The Flip Flop Dress in Citrus Checks

Yep.  More Flip Flop Dress previews.

Sometimes I’m astonished at how long it can take to develop a pattern, even one that seems really simple.  Not just the pattern pieces, but the technical writing to get the instructions JUST RIGHT, and the images and graphics to communicate each step in the construction process, and then the photos to show the features of the pattern (which take the cooperation of small people sometimes).  Plus the samples to be sewn, the testers to coordinate with, the lost sleep as you worry over details that you are convinced could make or break the entire project.

What gets me through all those iterations and hours and hours and HOURS of work is one thing: I have resolved to only make patterns that my family and I will wear and wear and wear.  That way, no matter how well it’s received by the public, I know that we will benefit from all this work for a very long time.

I feel that way about this dress.  Oh, so strongly.  It’s a classic dress that can feel so modern–it embodies what I want ALL my patterns to be, modern classics that are a joy to sew.

The finished pattern will allow you to choose to button up the front OR up the back, using the same two pattern pieces–hence the name: you FLIP the pattern pieces in order to decide where the button opening will be.  You can also choose to make it with either a square or a round neckline, or add a Peter Pan collar.  AND!  It can be made sleeveless, with cap sleeves (like in these images), or with a 3/4-length cuffed sleeve (like here).  Which some days sounds like WAY too many options, but in practice makes this an absurdly versatile pattern.  As in, I literally don’t know that I’ll make our youngest ANY other dress pattern before she outgrows the size range.

This bad boy is off to testers this week, and ready for release soon after!  I can’t wait to see all the versions you make–and to share with you some really dreamy ones I’ve been sewing up, too.  I know we hear a lot about patterns being a “blank slate,” but this one really does give so much room for embellishment and interpretation.  I’m working hard to make the pattern the very best it can possibly be so that you’ll love sewing it up for a very long time to come!