my favorite oliver + s pattern: kelly from sewing seeds

Here’s another installment of the "My Favorite Oliver + S Pattern" series! Today, we’re joined by Kelly, who’s generously agreed to share her thoughts on her go-to pattern and showcase some of the incredible variations she’s created. Thank you so much for being here, Kelly! Hi everyone, I’m Kelly Donovan—first-time blogger but longtime fan of Oliver + S patterns. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Liesl’s designs are pure magic. They’ve helped me master my sewing skills, and even though I occasionally experiment with other patterns, my heart truly belongs to Oliver + S. Recently, my passion for sewing turned into a small business called Sewing Seeds, where I create custom handmade clothes. I’m proud to be part of the Oliver + S Boutique Sewer licensing program. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to my absolute favorite pattern: the Fairy Tale Dress. When this pattern debuted, I already had quite the collection of Oliver + S projects under my belt. Liesl’s warning about this particular pattern wasn’t lost on me—it requires a muslin, includes darts, calls for tulle, and involves plenty of hand stitching. But timing couldn’t have been better. My oldest daughter wanted to dress as a princess for Halloween, and this pattern seemed perfect. No need to wait for the Disney princess phase—any princess would do. I quickly made a muslin to check the fit of the bodice and dove straight into creating the dress. For this version, I used dupioni silk paired with a glittery tulle overlay, a Peter Pan collar, petal sleeves, and a floor-length hem. She adored it, and naturally, her younger sister insisted on joining in the fun as a frog princess. The Fairy Tale Dress quickly became my go-to project for special occasions. Next up was a Christmas dress for my eldest. This time, I carefully selected a Liberty print from my favorite fabric shop, Purl Soho. I went with View B, pairing it with shot cotton as the contrast. Looking back, I realize the shot cotton might have been a bit too delicate for the back bow. I also learned the hard way that those “disappearing” markers don’t always vanish completely. Permanent purple dots remain on the collar corners to this day—a reminder to test on swatches before diving in! For my daughter’s fourth birthday, I couldn’t resist making yet another Fairy Tale Dress. This time, oversized Ascher vintage bows seemed like the perfect fabric choice. The dress turned out beautifully in the quilting cotton-like material, and I skipped the structural bows, feeling the fabric itself provided enough flair. Instead, I added a simple white Peter Pan collar for extra crispness and whimsy. It saw plenty of wear and became a staple in her wardrobe. When I launched my business, I offered a few local moms the chance to choose from my Oliver + S designs for their daughters’ outfits in exchange for participating in a photo shoot to launch my brand. Unsurprisingly, the Fairy Tale Dress was the most popular choice. These dresses were made using fabrics like Nani Iro, Liberty of London, and Michael Miller Eyelet. Each dress combined elements from Views A and B in unique ways. Even last-minute events like tickets to the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center didn’t pose a problem. A festive Fairy Tale Dress in Michael Miller Glitz was quickly whipped up, and she looked stunning. Fast forward to my brother’s upcoming wedding, and I received the request to create flower girl dresses for my two daughters. Set against the backdrop of an intimate NYC ceremony at an historic church downtown, these final two dresses stayed true to Liesl’s traditional design. My soon-to-be sister-in-law and I took a train ride to the garment district, armed with her invitation and bridesmaid dress fabric swatches. Together, we settled on pale blush silk taffeta with gray contrast to match the bridesmaids’ dresses. Securing the fabric from B&J, we braved the snow and wind to visit M&J Trimming on Sixth Avenue. There, we found matte silver small sequins that perfectly complemented the dresses. Over the following two weeks, every single sequin was hand-sewn onto four separate collar pieces—one for each dress. Whether at dance class, gymnastics, naptime, or even during stoplights, I worked tirelessly. The end result? Absolutely worth every moment of effort. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Liesl and her team for creating such an amazing, versatile, and timeless pattern. With the Fairy Tale Dress in my arsenal, along with all the customization options it offers, there isn’t a dress I can’t tackle. If you'd like a glimpse into the past, here’s Liesl’s original introduction to the Fairy Tale Dress from August 2012! --- P.S. If you're interested in more sewing inspiration, check out the Related Posts below. Happy sewing!

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Jiangyin Xiangxu Textile Co., Ltd. , https://www.fabricxiangxu.com