I pattern tested the beautiful Rani Dress

What an honour and absolute pleasure it was .. to pattern test the Rani Dress for Gowri of  Patterns by Paary  

When I first saw the pattern tester call I had all the usual 'not good enough' dialogue running through my head... but I also knew I would love the oppurtunity to give it a go. I was thrilled when I was accepted into the test group and I absolutley loved the process from start to finish.

Gowri is the kindest soul .. not only was her pattern thoughtful with lots of variations but she sprinkles all that she does with sunshine... it made being a 'first time clothing pattern tester' into a relaxed and wonderful experience.

So the Rani Top / Dress pattern has a few versions.... its either top or dress ... sleeves or no sleeves.

I chose the sleeved dress version and made a couple of small modifications .. I added length to the sleeve and the hem but otherwise my make is unaltered from the pattern. My dress is made from a soft (I think they call it stretch gingham - although there is no stretch) from Spotlight. Its cool and cosy and the perfect dress to pull on in the hot weather. I love the shape of the square neckline too.

Pattern testing was a good lesson for me... it meant I had to be exact with my measurements and pay special attention to the details and instructions on the pattern rather than rushing ahead and making it my own way. I also loved observing the pattern making process from the viewpoint of Gowri and all the little tweaks that occured as the pattern was tested on a wide range of testers. 

Omgosh the versions of this dress / top are amazing! I have SO many ideas for future makes using this pattern... and I can't wait to see a whole array of Rani Tops / Dresses pop up in my Insta feed.

... and although I made this dress at the end of 2024 it wasnt released until today so that officially kicks off my 2025 sewing projects.

Please share with me if you make a Rani Top/ Dress too.