It’s the first day of Kid’s Clothes Week, the winter edition! I’m posting about this little Oliver + S outfit to kick things off. It’s the playtime dress and leggings pattern combination and it’s painfully adorable. Especially on my beautiful little friend here. Isn’t she the cutest? I can’t even handle it.
I got to make this dress and leggings as a sample for my upcoming class at Rock Paper Scissors. I can’t wait to teach this one. Leggings, my friends, are so darn easy to make! If I had girls I would make so many leggings! I’m going to attempt to make some for myself for sure.
The dress comes together easily and the instructions are clear and professional. This was my first time using an actual Oliver + S pattern, though I’ve sewn things from their book Little Things to Sew. Liesl, the pattern maker behind Oliver + S is a true pro and it shows in this pattern. She writes a straightforward, clear pattern with little details that take the dress beyond plain jane and make it look store-bought in the good way.
I’m not sure what the fabric is, unfortunately. Both the pattern and the fabric were shipped to me for the purposes of making the sample so I didn’t catch the name of the adorable bike fabric. Edited to add: the fabric is Bike it, it comes from Jan Cyn Designs for Birch Organic Fabrics.
It is a knit fabric but a sturdy knit so it sews easily and makes for a warmer dress. The pattern is written for either woven or knit fabric, which makes it really versatile.
I’ve been making a lot more out of knit fabrics these days and I have to say that learning to sew (mostly) confidently with knits has been the most useful expansion of my sewing skills ever! It’s what the boys want to wear, which mean I can stitch up everyday clothes for them! Ok, one more photo of J and the cuteness that is his best buddy.
Now that you are distracted by all those cute pictures, it’s time for the confession.
There are great downsides associated with being the child of a sewing mama. The biggest downside, of course, is that by virtue of the fact that your mama CAN make you things like pants and winter hats you don’t actually HAVE any of those things because they are buried on sewing mama’s To-Do list.
My poor ragamuffin children. C is literally wearing sweatpants with knee holes in them every single day and both boys have hats with holes big enough that their hair pokes out. Did I mention we are in the midst of a polar vortex in these parts? Oh yeah, it’s really, really cold in these parts. Way too cold for them to have aerated clothing.
Kid’s Clothes Week to the rescue. KCW, one hour of sewing for kids every day all week, is always my best motivator for ticking things off the old To-Do list.
Do I actually have a list you are asking? No, not yet. Do I have patterns ready and fabric set aside? I do not. None of those things. I have a will. That’s what I got.
Daniela D says
I will have to check my schedule to see if I can take your class! Love this for my little gal! It came out great! (as usual!!!!) : ) Bike It by Birch Fabrics??
Melissa Q. says
You probably know the fabric better than me! It would be so fun to have you in this class. G would be way too cute in this!
Stephanie says
So cute- I am going to sign up for your class- I think I saw a daytime slot- this would be great for my Maddie!
Melissa Q. says
Yay! I can’t wait for it.
kristin says
love this! i just made a playtime dress too and it was a really fun sew – i made mine a little different (ahem satin with a bunch of trim and maxi skirt, haha) but i immediately wanted to make it in a more comfy everyday fabric too!
the fabric is Jay Cyn Designs for Birch Organic Fabrics, Just For Fun KNITS, Bike It. 🙂
Melissa Q. says
Isn’t that the best things about the pattern? It can be a dressy satin trim beauty or an everyday wear wrestler! Thanks for the fabric info, I will add that to the post!
melintheattic says
I was there the day the fabric was shipped! It is so adorable, and your model clearly loves it. You are so talented with the clothes.
Masha says
Such a perfect combination of fabrics! The Playtime pattern is my very favorite O+S one.