Deb

Well, my all-time favorite needles are a bit pricey but so luxurious to use. Have you tried the Tulip Hiroshima needles yet? Amazingly sharp. Their embroidery needles in assorted sizes (7, 8, 9, 10) are my favorites. But I’m surprised that you can’t find ordinary steel needles at Joann! Yikes!

I’m still not clear where you’re getting stuck. Are you on page 43, step 8? If so, the inside of the placket will show for now, just like it does on the coordinating illustration. Once you’ve sewn the neckline with the neck facing you’ll turn the placket right side out again so it doesn’t show anymore. If this isn’t where you’re getting stuck, can…[Read more]

Hi Jo, Can you be more specific about what’s giving you trouble? The placket starts on page 47. Is there a particular step that’s confusing you?

Yes, do interface both pieces. You’ll want the extra structure.

What you’re seeing in that illustration is the stitching on either side of the set-in placket. Typically a set-in placket is topstitched on either side. If you’re choosing the continuous (cut-on) placket, it is traditionally topstitched only on the innermost fold. You can do it…[Read more]

I would suggest that you check the finished measurements and compare them to your boyfriend’s measurements. A muslin in an excellent idea. This post might help get you started with making adjustments. (I know it’s written for a toddler’s belly, but the technique would be the…[Read more]

Hi there.

Answering on the fly here. Yes, it looks like the interfacing is missing from that illustration, sorry. We’ll issue an errata for that.

I’m not quite sure what you mean by your second question. Do you mean both center-front pieces for View A? If so, yes. And yes, edgestitch the innermost fold. Most of the illustrations show View B,…[Read more]

I forgot that existed, @Enbee! thanks for the link.

It’s really difficult to tell from small photos, but from what I can see it looks like a dropped shoulder adjustment would be the first thing to tackle. Keep in mind that this pattern is designed to fit loosely, so don’t take too much out! And if your library doesn’t have the book it’s a great investment if you can afford it. I refer to mine all the time.

I agree that jersey might be too casual. That’s a gorgeous dress! Are you sure you want to take it apart? If so, you could use the fabric from the original bodice for part of the new bodice, like @Enbee suggests. I suspect that you could match the color and texture of the original fabric pretty closely, especially if you sent a swatch to Farmhouse…[Read more]

The instructions to convert to a gathered skirt with a straight hem begin on page 74 of the book.

Trust the instructions! The beauty of Oliver + S patterns is that sometimes it seems counterintuitive, but if you do as the instructions say the finish is always beautiful!
So, yes, the facing is stitched with the right side of the facing against the wrong side of the pyjama top. Just as in the illustration (below step 1 Attach The Facing).
Now…[Read more]

I’d suggest taking a look at Fit For Real People for this one. It will show you how to adjust the shoulders, sleeve width, etc.

Does this blog post help?

metro t-shirt keyhole modification

If you omit the placket allowances and cut your back pattern piece on the fold, then you can create any shape of slit or keyhole opening you like at the centre back and facing as shown in that blog post.
Just be aware that you need to…[Read more]

Which version of Annie are you going for? This one?

http://missnombril.m.i.pic.centerblog.net/589f9f4d.jpg

All of these are very do-able! I think you’ve got the gist of it, for sure. I hope you’ll show us when you’re done!

I’ve made a lined version (and a mini lined one for my daughter!) and it’s quite simple to do as you can just make two skirts, baste them together then attach the waistband and facings.
We don’t have a tutorial for lining this particular skirt on the Oliver + S blog but the lining the Soho Shorts tutorial is almost exactly the same…[Read more]

Does this help? If not, I’ll go back and look when I have a few minutes, shortly…

https://oliverands.com/shop/library-dress-sewing-pattern.html#tab-errata

Dupioni silk would be absolutely lovely, and I’d be tempted to swap the skirt gathering for pleats as it would pleat beautifully and then stick out very nicely.
I’ve made it with silk satin, quilting cotton and organza type silk with underlining. Every one has worked just how I’d imagined it.
I think the crispness of a shantung would be perfect!

Just a lightweight muslin would work fine. Most good fabric shops will carry multiple weights of muslin for different purposes. I usually keep several weights on hand–right now I’m developing trousers and using a heavier weight than I would use for blouses. But @lightningmcstitch is right–if you have a voile or batiste that would be fine too.…[Read more]

I’d maybe use a cotton voile or Batiste. Often you can pick up those lightweight almost lining weight cottons quite cheaply at the big box store fabric shops.
What a lucky mum and congratulations on your upcoming ‘vacation’ 🙂