Winter Lodo
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….
So sad about the shrunken dress. Susanne Carillo has a post on her blog about “unshrinking”. Maybe that would help you. The fabric is beautiful and I always like that type of dress. Pity.
Thanks Barbara – I’ll check that out.
Oh! What a pity! It looks like a good shape too! Well, a few more months and it’ll be summer! Maybe you can make the pattern up again soon…
Ouch. Can it be salvaged in any way? Made I to a bag or a pillowcase?
Oh dear! Oh well, onto the next one.
I’m cursing with you. Bother darn drat!
I thought that you may be able to hear me swearing from your place! Such a shame. Am sad.
I made a top out of this fabric. Mine came from The Fabric Store and it wasn’t cheap! It also shrunk quite a bit but I washed mine first so it didn’t matter. What a shame it is too small! Can it be rescued for Clare?
Unfortunately Clare finds wool garments itchy, so I can’t pass it on to her. I’m sure that I’ll find a smaller friend somewhere who’d like it though!
Oh what a disappointment! Hope you’re able to unshrink (is that a word?) it some way!