Heya’all. I’ve made this new dress. Actually, I made it ages ago. 
And took most of these photos ages ago too. Bad lazy blogger!
I wore it recently as my “travelling dress” when we holidayed in Broome, and it was the most AWESOME travelling dress… why? well it’s a loose-fitting, baggy, dress made in a comfy fluffy fleece, so just about the most amazingly comfortable thing EVER! pretty much like wearing a blankie. At the same time, there’s something about the curved, slightly cocoon-y lines of the dress that I think makes it quite smart, chic and pulled-together. This is actually my wearable trial of the pattern and I absolutely love it. I might almost love it more than my “real” version. Almost. I actually love that one a bunch too. To appear here very soon.
Pattern: So, yeah; the Inari tee dress by Named patterns. SUCH a popular pattern, and as I now appreciate, for an excellent reason. It’s terrific. Simple, yes; and basic, and bordering on a boiled-down-to-the-bare-bones kind of a pattern with just a few very subtle features like that slight cocoon shape, the side seams drifting gently frontwards, the split hem and an up-down front and back hem. And I love it. I’m normally attracted to a more complex design for a dress, but this one just hits all the right buttons for me right now.
Fabric; a red and white stripe mid-weight fluffy fleece from Spotlight. This is the same fabric I used for Tim’s Christmas hoodie and for Kelly’s hoodie too. Yep, I bought quite a lot! there was a sale… um, yeah *awkward self-justifying of excessive fabric acquisition* Well, at least I’ve used it all now. This has been kicking around in the stash since pre-Christmas, since I’d decided it didn’t really suit anyone else in the family. I think it suits me though!
My stripes are matched up as perfectly as my obsessive little soul could manage. I’m smugly and complacently satisfied with how well they turned out… the only way I know how to achieve this level of stripe matching is to pin each and every junction and go nice and slow. Tedious but failsafe, and all my stripes here match any which way and everywhere. *primly pats self on back*
sewuthinkucan asked me on instagram whether I found the high slim sleeves on the design to cause the dress to ride up when you lift your arms up as above: not that I pull this pose all that often and probably will be careful now I’ve seen these pictures! but it does a little. Not enough to stop me from wearing it! I think the effect is not too bad because of my fabric being a little stretchy. However, in my next, “real” version of the pattern, I altered the sleeve so as to successfully fix the problem… and will post details on that in my next Inari post.
Alterations; the most obvious one is inseam side pockets! Well, of course. It’s baggy enough and the side hems curve forward slightly to the front, an even more comfortable position for your hands than the true sideline of your body; making inseam pockets an almost foregone conclusion.
My neckline has neither facings nor bindings; partly because my fabric has too much fluff and loft for bulky extras with incorporated double seam allowances etc, and also because this is basically my wearable muslin for the pattern and I just didn’t want to fuss around with it. I overlocked the raw edge and simply turned it in once, topstitching in a single line of stitching from the right side. My fabric is all of thick enough, stretchy enough and stable enough for this to be totally fine. I did do the sleeve cuffs though.
Details:
Dress; Inari tee dress by Named Clothing, red striped fleece
Shoes; designed and made by me, details here
taken after a plane trip, a week rolled up in a suitcase, another plane trip, and precisely zero ironing. LOVE.
You look fabulous in your new dress! Something about red and white stripes that I just love. I am definitely putting this pattern on my wish list.
Love it. I made this dress out of a grey crepe and find it’s just a bit boring. Your version makes me think I should have tried a slightly firmer fabric and, obviously, more colour!
Perfect travelling dress and love red and white stripes.
It is super – a dress you could live in! (and holiday in!)
Totally awesome – great dress, you look so cute! Thks for the tips on the pattern – I’m thinking about getting it…breaking my pattern fast once again 🙂
Definitely a winner!
I so want to make this pattern, but never got around to it while it was warm enough to wear! Next spring, for sure. Love the striped fabric, it’s perfect for this dress!
You made the perfect travel dress!
I love this dress too for it’s bright colour – and you really highlight the flexibility built into this pattern. I don’t own the Inari but seeing it on you and those pockets! brilliant as always Caroline 🙂
sewuthinkucan here! Perfect summer dress and the pockets are a great addition too! Stripes always win in my book! I wish I had made a muslin but we live to learn. I tried altering the sleeves twice and I think the second alteration works better. Normally, the pulling wouldn’t have bothered me but I teach in a homeschool co-op so I lift my arms a lot to write on the board:-)
Can’t wait to see what type of alteration you made on your second version.
Perfect traveling dress! And perfect for just about everything else as well 🙂 Every time I see this pattern I am tempted to buy it yet again…
perfect dress for travel, super cute and I am so tempted to buy this pattern
Perfect holiday travel dress…smart, stylish, comfortable and easy care. I have heard lots of complaints about the shoulder issues. Intrigued to see your next modified version.
Very nice indeed, and glad to see I’m not the only person that has bent pins….. 😉
I love it! The red and white stripes are so beautiful and you matched them perfectly, of course! I can’t wait to see the real version.
Agree you do look fabulous and those red and white stripes truly suit you as does the simple, classic style of the dress. What a great vacation you had! 🙂
How darn wearable is that dress! It would need leggings here in the UK but I love seeing your summer clothes emerge as I put mine away. Jo x
You look great in your unique outfit.
I like this dress on you! The shape does looks simple but it is perfect for those stripes I think. Everything plays so well together with this dress and the best part is that you love and wear it so much 🙂 You really look great in it 🙂
It is such a wonderful dress. It looks so comfy and cozy, exactly what you want for traveling. Well done!
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What a fabulous little dress – stripes for the win!
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