How to Print and Store PDF patterns – Lou Box Dress Sewalong Day 3

PDF sewing patterns are relatively new to the sewing scene and while I LOVE them, I know that a lot of people don’t. I love the immediacy of being able to buy a pattern from the comfort of my couch, print it out and start my project right away. I also love that I have a digital copy of the pattern that I can save forever and print again and again. But I do recognize that a lot of the dislike of pdf patterns is from the need to print the pattern yourself. Today I’m going to share a few of my tips for printing and storing pdf patterns. (A lot of this stuff is just personal preference and you’ll need to find what works best for you. But, maybe some of these tips can help you find what works more quickly.)

Lou Box Dress 1 Suggested Fabrics | Sew DIY

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