Lou Box Dress Sewalong Day 2 – Fabric & Supplies

Today I’m going to share a few fabric ideas for the Lou Box Dress 1 & 2 plus go over the few supplies that you’ll need to make the dresses. I recommend first reading the Fabric & Supplies post for the Lou Box Top sewalong. I go into more detail there about what drape means in fabric and why it’s important to consider it when selecting a fabric. Let’s start with the Lou Box Dress 1. Given the cocoon shape of this dress, you don’t need as much drape as I recommend for the Lou Box Top. This dress is supposed to stand away from the body and look very roomy so it’s ok to use heavier linen, ponte and even sweatshirt fabric. You can also use lightweight cotton, voile, silk, crepe, flannel, rayon, chambray, double-gauze and jersey. 

Lou Box Dress 1 Fabric Suggestions

1) Linen from The Fabric Store
2) Chambray from The Confident Stitch
3) Tencel Denim from Blackbird Fabrics
4) Flannel from Imagine Gnats
5) Quilted Double Knit from Harts Fabrics
6) Textured Sweatshirt Fleece from Imagine Gnats

The Lou Box Dress 2 will look most flattering and be more comfortable when sewn in light to medium-weight fabrics with drape. Stiff, heavy fabrics won’t drape around the body and may be uncomfortable at the waist. My favorite fabrics to use for this dress are rayon challis or crepe and knit jersey. I especially love using a printed fabric for this dress.

Lou Box Dress 2 Fabric Suggestions

1) Rayon Challis from Finch Fabrics
2) Rayon Lawn from Harts Fabrics
3) Silk Crepe from StyleMaker Fabrics
4) Cotton Jersey from Stylemaker Fabrics
5) Viscose Jersey from The Fabric Store
6) Bamboo Jersey from Blackbird Fabrics

OTHER SUPPLIES

One of the things I love about the Lou Box Top and Dresses is that you don't need a lot of notions. You'll need the basic tools for cutting and marking your fabric plus a machine needle (Universal for woven fabric, Ballpoint or Jersey for knit fabric) and matching thread.

Also for a woven Lou Box Dress 1 or Lou Box Dress 2, View A:
1 shank button and a hand-sewing needle. 

And for Lou Box Dress 2, All Views:
1/2” wide elastic (enough to wrap around your waist and overlap 1/2 to 1 inch)

That's it! Tomorrow I'll be talking about printing your pdf pattern and including tips for how to store all those patterns. See below for the full sewalong schedule.

LOU BOX DRESS SEWALONG SCHEDULE

DAY 1 RTW Inspiration Tues Jan 9
DAY 2 Fabric & Supplies Wed Jan 10
DAY 3 How to Print and Store PDF patterns Thurs Jan 11
DAY 4 How to Finish a Knit Neckline Mon Jan 15
DAY 5 How to Finish a Woven Neckline Tues Jan 16
DAY 6 How to Sew a Patch Pocket Wed Jan 17
DAY 7 How to Sew In-Seam Pockets with a Serger Thurs Jan 18
DAY 8 How to Sew Lou Box Dress 2 Scoop Pockets Mon Jan 22
Day 9 How to Sew Lou Box Dress 1, View A Sleeves Tues Jan 23
DAY 10 How to Sew Lou Box Dress 1, View B Sleeves Wed Jan 24
DAY 11 How to Sew Lou Box Dress 2 Waist Casing Thurs Jan 25
DAY 12 How to Sew a Hem Facing Fri Jan 26

Lou Box Dress 1 PDF Pattern
Lou Box Dress 2 PDF Pattern
Lou Box Dress 1 & 2 Bundle PDF Patterns
sale

Lou Box Dress Sewalong Day 1 – RTW Inspiration

Lou Box Dress Sewalong Day 1 – RTW Inspiration

When considering a new pattern it can be challenging to figure out how to style it and what kinds of fabric would work. Last week, I shared tester roundups for both the Lou Box Dress 1 and Lou Box Dress 2 which are great sources for inspiration. Today, I’m sharing some ready-to-wear inspiration to see how the high street would style similar dress designs. Both of these dresses are really comfy and depending on the fabric can be either chic or casual.

Lou Box Dress 2 Tester Roundup

Yesterday I shared photos from the Lou Box Dress 1 tester group and today I'm happy to share photos from the Lou Box Dress 2 tester group. The Lou Box Dress 2 features a ballet style neckline, scoop pockets, tapered and gathered elastic waist. View A has three-quarter length sleeves. View B has full-length sleeves and a low scoop back. Read on to see photos and hear what they had to say about the pattern. (Click the photos to visit the their blog or Instagram.)

Jewel's thoughts on the pattern might be my favorite of all time. 

"The Lou Box Dress is a magic dress. (Stay with me here!) It’s super simple to sew…which is exactly what I needed after coming off a month hiatus from sewing. It doesn’t take a lot of fitting. (So magical!) I’m a girl who has to have her waist cinched so I make a lot of structured garments. With the Lou Box Dress 2 I can have the effortless ease of a loose (fitted) dress and still give my waist the definition I need to feel confident.

My sisters and I have three very different body types so it’s rare that a dress can fit us all. But the Lou Box Dress 2 does just that! (It looks slightly different on each one of us because of the different shapes.) But if you’re scared about jumping in and are perhaps unsure on which size to sew, check the measurements one more time, then go! It’ll work. You may end up like me and think “Hmm…I think I should have sized down in the bodice to make it more me…guess I’ll do that on the next one!” Oh…there is going to be a next one…several in fact! I have THREE different fabrics picked out just for me - then there’s the ones my sisters want!" – Jewel

"The Lou Box Dress is a simple, chic design and was a pleasure to sew. The loose design of the dress is very comfortable and surprisingly flattering with the right fabric. Plus, I do love a dress with pockets." – Claire

"I absolutely love the style of this dress, so comfy to wear, amazing big pockets and long sleeves! It was quick and easy to sew too, I’ll be filling my wardrobe with these!" – Jenny

Maria aka @madebymanagir

Maria aka @madebymanagir

"This is a very easy beginners pattern, but makes up a great dress (with pockets!). I love it and wore it to work the day after I finished it. You can make it in a lot of different fabrics, so you would be able to make a lot of differents looks. It's also a great dress to dress up or down! Already planning my second version!" – Laura

"You are really going to love it if you liked the Lou Box Top!" – Maria
(By the way, if you have the Lou Box Top pattern, you can mix and match the pattern pieces with the pieces from the dress for loads of variations.)

I love Fleurine's rayon dress. She even hacked it to be maternity friendly! See her blog post here.

"The Lou Box Dress is a perfect beginner pattern - easy to sew and with a very forgiving and flattering look. There are so many options, especially if you have the Lou Box Top pattern, too." – Fleurine

"The Lou Box Dress #2 is everything I never knew I needed. The easy style of the original Lou Box Top is so chic and wearable in dress form, and the low back view is the perfect hint of something special." – Maddie

"This dress is such a quick and fun sew. I like how versatile it is, and that it can be flattering on many body types. And the best part? Pockets!" – Megan

Michelle's Lou Box Dress 2
Michelle's Lou Box Dress 2

"A great pattern! Easy to follow directions with clear instructions. A classic silhouette suitable for both wovens and knits!" – Michelle

"I LOVE, LOVE, L-O-V-E this dress! My husband's eyes also lit up very brightly when I tried it on for him, so it's got that stamp of approval too!" – Megan

I want to give another BIG THANK YOU to all of my testers. I couldn't do it without you! If you'd like to get your own copy of this pattern, you can find it in the shop here. Until Tuesday, Jan 9, 2018 at midnight Pacific time, you can get 20% off the Lou Box Dress 1 and Lou Box Dress 2 individual patterns with the code LOUBOXDRESSLAUNCH (bundle not included).

Lou Box Dress 1 PDF Pattern
Lou Box Dress 1 PDF Pattern
$14.00
Lou Box Dress 2 PDF Pattern
Lou Box Dress 2 PDF Pattern
$14.00
Lou Box Dress 1 & 2 Bundle PDF Patterns
sale
Lou Box Dress 1 & 2 Bundle PDF Patterns
$19.00 $28.00
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