Being a person who sometimes gets sucked onto the latest pattern bandwagon, when the True Bias Lodo dress came out, I thought that maybe I’d give it a try.  Even though it was winter here in Australia.  Hey, how about I sewed a winter version to wear as a layering piece?

The pattern is super straight forward. Front, back, neckline facing, armhole facings. The website describes it as follows:  The Lodo pattern is an elevated take on a basic t-shirt dress. It has a straight fit through the waist and hips and a slightly tapered hem to create a subtle cocoon shape. It has a flattering deep V neck at center front and an extended cap sleeve. Both the neckline and armholes are finished with a woven facing for stability and structure. View A has a hem that hits at mid calf with a slit at center back for moveability. View B’s hem hits a couple of inches above the knee. Suggested Dress Fabrics: Medium weight stable knit fabric with an approximate 25% stretch such as ponte, cotton interlock, and lightweight scuba. Suggested Facing Fabrics: 1/2 yd of medium weight woven fabric such as quilting cotton and linen.

After looking at the pattern pieces and many photos of the pattern I decided to sew view B, the above knee version.  The centre back seam allowed me to do a small sway back alteration.  I shortened the pattern pieces an inch or so by taking a fold about half way down, knowing that the designer was quite a few inches taller than me.  This was mistake number one.  The finished dress was more tunic length than dress length – any shorter and it would have been unwearable.  The finished length now didn’t match my mental vision for this garment – I should have left it alone.

The fabric is a divine wool jacquard that was a gift from a delightful and generous friend. Snuggly and warm for winter! Facings were cut from a printed quilting cotton. This dress is sewn entirely on the sewing machine. The facings give a very next finish, even though you don’t see them used a great deal in knit dresses.

But there is a mistake number two. Unfortunately after these photos and one wear this dress ended up in the regular wash cycle – and it’s wool. Yes, it shrunk enough to be skin tight and unwearable, even as a top. Expletive expletive expletive….