I really do mean "Olive" and S.
I have had the good fortune this past year to have the most fabulous neighbors move into the house across the street from the shop, and since I live next door to the shop, they are my neighbors as well!
My neighbors are very young and very hip and very fun to spy on: they are always getting new rugs delivered or playing on the front lawn or walking their dogs.
They have a cutie patootie little baby girl named Olive, and Olive's very hip, very crafty mama (also known as my neighbor Francesca) has cottoned to the Tea Party Dress pattern by Oliver+S.
Here's a photo of Olive:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMwsnQXZyJ6EudXlKyIx3MEaqd-AuW0YlCWw4z8JtlYgUboKtLNUHZnEJcK-T8o86O9Yo2eN7V4sl62zcv0lokotYeoIRAr8UVEjrf4hoA8ZQBOXh-ale2Thbhpm1kclvKz3utHwngzs2/s400/Olive.jpg)
(See what I mean with the cutie patootie?)
Francesca came into the shop one day to buy the Tea Party Sundress pattern, then walked across the street to put Olive down for a nap and came back a couple of hours later with this finished dress made from fabric in her stash:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcLj_o6gFDUKzLORdvMHpMJlRuQRFiKzV8Yuxeag9eKhU8t44soKBPC25oy_uaomyCi23ZqWvZzXQFHZf2U5iMyme7yJ1fFzNykD6u8dV0w-rdBPNlqqBH6MBtHGTcydvMa9mmWf5ZKjQ/s400/TeaParty%231.jpg)
Didn't she do a GREAT job?
(It should be mentioned that Francesca is very new to sewing: her success with this pattern is such a testament to the great directions in the Oliver+S patterns!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfn3VMGUjQVm09yRB45AIHBOhaJ6tD6ldoa2AdoUFAdaXutVIZtzq-pmBAX9g9BYTA82tAjtz3l98A9aLtoS2lclEzVst1hKNgEJKyaHn-0EREGFMqnLsQVJMBXmrg4Uh8h1a34TTvjqx/s400/TeaPartyDress%232.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLMIgDjZJZbAON7i2FPW1W5cHl2Hlvuvnho8xX2EFwZX9iZhp2BeO-fFZX6uOzMTyJWdi4UbQEibJ5luJbOkgC84WL0v6cz03t6iGK8LgZwHLDVDK3cnVRI3lLmIt0sJENfajM-VMop3c/s400/TeaPartyDress%233.jpg)
And then, just before Easter, Francesca cranked out another dress for Olive, made from this fabric:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYBdyBpyzhn4CIMPc4iTrEKUnr8OWOZeHjVNyjJecbrM50M9XWaXAvI0Zu5ZeOfW2ba8r8cl_YlJ1uoaeyQW5vxO_hcZ_tAAupKVy-zO4v6VGxtMfk0_yVirdnLmmabTiSinBz3QBSgGf/s400/OliveDress%231.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUBUPXH65OJwsbOhTAmL_Madn-Lif97UA0HUVqxxcTHOph0rLhYKD0Ni895hTKOT8NGJMmfXO-heE6fpNxwSFaTbMr-3TUONZ8-I5uR_zsc_Om_GujXoWhnLjVTVZJpoJe0a8-FEz19cy/s400/OliveDress%232.jpg)
Francesca kept it simple: just one fabric, no piping, and some cute little buttons.
She said the buttonholes were really not hard at all: you just need to make a couple "practice buttonholes" before you do the real thing.
I love how the striped fabric in this dress goes horizontally in the bodice and vertically in the skirt, showing off the design to its best advantage.
And I believe she only needed a yard of fabric, which would make this dress under $10.
Olive is almost 18 months old, but Francesca made a size 3T, I believe...
(Correct me if I am wrong, Francesca: it is 8 o'clock on a Friday night and the Sewing Lounge gals have made me Miami Vice drinks for my birthday so it is entirely possible that I may be remembering wrong!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mm4_JPAfkclLfqErBO7nvSOFW2qtLpfJovy2TuLtxow79sEft3NywrVH2iBL_-11TpUGbGWTQf78YSyBAJokLQh0ih-FdGuf4VzH03Mt4uIN60Qm3-w7O-UKRAqAqDv3udJn0wAzTrAw/s400/OliveDress%233.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKyTtVj8go-bv-KMgTSuzzOUtObd7IqL_Zft_45jZCucJtpNvOXxsLHYHiJ3mrUaAIUbXBvSO3JbGJa5IkcW-t7-h3FvellKRD7mlJsla1BFe7rPRovVY9hnic02dhyphenhyphenHw4RZEO9dw2U7x/s400/OliveDress%234.jpg)
Great job, Francesca: not only are you an excellent neighbor, but you make cute clothes AND cute babies!!!
XO,
Rhea
4 comments:
Cute-cute dress! I just bought my first "Oliver+S, the little bubble frock, can't wait to get started. Love your blog and I wish I could live next door to your shop too... :)
Thank you Rhea! You were right in the yardage...a little less than 1 yard. However, 2T was the size I used, although she will probably grow out of it soon. I think I will try the bubble frock next...it's just too cute! xoxo
Oh...and just to confirm...the pattern was super straight forward and very easy to follow! And...Miami Vice? Sounds good!
Awww, man!
I knew it was 2T!
And you would have LOVED the Miami Vices... right up your alley *wink*
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