#TNT1 - Mcall's M7969 (AKA the tracey dress)

You may have heard the term ‘tried and tested’ or seen the abbreviation ‘TnT’ used when it comes to sewing patterns or makes, especially in reviews and on Instagram, but what does it actually mean??  Whilst there are slightly different  definitions depending on who you ask, I think of it as a pattern that has been found to be reliable with regards to instructions and fit.

​It may be that someone has made tweaks to the pattern fit for their own body shape, but it is a pattern that is returned to again and again to make either the same garment or used as a basis for hacking into a new style. An instagram search for popular patterns such as the Tilly and the Buttons (TATB) Billie top and dress, the TATB Indigo dress, and the True Bias Ogden cami will show these are often cited as TnT patterns by sewists.

I love the Mccalls M7969 dress pattern, and know that lots of you feel the same way about this dress.

At StSHQ this got us thinking that it might be good to share some of our favourite TnT patterns with you... so here it is, your first TnT blog post!!
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Both Jackie and I have made this dress in different lengths and love wearing our versions of it. For us sewing isn’t just about the making, it's also totally about the joy that wearing a me-made outfit, or using a me-made item, can bring. This dress brings us joy in bucket loads.
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The M7969 looks stylish and is sooo comfortable to wear (think secret pyjama comfort!).  There are four sleeve options to choose from and a choice of hem length, with or without a ruffle.  The pattern comes in two size ranges XS-M and L-XXL.  There is ease in the dress and we both tweaked the cross over front slightly to our own preference. Given the dress is gathered below the bust line this adjustment did not affect how the skirt was attached.  The sleeves are a raglan style, forming part of the neckline.  We both opted to make the billowing pouffy sleeve version, which has been so on trend recently, and I must say I love the way this sleeve drapes.

The techniques used in making the dress include gathering, attaching raglan sleeves and making and attaching bias binding for the neck and sleeves. The binding is hand stitched in place to finish the dress, and  although a bit fiddly this could be machine stitched in place using a ‘stitch in the ditch' method if you chose to.  Personally I found the hand stitching of the binding quite relaxing to do whilst watching TV! 
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