Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Oliver & S Spring Patterns: The Pinwheel Tunic & Dress


Last week you got to see my reversible version of the new Oliver & S Roller Skate pattern.  This week the "Rolling Tour" is back with the last new spring pattern from Liesl and her team, the Pinwheel Tunic and Slip Dress.




Like the Roller Skate, this pattern has several options that can be used to achieve lots of looks. But in my opinion, this one is more of the "special occasion" pattern because of the great flounce factor. It's completely different from anything out there today- a dress that is actually made of layers, a tunic worn over a slip dress. I wanted to make both pieces to be worn together, but also get two different garments that she could wear apart and look different from each other. So I went with a selection of four solid cottons from Sewn Studio. They are Moda Bella in green, caribbean, lilac, and aubergine. 




I LOVE the way the layered flounces look on Elsie in these colors. This will definitely be the perfect Easter Sunday dress this year. I made her the 18-24 month size. I've been starting to use size 2 on the O&S patterns so they last longer, but I knew this one would look off if it was too roomy on her. I'm glad I did that because the fit is perfect. 




Here is the purple slip dress without the tunic. This will be really sweet in summer with some sandals and a new bucket hat. I love the way the dress is constructed, with the straps sewn in between the main dress and the facings. I'd love to use the top of the pattern again and remix it with some different skirt styles.





This post required photo shoots over the course of 2 days because there was no way my 22 month old was going to hang in there for all 3 looks at once. She is becoming SO hard to photograph. For the tunic portion, we had just returned from the doctor (to get staples out of her head, crazy girl. Don't worry, she's fine) and she was about to nap. Thus the pacifier and blankie- we do what we gotta do. 





I'm a huge fan of the tunic part worn with leggings. I think the simple short sleeves on top look so sweet and I love that it still fits over her head with just a tie in the back. We will get a lot of wear out of this. Come to think of it, I just knocked out St. Patrick's and Easter sewing for her!




And of course, the twirl factor is still there with the single flounce. She seems to be a big fan of the Pinwheel too! There is a lot of bias sewing on this dress, but it was great practice. I actually feel like my stitch in the ditch skills have never looked better. But I did use pre-made Moda single fold bias tape from Sewn Studio, which was a giant time-saver.  You buy it off the roll by the yard and since it's Moda it's infinitely softer and better to work with than the packaged pre-made stuff. I love having easy access to it at work and I use it whenever possible. But this pattern would be great with some homemade print bias tape, and Liesl has posted lots of bias help on the Oliver & S blog.


The pattern should be released any day now! It's been really fun to work on both of these great new styles, and as usual they did not disappoint my high expectations of Oliver & S. If you missed it, check out Kristin's adorable sleeveless tunic from yesterday, and look out for Cherie's sweet Pinwheel dress tomorrow.





22 comments:

  1. Oooh, I love the slip/purple version. The flounce is so, so... architextural? Very modern and very unique. Hope the girly's head is feeling better today.

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  2. this is really cute! I didn't realize that the dress was actually two different pieces. The bottom layer is pretty adorable just on its own. Yay for getting the St. Patrick's day sewing done already! : )

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  3. Well done, Jessica! I really like this.:) Can't wait to get my hands on the pattern!

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  4. She is so cute! I love the spring-y colors you chose. Looks like watercolors!

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  5. I wasn't sold on this pattern until I saw it was separates. I really like the tunic and leggings. Smart way to mix your fabrics!

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  6. OH it's adorable!!! Fantastic in the various solids - those greens look much better without your weird neon nighttime light. ;) Really love the slip dress though, definitely gonna need to make that version. Cool idea to change up the skirt, too!

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  7. Oooooh, I love this in solids! And she may be hard to photograph (I believe it!) but man, she is CUTE. Look at those curls! Look at that smile! Aaaah.

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  8. wow, this dress is insane. good insane. i've never seen anything like it, and yet it looks like the perfect little girl's dress.

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  9. i love your take on this dress- the colors are great.. i'm really into that color green right now- which i'll blame for all the shamrock shakes i've been drinking lately. Oh, and my stitch in the ditch skills suck. maybe I need to try this pattern then???

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  10. Love these new patterns and seeing all the options you ladies come up with is so fun! You say there's a lot of binding.....how much binding?!? I am eagerly (impatiently) awaiting the pattern to be released!

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  11. You just sealed the deal for me for this pattern. I LOOOOVE this pattern. Love it. Yes...it's not for every occasion or everybody, but the way you sewed it...that's debatable. I adore the colors you chose. I am pinning the heck out of this post. I love love it. Elsie modeled is so adorably as well. ;)

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  12. The versatility is awesome! I love the look of the tunic and leggings too. So cute.

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  13. I had no idea at the first pics that these would be two separate pieces layered together! Genius!

    Elsie looks like such a spunky little girl. The best kind.

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  14. Oh,you just know how clever you are,don't you?
    Fabulous!

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  15. Love your color choices and the dark bias trim. Glad she's okay. :)

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  16. Oh my gosh this is so lovely! I love the colours you chose! And the three looks from one. I absolutely love this. You did a good job!

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  17. Jessica, this is brilliant! Now I definitely like this pattern

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  18. I didn't think I liked this pattern until I saw what you did with it. Love the solids. You made it all art deco and architectural where I'd just been seeing boho flounce. Love!

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  19. This is SO adorable! The two layered colors are just super cute! Your color choices are so great too...

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  20. Gorgeous! The tunic is my favorite - great colors!

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  21. What a fun idea to have it as a tunic and a slip dress. Two for the price of one. Sweet! Cute color choices too.

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