Oh hi, I’m back from my month-long vacation on the couch. Pretty sure I watched more TV in the past 30 days than in the last four years combined. But anyway, here’s what I have to show for myself – an Oliver + S Library Dress.
I made one from Rashida Coleman-Hale’s 1000 Cranes fabric last fall, and I’m not sure if it was the fabric or the pattern or the combination of the two, but that dress was one of my very favorites. Lila liked it, too – she wore it long after the length became indecent (which happened pretty quickly – this dress runs shorter than other Oliver + S patterns, be warned), and I was so sad to retire it. So here’s version 2.0 – more Rashida Coleman-Hale, this time in Tangrams from her Cotton + Steel Moonlit collection.
I love the colors in this print, and I picked a coordinating Cotton Couture solid for the band (Peony, I think). I went with View A again (short sleeves and collar) – I always feel like I should try the other options when I make a pattern the second time, but then I never do. If it worked out the first time and was well received, I usually just stick with it. The only thing I left out this time was the flat piping – I love how it looks but couldn’t come up with a fabric I wanted to use. And I remember from last time that with the collar and the bodice and the band and the piping, that seam gets really bulky. It was a bit more streamlined this time.
This is a size 5 lengthened to a 6, which I think came out about right. I can’t say that this closure method is my favorite – 9 buttons/buttonholes! But Lila doesn’t seem to mind it, and that V in the front makes it easy to get on and off without unbuttoning more than one or two buttons.
I don’t know, is this a stretch as a holiday dress? I sewed it in December, so I sort of want it to count. We’ll see, there could still be time for something slightly more festive…
Thanks to LiMa Sews for this beautiful fabric!
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I love this dress–I want one in my size!!
You. Always the master of the good fabric choices. It looks so cute on her! You know, it probably doesn’t count as a holiday dress though, so you better get on that. Ha
I love it. And are those Boden boots? I want them so much for Kate. Let me know if you want to sell them when Lila outgrows them! 👯
haha vacation on the couch. sounds about right to me! love this dress, that library dress really packs a visual wallop, doesn’t it? especially in some awesome RCH fabric like this!!
Gorgeous dress, love that fabric.
Do you think it would be easy enough to make one omitting the band? Yours looks great because you have the perfect fabric. But I think I would like to try one without.
Thank you! I think you could do it – you’d just have to bring the front skirt piece up to meet the bodice (or the bodice down to meet the skirt?) since the band attaches those two pieces. I’d love to see it without the band!
Beautiful, Gail! Those buttons on the back are such a nice touch, too!
Excellent fabric choices! I love that dress and if I had a girl to sew for I would make it but I don’t think my boys would appreciate me making it ;0), lol!
Such a gorgeous color combination! And I like it without the piping and the collar. I’d never noticed before how darling the collar looks around the back. I also give you so much credit for perfectly placing all those buttons!!
You always do it. You make me want to stop what I’m doing and sew a dress I haven’t made yet, and do it in a patterned cotton which I wouldn’t normally think of.
Just lovely!
Just lovely, Gail! And love your styling with the tights and boots. I FINALLY just bought this pattern which arrived in the mail last week – your beautiful version has me itching to sew again! Thanks for sharing lovely Lila:)