general post

My favorite buttons are the really old ones that, if you’re lucky, you might find at the bottom of your button bin. They’re made of real shell, with chips and discolorations and irregularities. I love the patina that they’ve developed …

Since you asked, here are details on the fabrics we used for the spring samples. We’ve had the great pleasure of partnering with the Japanese fabric company Lecien, who supplied all our fabrics for the show. Lecien makes adorable prints, …

Well, hi there! We’re back from Houston, and I have photos to share. We debuted two new patterns at Quilt Market this fall. Both will be ready in March, and I’m really excited about them. The first one, the Sailboat …

I’m so excited to have been asked by our top distributor, Brewer, to give a talk at the School House Series at Quilt Market this year. My presentation, “Oliver + S: more than just paper dolls,” will be held at …

This post from the Superbuzzy blog gives some great tips on pre-shrinking flannel before sewing it. I’m about to try it for Dr. S’s winter Bedtime Story pjs, which will look exactly like these from our fall trunk show. She …

Sometimes accidents turn out to be not so bad.

Dan Andreasen illustrates the Oliver + S paper dolls. We were able to speak with him recently about his background and some of his most enjoyable recent projects. (Part 1 of the interview can be found here.) What do you …

Dan Andreasen, creator of the Oliver + S paper dolls, began his career as a sculptor and illustrator for American Greetings Corp. Over the past 25 years, he has illustrated more than 35 picture books. His illustrations have also been …

A few months ago when we first launched the Boutique Sewer Program, we promised we would be working to support the participants of the program. We want to build a community, linking seamstresses with customers who want to purchase handmade …

Sample rooms used to be a common sight in the garment industry. Now that most pattern-making is done overseas, sample rooms are a luxury that many designers can’t afford. I was very fortunate, in school, to do an internship with …

I’m a tactile girl. Must feel the fabrics before purchasing. Always carry my favorite pens that I can’t write without. And I’m very picky about my sketchbooks: the ink can’t bleed, but the paper can’t be too heavy either. So …

A while ago on my personal blog I wrote a post about my favorite crafting tools. Well, meet a new favorite to add to the list: the ratchet screwdriver. Technically it’s a construction tool, but I’m giving it special status. …