a new and improved version of the post i accidently published yesterday :: an oliver + s library dress

It’s no secret how much I love to sew with Oliver + S, so getting my hands on the new patterns a little early was pretty much as exciting as it gets around these parts!

The fall pattern line-up was introduced last week and is now available in both digital and paper form on the Oliver + S website. Between Cherie, Kristin, Jessica, and myself, we sewed all of them, and we’ll be posting our versions throughout the week.

This is the Library Dress – it’s a faux wrap style with a pleated skirt, a wide front waistband, and buttons down the back. The collar is optional (but very simple, so don’t hesitate to opt in!), and you can choose either short sleeves or 3/4 sleeves with notched cuffs.

I love the style of this dress and the pattern was just what you’d expect from Oliver + S – clear and thorough directions, professional construction and finishing details, and an all around enjoyable sewing experience!

When I first saw the pattern, I immediately thought of Rashida Coleman Hale’s Japanese influenced lines, Tsuru and Koi. I ended up choosing her 1000 Cranes print in Indigo from Tsuru (more Cloud 9, again from LiMa Sews).

After seeing a couple beautiful dresses pop up in this print, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’m so in love with this fabric, and it suits the pattern nicely, I think. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so – there’s already another version in the Flickr pool made from 1000 Cranes!

For the band and flat piping (this is where my new-found love for flat piping came from, by the way) I used Riley Blake Designer Cotton solids in Pale Pink and Pewter. The flat piping is optional but it’s such a great little detail and it frames the band so nicely, I can’t imagine skipping it.

One thing about the band – if you choose a dark color for your main fabric and a lighter one for your band, you may want to double up on the band fabric so your seam allowances don’t show through. I didn’t think of it ahead of time, so I ended up fusing (rather awkwardly, since everything was already sewn together) two pieces of medium weight interfacing inside my band piece to help hide the skirt and bodice seams.

And so, in summary: Two thumbs up for the Library Dress! Lila likes it, too. She’s wearing it this morning as her second day of preschool dress 🙂

Be sure to check out the fabulous Playtime Dresses sewn by Jessica and Cherie, as well as Kristin‘s version of the Library Dress – it’s a stunner! And we’ll all be back Friday to share our versions of Art Museum pattern!

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