Today we are delighted to welcome back Brittney who blogs at Sewing for four (plus one!). You remember Brittney, right? She recently stopped by to kick off the size 5 project with a puppet show shorts round-up and sew-along. Brittney is with us today to tell us all about her favorite Oliver + S pattern.
I, like I am sure most of you, have a hard time choosing a favorite Oliver + S pattern. Each one is so perfect in its own right, and every time I sew one I think to myself, “This is my favorite one. I want to make a hundred.”
Turns out, with the Field Trip pattern I am well on my way there. I was rather surprised when I counted and there were 34 completed shirts, three pants, and one pair of shorts. Not to mention the two shirts and two shorts cut out and waiting for me to find the time to complete. This pattern has become an absolute staple in my kids wardrobe.
I bought the Field Trip Cargo Pants + Raglan T-shirt the second it was released, okay, maybe just the day, because I was so excited to be able to sew something I knew my boy (only one at the time) would love. At the time, I was struggling with making things for him because it was just so much easier and more fun to sew pretty things for my girls. So, it became a challenge. He always has been my most grateful and excited child I sew for. He would wear mama mades every day of the week if he could. It is really sweet.
Jack goes through cycles and becomes obsessed with things. Is that normal with most kids his age? It has been fun to be able to make him shirts with things he likes at the time. The top three were made using transfer paper and the bottom two were made using freezer paper and paint.
It has also been fun to include Dad on the designs. The top left is a quote from Star Wars, the top right and bottom left are the logos from some of his favorite bands and again with Star Wars on the bottom right.
Lest you think I forgot that this can also be made for girls, I made sure to add their favorite characters too.
My girls wear their tees to death, too. I am sure it has to do with the comfort of the knits.
I have even made these for new baby gifts and birthday gifts. I figure on a kid’s first birthday they don’t mind getting clothes! The left one was made for a child of a close friend who was having an airplane themed first birthday party, and the middle and right were made for my nephew. His dad is into motorcycles, so I used some of the logos from his favorite companies and even made a stencil based on a custom decal from his truck.
I love that this pattern is so easy to customize. From adding appliques to the front, shortening the sleeves, adding cuff bands to the sleeves, keeping it all one color or even (gasp!) making it as the pattern intends with contrast sleeves and a pocket.
The pants, you can’t forget the pants. I think these are one of the things I am most proud of making, still to this day. These always get a “You made these?!” comment, in a good way. I think the thing I love the most about them is the level of detail. I love, love a pattern with lots of detail. I love all the topstitching; it is so therapeutic. He loves it when I make the pocket insides and waistband facing in a special print and add a ribbon tag to the back pocket.
I can’t recommend this pattern high enough, not only for my own selfish reasons (I would love more Oliver + S boy offerings!), but it really is a great pattern to have in your arsenal for any season.
Would you like to take a trip down memory lane? Read Liesl’s original introduction to the Field Trip pattern from 2012!