The spring Oliver + S patterns are here! And I couldn’t resist sewing all of them – they’re sooooo good! There are two dress patterns in the mix, and their arrival happened to coincide nicely with birthday sewing this year. Lila will be five next week, and like every year, a new birthday dress was in order.
This is the Garden Party dress, a lovely little party dress with a gathered bodice and skirt. It’s another a beautiful, clean design from Oliver + S – fun and girly without any crazy frills. Perfectly suited to my style.
The dress can be made sleeveless or with cap sleeves, and there’s a blouse option as well. The construction was simple and straightforward, and true to Oliver + S form, everything came together beautifully and without a hitch. I made a size 4 and lengthened it by one inch – I think it turned out roomy and long enough to fit for a good while.
The back has a keyhole opening, and the button closes with a thread chain. This was my first attempt at a thread chain – there’s a tutorial on the Oliver + S blog, but if your brain is anything like mine and needs a visual real-time demonstration for all new skills, this video did the trick for me.
Also – it you’re going to make the sleeveless version, I might suggest hand finishing the bias-bound arm holes rather than edge stitching them by machine (both are listed as options in the pattern). I had trouble getting around the tight curves without puckering, and I’m sure it would have looked much nicer finished by hand. I may even rip out my edge stitching and ((ask my mom to)) stitch the binding closed by hand. Someday I hope to have more patience for hand sewing…
And the fabric…oh, how I love this fabric. It’s Summer Grove by Day from Leah Duncan’s new line, Meadow – I picked it up from LiMa Sews where the whole line is available. Leah Duncan’s designs are among my very favorites, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting Meadow’s release. Each of her prints is a like a beautiful work of art, and the canvas is Art Gallery Fabric‘s super smooth, high-quality pima cotton. Art Gallery’s tag line is “Feel the Difference” and I have to agree – their fabrics are far superior to your standard quilting cotton, and the soft drape is really nice for apparel.
For the bands and yoke I used a textured solid from In the Beginning Fabrics – Modern Solid in Coral.
Of course, Lila will not be having a garden party for her March birthday – Oregon weather does not allow for such things. Sleeveless in March is pretty unpractical around here as well, but that’s what cardigans are for, right?
Check out Kristin’s Garden Party dress, too – also in Meadow! And stay tuned for the Hide-and-Seek Dress, which turned out to be my surprise favorite of the three!
Many many thanks to Liesl for the advance copy of this pattern – as always, my opinions are my own.
Squeeee!!! I am freaking out over the new patterns! I want them ALL! I can’t wait to see all of your versions. I love this Garden Party dress. It is pretty and feminine without being over the top, just as you say. The fabric is lovely and your work is impeccable as always. I wonder how it would work in a very light, soft corduroy as a jumper for over long sleeves? Hrrrmmm.
Thanks Inder! I think cord would be wonderful for this dress! Lila actually tried this one on with a shirt underneath and it totally worked – I think jumper is a great idea for the sleeveless version. I can’t wait to see it on Maggie!
Sooooo purty!! Damn, I might have to jump on the Leah Duncan Meadow Garden Party Dress bandwagon!! 😛 And your little Lila is looking so grown up, especially in that first pic. Happy early birthday, darling! You have the sweetest birthday dresses ever!
Oh it’s just so darn pretty Gail!! I think sleeveless is so practical for layering just like you showed. Yay for Garden Parties in Meadow!! *high five*
This is just so beautiful! The fabric is perfect for that dress!
Gail!!! This is amazing! I love this fabric (must check out this line!). And the dress is perfect. It works fabulously with the cardigan, too. I have to admit, this pattern didn’t grab me when I saw it on the O+S website. But I love your version of it so much. It’s so perfectly springy. Even here in San Antonio, our winter has been so cold (for us) and cloudy. I don’t like it at all and I think my fabric choices are reflecting the endless cloudy dreariness we’ve been experiencing. This is such a nice mix of bright colors without being loud. You know? Anyway, I love it!
I have been reading your blog for awhile, and just wanted to say all of your projects are lovely. I love Oliver + S patterns too!
I’m glad you posted this. When I received the Oliver and S email this morning showcasing the new patterns, I wasn’t super impressed. But now I am! I really like this dress. Looking forward to seeing your Hide and Seek dress. And wishing my daughters didn’t require 2 different pattern bases… one daughter is now a 5, the other is a 3.
It turned out so pretty! Art gallery fabric is just great. I love the feel. Can’t wait to see what else you made! My sewing is still underway….
Awesome dress (my favorite from the new season. So far, as I know the Hide and Seek will get me as well …)!
isn’t it funny that both you and Kristin used the same fabric collection – it’s perfect for a Garden Party dress.
I got my copy yesterday and hopefully there will be some birthday dress sewing around here as well (6 already!). Love to know it will look great layered – the weather is still a bit chilly and we all know birthday girls need extra care!
Happy birthday sweet Lila!
I’ve been following your blog for a few months now. You inspired me to buy my first Oliver + S pattern in February and now I’m hooked. I was so excited to see that you sewed up the garden party dress because your fabric choices are always so fantastic. This dress is so darling. This may sound silly but you are my sewing idol! Hopefully I can sew as well as you do someday, maybe by the time my own daughter is Lila’s age.
thank you, anne! that’s awfully sweet of you to say! 🙂
Love Leah Duncan’s fabrics!!! I just made myself a peplum top using this same fabric. So pretty!
Gorgeous. Makes me want to sew something similar for my daughter, too. The patterns are expensive ‘though.
beautiful dress as always. your fabric choice always brings a certain whimsy to the patterns. the colours are so striking!
So pretty!
Adorable! I super love the fabric, such great colors. This pattern is so cute too – I started drooling over it as soon as I saw it!
This is so lovely. I love your fabric choices with the coral bands. In fact the whole outfit with the cardi and flats…just so sweet!
In the 4th photo from the top, I love the how the vertical lines in the fabric show up in the gathering. Did you plan it that way or did it turn out? Really cute version of this dress, can’t wait to get mine in the mail.
No, no planning involved! I probably should’ve done some planning given how large-scale the print is, but I didn’t think of it until it was too late!
What a beautiful Birthday dress, I do like the dark cardy over it.
love it! the colors are so beautiful. Love the navy sweater and flats!
Lovely, lovely dress Gail.
On goodness, love this! Been eyeing that fab fabric myself and think I need to get some now!! Beautiful dress (even if she changed her mind)!
I haven’t gotten up my courage to try an Oliver + S dress, but I think you’ve convinced me. {My skill level is the Market Skirt made out of old stripey sheets and pillow cases: http://www.flickr.com/photos/avenuedstereo/7665515138/in/set-72157625004132278} Your fabric choice is dreamy, and I think I might just copy that too. A question: do you think grosgrain ribbon would work for the contrast trim? Thanks for sharing your beautiful projects!
A pretty spring time birthday dress!
yours is so pretty!
A very lovely dress- great fabric and colors, as always!
[…] love the print Gail chose for her daughter’s dress. And this photo belongs in a magazine too, doesn’t […]
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