her new winter coat

A few weeks ago on my personal blog, I posted about going fabric shopping for S's new winter coat? Well, while at Mood I fell in love with this amazing navy blue wool-cashmere blend. It was $40 a yard, but trust me when I tell you that if you felt it you would understand. Really. It's incredibly thick and soft and totally worth the price. (And $40 is actually really cheap for quality coating, I think, despite how it may sound if you're not accustomed to shopping for coat fabrics.) I briefly considered wrapping myself up inside it right there on the third floor of the store, but that would have been weird.

So I took it home and got busy, sewing just a few seams a day. I was almost finished with the outside (why do these projects seem to go so much faster when I'm not writing sewing instructions simultaneously?) when it occurred to me to insulate it!

I was inspired by this coat in our Flickr group, so I started searching around to find the right interlining when I came across Thinsulate. I had to try it, at least for the sake of research, right?

Well, this particular quality of Thinsulate is not so thin. Definitely thicker than I expected. I was a bit stunned when I opened the package. Apparently it comes in different lofts, like quilt batting, but this one is thick, and I started to feel a little intimidated by it.

But never fear; I soldiered on. I had already assembled the coat lining (it's a Robert Kaufman print I purchased at Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul, MN last spring), and because I was concerned about the bulk I constructed what equates to a second lining from the Thinsulate. I cut out the lining pieces from Thinsulate and sewed them together in the same way as the lining.

After I sewed the lining to the facing I pinned the Thinsulate behind the lining and edgestitched it to the facing to hold it in place. It was sort of like sewing two linings to one coat, only one of them was about 80 times thicker than the other. When I hemmed the coat and the sleeves I folded the coat fabric over the Thinsulate so it wouldn't get in the way of the lining. And that's really the only thing I did differently in making it.

But the happy (and rather surprising) news is that I sewed the entire coat on my little Janome Jem--not exactly a heavy-duty sewing machine, no matter what they say. So if you're worried about sewing a thick coat on a not-so-heavy-duty machine, it's totally do-able. The walking foot really made it possible. I highly recommend getting one if you don't have and use it already. It's great for thick fabrics as well as laminates (and, of course, quilts).

I think this a really heavy-duty winter coat. It's definitely keeping her warm, even now that it's gotten pretty cold here. I was planning to make the removable quilting lining as well, but I'm afraid the bulk of the Thinsulate would make poor Tsia look like the Michelin Man, not to mention preventing her moving. And it appears that she's going to be plenty warm without it, although I may still make it anyway. I'm wondering if the Thinsulate will live up to its name and actually flatten out a bit after some wearing.

So there's only one problem with the coat: my kid keeps growing, and I sort of forgot that she's nearly 5 now. I made a size 4 and added an inch to the sleeves, to be let out next year. Now I'm nervous that she's going to outgrow her coat before then!

Can you see that mischievous gleam in her eye? She's scheming to grow another three inches before next year, I can just feel it.

P.S. Just before I posted this, I came across this article about adding a layer of insulation by interlining a garment. This isn't how I did it (the seams still would have been too bulky, I think), but you might consider this method if you want to try adding lighter insulation to a coat or jacket. At Oliver + S, we frequently use the interlining technique when we're making samples with really lightweight fabrics. A skirt made of Liberty Tana Lawn benefits greatly from an interlining of lightweight cotton. Just FYI.

more trunk show stops

The newest Oliver + S trunk show has been booked for the remainder of the summer. If you're in the area, stop by one of our retailers to participate in the activities they will be hosting in conjunction with the show.




You can see the trunk show at the following locations:

• Waechter's Silk Shop Asheville NC, June 2-June 15
• Seams Like Home Quilt Shoppe, Anchorage AK, June 19-July 3
• Colonial Quilts, Savannah GA, July 10-July 24
  
• Bay Window Quilt Shop, Perham MN, July 30-August 13
• The Stitchin' Post, Sisters OR, August 18-September 7

short sleeved 2 + 2 blouse

We're getting ready for summer at home, and I recently made something for S that I thought I would show. Here's her new 2+2 blouse with short sleeves.


We debuted this pattern last fall. It appears on the website and on the pattern envelope with long sleeves. Many people don't know this, but some sleeve shapes don't lend themselves nicely to shortening. If you take a long sleeve pattern and shorten the sleeve, the finished garment can have a nasty tendency of winging out at the top of the shoulder.

We wanted to make this pattern more versatile for our customers, so we included a separate short-sleeve pattern piece in the envelope as well. The short-sleeve piece is shaped completely differently than the long sleeve, and I love the resulting fit. It's a flattering shape that stays close to the arm without being restrictive, and it has a nice cap that's not your usual puffed sleeve. I think it's sweet and feminine without being frilly.


I used a few fabrics from the stash for this blouse, which is intended to be worn with the chambray/denim Puppet Show shorts we showed recently. (I'll photograph the two items together one of these days when my model is in a co-operative mood.) The blouse fabric is from Lecien's Calme collection, and it's great for summer because it's lightweight and almost (but not quite) sheer.


Since sewing gives a perfect opportunity for customization, S and I had a little fun with the front of this blouse. We (OK, I) eliminated the ties and added a button loop and covered button. S directed the embroidery of the button itself, selecting colors for the tiny house. We now refer to the blouse as the House Button Shirt.


And at the back, we opted for yellow thread with my beloved mother-of-pearl buttons (in smokey grey this time). The bright yellow is a subtle surprise for anyone who looks closely.

I like little details like this. But you already knew that, I think.

lazy days skirt with bias hem

We continue to be amazed at the popularity of the Lazy Days Skirt pattern. If you take a look at the Flickr group you'll see a large number of skirts made from this simple, free pattern. I'm sure we'll be seeing many more of these appearing there in coming weeks with the warm weather that is arriving in the northern hemisphere.

We made this linen skirt the other day to show you that you can also use bias-cut fabric strips in place of the ribbon hem on the skirt, much in the same way our hem facing is done--but reversed so it shows on the outside of the skirt, instead of discretely finishing the inside of a dress.



As with the ribbon hem on the Lazy Day Skirt, the inside of the skirt will have a clean finish. Keep this technique in mind if you want to use a printed fabric for your hem or you don't have any ribbon handy. You can see that we edgestitched the top of our hem with red thread to give it that je-ne-sais-quoi. (And to avoid blindstitching the top edge of the hem fabric. It's supposed to be a quick skirt, after all.)


As you can see, the finished skirt is getting lots of wear. The wearer, however, is not practicing the name of the skirt. She just keeps going! And going. And going. Here's to a relaxed and enjoyable summer ahead.

getting ready for summer

I just finished making this pair of Puppet Show shorts for S. In past summers she has lived in this style, and I suspect she'll be doing the same this year. They're very comfortable with an elastic waistband and fullness that gets gathered into bias binding at the leg opening. But my favorite part is the pockets, which are applied near where the side seam would be. (The shorts don't have a side seam which makes them even faster to sew up.) The pockets are fun and easy to make and look more impressive than their actual difficulty.


I used a lightweight denim for this pair, but I used the wrong side of the fabric so it looks like chambray. I've got a thing for chambray; it looks a little dressier than denim. But I know that because of the durability of the denim these shorts will last through a summer of sandboxes, slides and bike riding.

rickrack inspiration via flickr

There are many adorable outfits showing up on the Oliver + S Flickr group lately. Here are two recent additions that both use rickrack with terrific results.

The Tea Party Sundress pattern includes a Playsuit option, which can be really sweet and practical for small children. Although most of the playsuits I've seen have been for boys, I think it's wonderful for girls as well. And replacing the flat piping in the yoke seam with rickrack gives the outfit a feminine detail without being fussy or frilly. The rickrack detail also adds a little texture to the garment. I think it works beautifully in this instance.

Tiny rickrack also adds a feminine detail to this Sailboat Top where it was applied to the topstitching. April used a special tool for this step, but you could also apply the rickrack over topstitching or by using basting as a guide. I think the miniature rickrack enhances the sweet Little Red Riding Hood fabric and, again, adds some visual interest to a pattern that can be made for boys and girls.

spring trunk shows

The new Oliver + S spring trunk shows have started making their way across North America. Here are a few photos of the garments traveling in one of our shows.




The first four stops scheduled are:

• Cloth & Bobbin, Narberth PA, March 28-April 7
• Bobbin's Nest Studio, Santa Clara CA, April 15-April 23
• Olive Juice Quilt Shop (formerly A Stitch in Time), Onalaska WI, April 27-May 7
• Hip Stitch, Albuquerque NM, May 12-25

We'll be adding to this list over time, so stay tuned for more locations and dates.




If you are a retailer and would like to book a trunk show for your shop, please email us for details.

windows at purl

If you're in New York, be sure to stop by Purl Patchwork on Sullivan Street to see their Oliver + S window display.


Purl is well-known for its outstanding selection of fabrics. The staff stocks beautiful Japanese prints, a wide selection of Liberty tana lawn, and a number of other exquisite offerings inside this jewel box of a shop.

For these samples Purl selected a sweet floral Liberty print for the Birthday Party Dress and paired it with a coordinating Kona cotton solid for the tab. Because Liberty prints are very light-weight and ever-so-slightly sheer, we used a white cotton lawn for the facings to be sure they didn't show through. (The Liberty print sold out within two days of setting up the window display, so I'm sorry I can't give you a link to it.)


The Sailboat Top and Pants are made from a fresh architecture-inspired Anna Griffin print and a Kona cotton.

We raided the fantastic button selection at Purl's yarn shop just down the street for the finishing touch. Those buttons on the pants are wool felt!


And here are some views of the window from inside the store. How about those giant paper dolls?

easter dress

I'm a tearsheet fanatic. I've always loved pulling and archiving tearsheets. But it wasn't until I got to design school that I learned I wasn't the only one saving random pages I tore from magazines and, in fact, that those pages could become part of the design process.

Unfortunately, S caught onto this habit really quickly and now looks over my shoulder when I read a magazine to holler out when she sees something she wants to save. Sometimes I have to explain that we're not removing pages from a particular magazine. (Marie Claire Idees and Martha Stewart Living are the only survivers on my save-the-entire-magazine list. The others have, sadly, gone out of print: Blueprint, Domino.) Most of the time she gets to keep all photos of dogs and girls wearing pink.

I've appropriated a portion of one wall in the studio to act as my inspiration board, and on it are taped a variety of tearsheets and other objects that I like to see on a regular basis. Some of the images and objects have been inspiring me for years. Others get swapped out when I grow tired of them or find something else that interests me more.

This one has been on the wall for quite a while. It's a Prada dress that I adore and wouldn't mind wearing, myself.


I came back to this tearsheet one day recently when I was preparing to sew S's Easter dress. I had selected navy silk dupioni (from Brewer) for the dress, and then I found a wonderful vintage yellow grosgrain ribbon with a moire effect (from Tinsel Trading). I wanted to incorporate some yellow eyelet fabric that I've been saving for a while, but I was having trouble pulling it all together until I remembered that tearsheet I walk past every day.

Off came the photo from the wall, and I carried it around for the next few days so I could think about it more. Here is what ultimately came of it: my interpretation of the feel of that Prada dress, done for a little girl.


In the end, I decided on two important embellishments to the Birthday Party Dress inspired by the photo. I added yellow topstitching in a deliberately meandering manner so that it would look uneven and a little "messed up." And I sewed a strip of the eyelet fabric to the top edge of the hem facing so that it looks like a contemporary version of a petticoat peeking out from under the dress. It was important to me that the eyelet be separated from the hem to the extent that it had some dimension rather than simply looking like lace applied to the hem. By sewing the eyelet to the top of the hem facing it looks like a separate layer worn under the dress. Then I carefully (but not too carefully, since I wanted it to look a little rough) trimmed the eyelet into scallops that peek out beneath the dress.



And here is the dress, being modeled. I have to tell you that if my job consisted of regularly cajoling S to pose for photos I think I'd quit. It's such a relief to work with an illustrator who does his work without whining or refusing to stand still/remove his cardigan for just two photos/stop making goofy faces/etc. (Dan, do you do any of those things when I can't see you?)





I'm happy with the finished dress, and S loves it. Which is what counts. But she still won't pose properly for me.

spring samples

I thought you might like to see a trunk show we've just put together for one of our distributors, Brewer Quilting and Sewing Supplies. Retail stores who carry our patterns sometimes order through distributors, and Brewer wanted to highlight their wide selection of silk dupioni fabrics as well as the quilting cottons of Benartex, who they also represent. Together, we selected the fabrics for these samples that Brewer will display in their showroom, at trade shows, and at some of their retail customers.

The varying stripes of the Sailboat Top remind me of what is often called an "awning stripe" in the fashion industry.



The pants are a sort of variation on a gingham check, with circles in the center of the squares.

I like the combination of silk dupioni with printed cotton on the Tea Party Sundress. And the flat piping in the skirt is also silk, which dresses it up and adds a little texture and variety to the skirt.

You might notice that for the Birthday Party Dress, we widened the ties by an inch to give them a softer, dressier appearance. I think this dress looks ready for a summer wedding. Flower girl, perhaps? Junior bridesmaid? The pleats on the skirt are left unpressed for a softer appearance that suits the big bow and the hand of the silk, I think.



Printed cotton fabrics are as follows:

Sailboat Top: Benartex "City Girl" by Kitty Yoshida, Bar Code Stripe Blue/Green, Style 2318, Color 55
Tea Party Sundress: skirt is Bentartex "City Blooms" by Kitty Yoshida, Yellow/Graphite, Style 2319, Color 12
Sailboat Pants: Benartex "City Girl" by Kitty Yoshida, Squared Bolts, Steel Blue, Style 2317, Color 50

playdate variations

Every time I look at the Oliver + S Flickr group I'm amazed at the new photos that have been posted by our customers. Such wonderful fabric choices! Such adorable children modeling the finished projects! Really, seeing your photos inspires me to sew and to create more patterns.

While browsing recently, I was fascinated to see the various interpretations on the Playdate Dress. I love the unique looks that result from fabric choices, especially for the yoke of the dress. A rich polka dot gives the dress a contemporary flair while stripes looks almost like pintucks or spectacular tailoring. Here are some wonderful examples of your work, more of which can be found on Flickr. Thank you for your inspiring sewing, everyone!

reason #17?

I was thinking this weekend about one more benefit of sewing. Because you can choose fabrics, patterns, and colors of your own liking, you can also build a cohesive wardrobe that all works together in many interchangeable ways.

How may outfits do you think you could you put together from this collection of garments:

• 4 skirts


• 1 jacket


• 2 blouses


• 1 dress


• 2 cardigans


• 1 pants

Here's what we did.










We could have kept going, but you get the picture(s)....

S. and I have found that this concept works really well. She's gotten loads of wear from her tweed pants and skirt and jacket, the cardigans, and her 2+2 blouses and skirts. Some of the items above are from her own closet, and we added a few samples from the studio to demonstrate that with a sophisticated color palette and a few key fabrics, you can have a lot of fun with a little girl's wardrobe.

Harvest Dress

I always have a difficult time letting go of Thanksgiving and moving into Christmas. Maybe it's something about the family-oriented reflection of Thanksgiving versus the consumer pressure that seems to preceed Christmas (can you tell which holiday is my favorite?).


But really, I think it's more about the colors.

Thanksgiving colors are rich autumnal golds, reds, and burgundies. Christmas is traditionally associated with two colors that I wouldn't usually pair together: red and green.

Thus, the Harvest Dress.


This Tea Party dress was entirely fabric-inspired. It started with the golden yellow velveteen (velveteen is velvet made from cotton, which means it's also washable and doesn't have the sheen usually associated with velvet) which paired itself with a William Morris print fine-wale corduroy from Liberty of London.


I think it could be worn for Christmas as well as Thanksgiving.

those fabrics

Since you asked, here are details on the fabrics we used for the spring samples.

We've had the great pleasure of partnering with the Japanese fabric company Lecien, who supplied all our fabrics for the show. Lecien makes adorable prints, and their fabrics are affordably priced.


For the Sailboat outfit, we used a Minny Muu stripe in blue for one shirt and the little tulip print for the other shirt. The skirt and pants were both made from a Kona cotton solid, although I noticed that Lecien also produces a wide range of solids, which I'll have to ask them about.


The Birthday Party Dress is made using a floral print from Lecien's Le Petit Jardin collection, with a coordinating tiny polka dot for the button tab and hem facing.

Purlsoho.com, the Fat Quarter Shop, and Superbuzzy all carry Lecien if you're interested in purchasing the fabrics. And the Lecien booth in Houston was extremely busy, so watch for their fabrics elsewhere because I think you'll be seeing more of them soon.

happy accidents

This sample kimono top recently returned from the pattern grader, and I was surprised at how much I like that little bit of contrast fabric that got added to the neckband now that I see it again. I had cut the band too short (it was an early test pattern and I think I eyeballed the neckband rather than create a pattern piece for it), so I grabbed the nearest available fabric to fix the problem.


At first it looked wrong to me, but now I sort of like that fun little pop. I may use this idea again the next time I sew the pajamas.


The Bedtime Story pajamas are designed to be a beginning-level pattern for someone who may have sewn one or two projects before but hasn't necessarily followed a pattern yet. They would be a good project for for a sewing class, too.

One bedtime last spring, Tsia (the "S" of Oliver + S) was out of clean pajamas, and I happened to have a size 3 pajama pattern cut out. She stayed up a little later than usual, and I was able to sew and finish the pajamas in approximately an hour. They're that easy. (Well, and I'm a pretty fast sewer, too.)

She needs a new pair for winter. Flannel this time. With that little contrast at the neckband and tie, I think.

oliver + s garments

A few months ago when we first launched the Boutique Sewer Program, we promised we would be working to support the participants of the program. We want to build a community, linking seamstresses with customers who want to purchase handmade garments.

To that end, I'm pleased to announce a new page on our website: the Garments page, which contains links to boutique sewers who are offering readymade and custom clothing created from Oliver + S patterns. Now if you don't have the time to sew (or haven't learned how yet), you can still purchase a piece of clothing made from one of our designs.

This new section of our website will put you in touch directly with talented sewers who are willing to work with you to create custom garments to your specifications. We hope to expand the number of participants in the program in upcoming weeks, and we will be adding more photos of finished garments. Stop by often to see the work of our talented boutique sewers highlighted.

fall trunk show

The fall trunk show has left the building. First stop: Quilt Essential Fabrics in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

We showed you the fabrics we selected for the show. Would you like to see how the samples turned out?



I think the fabrics in the 2 + 2 blouse and skirt are so fun together, with all those polka dots in different scales. We used a light-weight quilting cotton for the blouse, since the heavier home dec quality would have been too stiff. But the pleats look terrific in the heavier fabric. I want to wear this one myself!



The playdate dress has the same print as the 2 + 2 skirt, but in a different colorway. And I like how the weight of the fabric helps to maintain a crisp inverted pleat at the front. The patterned piping gives the dress a fun little shot of color and texture, too.



The Sandbox pants look great in corduroy, and the use of a printed fabric at the waistband adds a little interest without overwhelming it.



Flannel Bedtime Story pajamas are cozy for fall, and we used the home dec fabric for the neckband, waistband, and leg trim. Again, I like how just a bit of the busy print doesn't overwhelm the outfit but gives it a little pop.



And the Sunday Brunch turned out beautifully. I really need to take a photo of the inside of the jacket because our sample maker did such an amazing job with the binding at the seams. It's as beautiful inside as it is outside, which is really saying something for an un-lined jacket. That little kick pleat at the back skirt looks really nice and crisp in the heavier fabric, too.

I neglected to ask our sample makers whether I can identify them here. Is it ok, everyone? I'm thrilled at what beautiful work they did, and I'm sure they're pround of it as well.

lazy days on flickr

Have you seen all the wonderful Lazy Days Skirts that are showing up in the Flickr group? Lots of great fabric and ribbon combinations, and some really adorable little girls enjoying their new skirts.

doll clothes

So this is Harriet. We didn't play with her when we were little, but I don't think it's because Mom wouldn't let us; I think that, knowing she was the only doll my Grandma saved for Mom, we respected her too much and didn't want to risk injury. Isn't she pretty?


I took these photos in a hurry on the morning we left Madison (where my parents life), so I didn't have time to let the collar dry after wetting it a bit to finger-press it flat. Sorry. This is the dress the Harriet was wearing when Mom got her:


I've been thinking a lot about gathering and ruffles lately, which is surprising because I'm not a ruffle-y sort of designer. But I was remembering from school that, in the garment industry these days, you rarely see a ruffle with a ratio of more than 1.5 to 1 anymore. This dress clearly has at least a 2.5 to 1 ratio, I'd say. I like it. It's not saccharine despite the fullness of the gathers. Maybe it's the gray of the dress. Or maybe the extreme fullness keeps it from being too flirty and takes it to a more sophisticated level like Christian Dior's New Look.

And here is the pinafore that goes over her dress, front and back:

I love grey for kids' clothes, and this feels so subtle and contemporary to me. I'd love to do a pinafore for the Oliver + S line, but it would need to be updated a bit. Much as I love this one (especially those mitred corners!), we're not a vintage pattern company, so I'd like to give it a contemporary spin.

My Mom's aunt sewed this dress for Harriet.

The collar needs to be repaired. But it matches the pinafore nicely:

She also sewed this corduroy coat with velvet collar and jet buttons:

I like the raglan sleeves and the tucks at the neckline to give the coat some fullness.

And this seersucker nightgown, which is missing the gathering ribbon at the neckline:

I love the lace, and I don't think I've ever seen solid-colored seersucker anywhere else. It's subtle and would also be great for dresses, I think.

Several years ago (ok, more than several), I sewed American Girl clothes for my sisters' dolls and really enjoyed making them. And even as a child I really appreciated the clothes my Mom made for our dolls; it's such a thoughtful, intimate gesture, and I think children understand that doll clothes are made for no other reason than their own playing pleasure. That's a pretty great expression of love, in my book.

We've had more than a few requests for doll-sized Oliver + S clothes, and I'm sure that eventually we'll do something along those lines. But for now, I'm just appreciating all the care and time that went into these. And the details that make them so special.

fall trunk show

We're eagerly awaiting the arrival of the fall patterns in just a couple of weeks, and in the meantime we've been pulling together our fall trunk show, which will be making its way around the country to show off the patterns.



This season we fell in love with Denyse Schmidt's County Fair collection by Free Spirit. The patterns and colors are fresh and exciting, with a bit of vintage flavor and a contemporary autumnal color palette.

County Fair has a lovely weight that is very appropriate to fall dressing. It's slightly heavier than a quilting cotton, with a wonderful drape. Although the line is billed as a "home dec" weight, it's not heavy or stiff like you might imagine. Instead, it's perfect for little jackets, skirts, and pants. I'm having trouble keeping my hands off the fabrics and wish I could sew all the samples myself, it's so wonderful.

If you're a wholesale customer who is interested in hosting the trunk show, please drop us a line. The collection will be ready to go by the end of August, and we'd love to send it your direction!

dress-up

Update: the dresses are now listed on ebay here and here. Happy bidding!

It’s windy here at the lake, where we’re enjoying a little time with family before the arrival of the fall collection in two or three weeks.



In the meantime, I found this pale peach-colored silk dupioni, as well as a matching pink plaid, at Gayfeather Fabrics in Madison, WI, last week, so we made party dresses! Two Tea Party sundresses, which I think are dressy enough to be worn to a wedding, in sizes 3 and 5. I think it would be fun to dress sisters in dresses like these: similar but not identical.




It’s fun to play with various fabrics, isn’t it? Fabric choices can completely change a style, taking it anywhere from a casual, playground-ready to dressy and formal. And these dresses are completely washable; I washed the silk before cutting it, and as long at the finished dresses are washed in cold water (preferable by hand), they'll be fine.

I lined both dresses to give the fabric a little more body. It’s easy to do; just cut the skirt from your lining fabric, assemble it separately from the dress, and whip-stitch the folded top edge of the skirt lining to the dress at the yoke seam when the dress is finished.

so happy!

You know what just totally makes my day? To see photos like this on the Oliver + S Flickr group.


How thrilled do these little girls look with their new, matching Bubble Dresses? I mean, someone just made two little girls very, very happy. And enhanced the absolute adorability of them, as well.

Is that a word, adorability?

Anyway, they're really cute. And I'm smiling.

love Liberty

Liberty fabrics are all the rage these days, not just among crafters, but also in the fashion industry. All the top magazines seem to be featuring Liberty prints, as you can see from these tearsheets I've collected over the past few months.





Of course, sewers have long appreciated these amazing fabrics. The cotton has a lightweight, silky hand, and the prints are beautifully executed and amazingly detailed. I first encountered Liberty lawn in my early 20's when I came across rolls of the luxurious lawn in a dusty corner bin at B&J Fabrics one day after work. Back then I couldn't afford to purchase suitable work clothing for myself, so saved up birthday money and spent my evenings stitching wool suits and skirts. But when I found those amazing prints I knew I aspired to them. I still carry around swatches and splurge whenever I have the opportunity.


One of the great things about making kids' clothing is that they don't take much fabric, so although the Liberty prints are more expensive than most cottons, they're still affordable in the small quantities needed for little dresses and tops. The Bubble Dress lends itself especially well to Liberty fabric; the weight of the fabric is perfect for the lined dress. This one was sewn by Keri of A Bookish Life for her little daughter, C (be sure to click that link--you've got to see her adorable face).

I love how simultaneously timeless and modern the dress looks. Again, one of the great things about Liberty; it never goes out of style.

(Keri's photo is used with her permission. Thanks, Keri!)

sort of like this

A seersucker Tea Party Playsuit with feedsack piping and lining and vintage buttons, hanging from a vintage-inspired rack. A fun way to display the finished garment at a shop or at home, right?


The Playsuit has gotten short shrift in our line, but it's included in the pattern for the Tea Party Sundress and is appropriate for boys and girls. Really easy to sew, with optional instructions for snap tape at the inseam (makes for easy diaper changes).

We'll be showing the Playsuit at Quilt Market next week made up in a really soft, luxurious Italian wool suiting for fall with a Liberty print piping in the waist seam. Can't wait to show you the photos when we return from the show!

fresh orange

This awesome twosome was sewn by Aimee (of Betsy Ross Patterns fame) for the new Spool shop in Philadelphia, and I love everything about them.

Aimee clearly understands the Oliver + S "look." Her choice of colors (neutrals with a shot of brilliant orange), prints (sophisticated and bold but not overpowering), and buttons (cute but not "cutesy") are perfect. And I love her use of the Michael Miller Organics line.


The end result is a clean, fresh simplicity that's perfect for spring and summer.

You can read more about Aimee's choices on the Spool blog. Personally, I'm looking at orange with a fresh eye again.