Lottie Sewalong: Designing Your Lottie
Before we get going on making our Lottie, we need to think about how we want ours to look. One of the great things about the Lottie Dress, Top, & Tunic Pattern, is that there are so many variations! Mixing and matching the sleeve, length, and pocket options, you can make it exactly how you want it to be! So before we cut into our final fabric, we need to pick which details we want to use for our own custom creation.
I will be sewing the views as they are pictured in the pattern, but each part can be added or subtracted as you see fit for your own version. First, let’s go over how each view looks as-is, and then I will talk about how it can be changed.
Lottie Top, View A
View A is the Lottie cut to the top length, with full-length dolman sleeves, and small side seam vents at the hem. In this image, Julie’s sleeves are rolled a couple turns, so if those are undone, the sleeves would be longer.
The many top options above: with short, 3/4-length, or long sleeves; pockets or no pockets; and side seam vent or not. 12 different garments, just from the top length alone!
Lottie Tunic, View B
View B is cut to a tunic length, landing mid-thigh. It has two patch pockets on the front, 3/4-length dolman sleeves, and no side seam vents at the hem.
Some of the tunic options above, same as the top: with short, 3/4-length, or long sleeves; pockets or no pockets; and side seam vent or not. Plus, add in an additional 12 variations, if you add the waist tie belt option or not.
Lottie Dress, View C
View C is the Lottie cut to a midi dress length, landing below your knee. It has the same two patch pockets on the front, a waist tie belt, short dolman sleeves, and long side seam vents at the hem.
The dress length has 12 similar options above: with short, 3/4-length, or long sleeves; pockets or no pockets; and waist tie belt or not. You can omit the side seam vents if you want as well, adding another 12 variations, just keep the width of the skirt in mind as you do that to ensure enough leg room for walking.
Designing Your Lottie
Since all these elements mix and match, you can make your Lottie just as you want it to be! Want to do the top length but with patch pockets and short sleeves? You can do that! Or you might want to do the tunic length but with no pockets, the waist tie belt, and long sleeves! That’s totally okay! All of these elements are interchangeable, so you can change it up as you want.
Keep in mind of course that the yardage is calculated based on the original view. If you add or subtract elements, your yardage requirements may change. So if you are making the dress, but want long sleeves, you will for sure need more fabric since the dress only accounts for the short sleeve. You can absolutely add the sleeves, just get extra fabric!
This is the fun part! Picturing how your garment is going to look, which elements and details to add or subtract; it’s all up to you! Have fun with it, and in our next post we will start cutting! Yay!