Sometime ago – it seems like months – Lindy from Stokx Patterns sent me a length of fabric with two octopus printed on it. I went into immediate procrastination mode! I thought I’d like to make a Stokx Kim dress but was a bit foxed by the pattern. The back centre seam is shaped and I would have lost half an octopus, which wouldn’t do at all. So I sat on it, and sat on it – not literally, obviously!

I laid out the pattern to see how it would work. As you can see I have an octopus head appearing on the shoulder. I thought about going with it and trying to match it up to the back, but couldn’t bring myself to do this.

Instead I decided to fold down the top and cut a striped yoke from elsewhere on the fabric. This left me a whole octopus for the back.

I cut out the front and then began to wonder if I should have a plain striped back and then I’d have another octopus to play with. I thought long and hard and then realised I’d probably finish up with two octopus Kims 😂

So then began the battle of the back. I played around with the pattern, trying to work out how to minimise the octopus loss. I even remembered to take photographs!

In the end I folded in the shaping from the back and mirrored the pattern, losing just a bit of the legs.

However, I didn’t want to lose the shaping, so it had to be added back in, AND I had to match the stripes.

In the meantime the fabric picked up some sticky mess from my ironing board. I was very put out with myself. I put the whole thing in the freezer and then wiped it with a damp cloth. A quick wash and it was gone. Big relief!

I used blue for the neckband but I may remove it and swap it out for a striped one.

I feel as though these photos show a certain amount of ruching around the neck, I shall keep an eye on it and perhaps the neckband will be replaced sooner rather than later.

You can see where I added a piece into each side of the back. I was going to applique over it to fill in the gap in the legs but I couldn’t find an appropriate scrap and figured the brain would fill in the gap!

I did some twirling and cavorting on my front lawn.

I suspect I was looking for pockets at this point.

i wore it to the shops, stopping off in the park for some dodgy photos.

I also wore it to pick up Miss G from school (kindy) and she had fun counting the legs. She claims there are nine not eight. I suspect that artistic license makes it difficult to tell. How can this child already be at school?!!

I have a few scraps left, so this is not the last time I show you a make from this fabric, although it will be sans octopus.

How cute are these photos as little sister says goodbye to big sister as she heads off to school. E had to wear a school uniform tee shirt too.