Smock lovers unite! Since we released the Indigo smock top and dress pattern, it has become a firm favourite here at TATB HQ. We heart this pattern!
You’ll see here why our team loves this pattern so much - it's pretty, comfortable, and versatile. With a wide range of fabric options, Indigo looks different depending on which one you choose. What's not to love?
Kate's first Indigo dress is made in soft drapey viscose from Pin and Sew. She lengthened the skirt pattern piece by 5cm (2in), keeping the dipped hem, and shortened the bracelet sleeves to elbow length.
The icing on the cake was the extra gathered tier she added to the bottom of the skirt for that seventies swooshy dream dress - it reminds us of THAT Zara dress. We've seen a few versions like this - and longer - popping up on Insta. If you make your own, do share with us :)
For Tilly's favourite version of Indigo, she went for all the trimmings - flounce sleeves and exposed frill seams. The fabric is a lovely double crepe that had been waiting in her stash for just the right project. As soon as we started working on the Indigo smock pattern, she knew that's what it was destined to become! The material has a good weight to it, meaning the frills stand out, yet the skirt and sleeves are still drapey.
Tilly made the smock top length as she wanted to wear it with skinny jeans, and she's been living in this layered over leggings as the dipped hem is long enough for bum covering and makes for such a comfy outfit. She's worn it a lot since making it and can't quite believe she hasn't yet spilled tomato sauce down it... fingers crossed it stays that way, because she's absolutely in LOVE it!
Yay, it's the first team makes post featuring Frances, our new office assistant - hiyeee!
Frances' Indigo is made in a super soft viscose fabric from The Fabric Room. She added Bondaweb to her back facing to keep it extra flush against the back bodice - and we just love this nifty secret tip! This Indigo was intended to be Frances' toile but ended up being the dream drapey smock dress.
She wore this to the Knitting and Stitching Show recently and was overwhelmed with compliments all day long :)
Jenny's Indigo was made specifically with an everyday dress in mind. It's comfortable and wearable, made from dreamy Tencel denim from Lamazi fabrics that has added the drama of drape to the flounce sleeves.
Inspired by ready to wear combined with Louise's Indigo inspo blog post, Jenny's Indigo came to life. And of course, it has pockets!
Kate's second Indigo is made from silky linen viscose in burnt orange from Blackbird Fabrics. To create the peplum-style top, Kate cut the skirt down to just 12cm (5in) in length piece.
Kate currently has plans for two more Indigos. The first is a tunic top version made out of leopard print viscose and the second is a repeat of the hack she has done for this burnt orange one but in spotty viscose to make a top version of, yes, you guessed it, the famous Zara dress.
Tilly's latest version of Indigo has quickly become THAT dress that she wants to throw on every day for work. It's what she'd call the "classic" version of Indigo - dress length skirt with plain bracelet sleeves and a regular gathered seam on the skirt. She loves the fact that the bodice is loose enough to layer over vests or thermals without them showing, plus the bracelet sleeves are easy to slip under cardigans.
The fabric is a beautiful viscose challis from Fabric Godmother. From a distance, it looks like an abstract print, but up close you can see it has illustrations of faces on it. It's very lightweight and drapey, giving it a floaty silhouette.
This gingham Indigo that Frances is wearing was an early sample when the pattern was in production. Luckily for Frances, it was her exact size and we were happy to see it go to a loving home! It's made in gingham chambray from Minerva crafts. The cotton fabric gives it a more casual vibe than the drapier versions.
Next on Frances's sewing list is a dark blue, Tencel cotton chambray Indigo dress to be worn through winter with thick tights and boots (love!).
If you love Indigo as much as we do, please do show us on Instagram with the hashtag #SewingIndigo. We'd love to see!
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Author: Jenny Lingham-Doe
Photos: Jenny Lingham-Doe
