Tic Tac Toe

Welcome to my little part of the Tic Tac Toe blog tour.

It's such a privilege to be able to share more the details of this gorgeous pattern.

I'm such a sucker for piping, so it was impossible to pass up the opportunity to test this pattern.

And what keeps me coming back is all the options.  Within the bodice alone, there are 3 versions for the front, and 2 for the back.

Couple that with the choice of two types of collar or epaulettes, and then 5 sleeve options.

Mathematically, by simply mixing up bodices, collars and sleeves, you have 120 potential dresses (I tallied it up on a spreadsheet, cause it's been a long time since I've had to do those kind of calcuations using formulae).  That's without the option of omitting the pockets, mixing up the piping, and colour blocking or adding the optional tie/sash!

For my latest version I took inspiration from the origami cranes in my new favourite fabric.

I used Bodice Version C to echo the fold lines of the cranes.

With a diagonal back like the diagonals in the wings.

And straight rectangular sleeves, like crisp fold lines.

Is that reading too much into pattern selection? Possibly, but I've been working through a ladybird version (I have some supercute ladybird fabric begging to be used). Just imagine red epaulettes with black buttons and puffed sleeves and bodice version B (like the one below) to mimic the split of the two wings across the back. I promise to share when I pull it off.

Like all good dresses, this one has pockets!

See how happy pockets can make you.

I promise I pressed this dress just before the photos. As gorgeous as this fabric is, looks like it's going to be a bit painful to maintain. That's always the way.

The back closure is an invisible zipper. I've been putting in a few of these lately, and they are my favourite bodice closure. 

When they work, it's like a dream - total fluke accidental pattern matching. I have an invisible zipper foot that makes it a little easier to stitch nice and close to the teeth. But they were still doable before I had the zip, I just made sure to move the needle over so it's nice and close.  The trickiest bit is lining up the zip so that it's stitched to the bodice the right way round. I'm getting better at that, but it still involves a fair amount of flipping over and zipping up and down to check.

As a blog tour bonus, use the code TICTACTOE10 at the checkout for a 10% discount on the Tic Tac Toe Dress.

Make sure you check out all the other blogs on the tour to see how this dress can shine, it's just amazing!

14 Nov: Metoezie//Bravefabrics//Amore

16 Nov: thirtynine//Inspinration//Amelie+Atticus

18 Nov: MaaiDesign//naadjesendraadjes//gaafmachine

21 Nov: littlecumquat//Petrol&Mint//Idlesunshine

23 Nov: NeedlestoSay//Liivi&Liivi//Soulfedonthread

25 Nov: KaatjeNaaisels//StraightGrain//MadebySara