Two New Styles Now Available

Today marks the launch of our two new styles—the Jump Rope Dress and the School Days Jacket and Coat. 

Over the last couple weeks on the blog we’ve highlighted the numerous features these two patterns provide. 

The unisex, fully-lined School Days Jacket and Coat pattern can be made as a raincoat using oilcloth or a laminate or as a winter coat by sewing with a heavier fabric (wool melton would make a good choice) and including the optional, removable insulated lining. 

The Jump Rope Dress can be made in two very different styles— a short-sleeve style with a slightly dropped waist and a self-sash and a simpler long-sleeve, A-line version. 

The positive responses is already pouring in. The School Days Jacket and Coat is the Sewing Examiner's pattern pick of the week ("Designer Liesl Gibson and company have outdone themselves again with this sweet and wholesome pattern"), and one very busy blogger who has already sewn two wonderful Jump Rope Dresses--one in view A and another in view B--reports that "these patterns have given me so much confidence in my sewing ability."

We think both you and your customers will love these new patterns—and the versatility and number of options they provide you. We can't wait to see the creations begin showing up in the Flickr group shortly.

Meet Pearl, Our New Paper Doll

Last week on the blog we introduced the newest member of our paper doll family—Pearl. 

Based on the popular spool pets of the 1930s, Pearl's front and back can be cut out and glued to a spool to make an adorable standing animal companion for the Oliver + S paper dolls. 

For a limited time, and while supplies last, we are providing copies of the Pearl postcard to all wholesale customers with orders. Cut Pearl out, glue the front and back to a Gutermann spool, and stand Pearl up on the counter next to your register. Pearl will make an excellent point of sale promotion and will help drive interest in the patterns.

New Free Pattern Download

Last month we released our newest free downloadable pattern, the very popular Popover Sundress. Originally published last Spring in Sew Hip magazine in the UK, this pattern has become a favorite of devoted Oliver + S followers. We're pleased that we've been able to make it available as a free download. 

Many of our more savvy retailers used our last free pattern—the Lazy Days Skirt—as a way of introducing quilting customers to garment sewing and introducing new customers to the Oliver + S brand. Why not do the same with this new, free pattern? We would be happy to have you print copies for your customers and distribute them in your shop. Chances are it will drive some fabric sales for you.

As a little inspiration for you and your customers, here’s a Popover Sundress that we love. This seamstress selected a double gauze fabric from Heather Ross’s Far Far Away line and decided to make the dress reversible. Very lovely work. And this  Popover Sundress won a blue ribbon at the state fair! 

Distributor Update

We are pleased to announce that Oliver + S patterns are now being distributed by Rhinetex, the premier European distributor of quilting and sewing supplies. This new relationship will provide additional ordering convenience for our wholesale customers in the European Union.

Here in North America, we have stopped making new styles and additional backlist items available through Brewer. Our patterns continue to be available through all other U.S. distributors, and we will gladly set up accounts for customers no longer able to purchase through Brewer. Visit our wholesale page for information.

Blogroll

This month's blogroll focuses onback-to-school sewingwith Oliver + S.

• We had never considered this before, but we like the idea a lot. Here are a couple school uniforms that have been sewn from our Tea Party Sundress pattern: a very nice navy version with a restrained contrast in the piping and a plain khaki version with a special, secret facing 
• Here’s a very elegant Tea Party Sundress that has been made for an upcoming school benefit 
• This sweet and feminine Birthday Party Dress would fit the bill for a special school performance  
• And this Two Plus Two top would be fun to wear to school on any day of the week. (Notice the great mixing of two designer's fabrics on this piece. It's a perfect illustration of our "Be Eclectic" principle of fabric selection.) 
• Summer may be over, and playtime may be more limited now that school has started, but we absolutely had to highlight this outfit. We’re so happy to see that dads sew too. And that a Tea Party Playsuit can make you play better! Who knew?

For More Information

Email: information@oliverands.com
Website: www.oliverands.com
Phone: (866) 231-9639