is really easy to wear every day of the week. It looks great paired with a jean jacket and sandals or even as a beach coverup that is sufficent enough to walk home in. View A is my go to when I want to look put together without much effort. The knit component keeps it casual enough to wear with flipflops or flats, while it is just as easy to throw on a statement necklace and clogs for something a little more put together. I have yet to try it with booties in the winter but I think that could be pretty great too. I hope you find it just as versatile as I do.
The
Lodo dress was designed to be sewn using medium weight knits such as ponte, light weight scuba, and cotton interlock with about 20% stretch. I highly recommend using stable knits such as these to keep the modern shape of the design. Avoid fabrics that are more slinky and really stretchy such as bamboo knits. For View A I used a beautiful
14oz cotton interlock from LA Finch. I am obsessed with this fabric and may have bought it in multiple colors. For View B I found this perfect wide striped ponte from Colorado Fabrics. Both worked great for this pattern because they hold their structure well.
The neckline and armholes of the
Lodo Dress are finished with a woven facing. I realize that this is unconventional on a knit garment, but the stable knit, combined with the fact that the neckline and armholes do not need to stretch for wear, make the woven facings possible. These also add more stability and structure to these areas and in my opinion make them easier to sew with precision. These facings are a great way to use up fun quilting cottons or scraps, but be warned that you will see glimpses of this facing through the armhole so make sure that it coordinates with your main fabric. On the neckline below I used some shibori dyed linen that I had made this summer. I love the subtle detail of the contrast and the way it feels on my neck.
If you want your own version, you can purchase the
Lodo Dress sewing pattern
here.
