Linen Lois, Silk Lois
Thanks so much for all your comments and feedback on our new Lois Dress pattern. Before we move onto to our next pattern release (fingers crossed for next week), I wanted to show you my two versions – one linen and one silk.
For my tester, I chose our Hartford Ink linen because that blue rocks my colour world. In choosing this, I totally knew I was bucking the drape-y fabric options we recommend for Lois but (no secrets here) I LOVE linen and I LOVE this pattern so I really, really wanted to see how it would make up in it. And everything went smoothly….until the arm bands. I’m sorry I don’t have a photo for you but let me describe them for you in one word – flutey. It looked as though the sleeve had stretched out on the bias, they stuck out in a way they were definitely not meant to and so there I thought my linen Lois was doomed. But Silva to the rescue. As I was in Melbourne making mine, she was sewing up a shop sample and trialled the genius idea to bind the sleeves in exactly the same way as we bind the Lois neckline. I used this method to join my bias ends, attached them and the result is perfect.
Version number two is made up as recommended (with arm bands) in this heavenly heavy silk crepe de chine, Wild Rice. It’s unbelievably luscious to wear and feels special and dressy, and I now have an incredible urge to inject more of this deep burgundy shade into my wardrobe immediately.
So let’s talk Lois and bra options. I’m a C cup so going bra-less in Lois wasn’t going to happen. In all these pics I wore this ol’ faithful, but I’ve also got this soft cup favourite which works equally well. Just choose any bra with a lower bridge or, alternatively, you could try it with a peek of lace camisole a la Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies…
If you’re thinking of making Lois, we’ve just released a gorgeous selection of Italian viscose prints that would all be perfect too…
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Love linen AND silk! You’re a wise woman to use both 🙂 I might just copy you on that wild rice Lois. It’s a beautiful print.
Hello, I really love this pattern but was wondering whether or not I should buy it because you commented it that you wear a C-cup bra, whereas I wear a E-cup bra (38E). Would it be possible to adjust this pattern to fit a larger bust? Is so, how would I go about doing that? Is this a complicated process ?
Many thanks in advance, Lisa
Hi Lisa, Colette & Silva,
Absolutely loving the Lois dress. I’ve made a muslin trial out of a sheet as I tried grading up a size, with limited success. Can you add to the tutorials or this blog how to grade up to a size 18-20 please. Alternately will the Lois be rereleased in a 16-18-20-22 size range?
I made the Lois of a lovely printed crepe fabric. I had to make a full bust adjustment and I raised the V about 3″. I might only go 2 1/2″ next time, as it became a bit more modest that need be. The pattern instructions are amazing and the fit was great. I wanted to avoid the underarm zipper and instead cut it to allow for a zipper in back. Another time I would not do that, as it was plenty loose to go over my head without any opening being needed.
hi, did you use lightweight linen or medium for this dress?
Hi Ayuta. This one’s lightweight but a mid weight would also be suitable
Hi there! When you made this dress out of linen, did you still use the tear-off stabilizer?
Always!