Let\u2019s hear from four Oliver + S fans. I reached out to a few sewists who made and posted photo mosaics to tell us a bit about their work. I asked them to reflect a little on their sewing in 2016. What were their accomplishments, new skills learned, what they were most proud of, and any personal favorites. Thinking ahead to 2017, I also asked them to talk about their sewing goals for 2017. Here\u2019s what they had to say.<\/p>\n First up is Sarah<\/a> who is known as sberseth<\/a> on Flickr.<\/em><\/p>\n 2016 Accomplishments: I sewed a lot more for myself this year. I made a few tanks, several pairs of shorts and this fall I made a Woodland Stroll cape<\/a> which I love! I also sewed a lot of dresses for my two girls, most of which were Oliver + S!<\/p>\n 2016 New Skills Learned: I sewed with knits for the first time using the Oliver + S Playtime dress<\/a>. I would love to continue to sew more knits this year and the Playtime dress is a really great pattern to help me “stretch” my knit skills.<\/p>\n 2016 What I\u2019m proud of: I work in a professional environment as an engineer. When I wear my Woodland Stroll cape to work I always get a lot compliments and people are shocked to learn that I made it.<\/p>\n 2016 Personal favorite(s): I made my girls matching bumblebee costumes<\/a> for Halloween and they are two of my favorite things I made this year. It just made me happy to see my two bumblebees running around!<\/p>\n 2017 Sewing Goals: I am planning on using the Building Block Dress book<\/a> to design and sew a few dresses. In addition I’d like to use some of my fabric stash before buying more fabric.<\/p>\n Thank you Sarah!<\/em><\/p>\n We are now moving along to Laura<\/a> who is known as @drlbennett<\/a> on Instagram.<\/em><\/p>\n 2016 Accomplishments: This was the first year I did any serious garment sewing. (I started garment sewing in 2015 with the School Bus T-shirt<\/a> and self-drafted baby leggings.) <\/p>\n 2016 New Skills Learned: I did my first garment lining, with the Tea Party Dress<\/a> and Romper, and the Lisette B6183<\/a>. It wasn’t nearly as scary as I expected!<\/p>\n 2016 What I\u2019m proud of: I’m very proud that, with all of my daughter’s (age 2.5) possessions, she now says, “Who made this for me?” I’ve made enough of her wardrobe that she assumes that everything comes from someone she knows!<\/p>\n 2016 Personal favorite(s): While I loved the Tea Party dress I made my daughter for Easter, she only wore it that one time, and never again. I like that I’m figuring out how to sew workhorse items that will be staples for both me and her. If I make her items purple (her favorite color), they’re much more likely to be a hit! She adores the purple dress that I hacked from the School Bus T-shirt pattern (and then appliqu\u00e9d her favorite white kitty onto), and it makes me happy that something I made her is put back on the moment it comes out of the dryer.<\/p>\n 2017 Sewing Goals: I’d like to make a good portion of my daughter’s and my wardrobes. (Half the trick here is to not be seduced into buying RTW items.) I want to really master fitting the Bistro Dress<\/a> to my body, and make several staple dresses from the pattern to wear to the office.<\/p>\n Thanks so much Laura!<\/em><\/p>\n Next up we have Hilde<\/a> who is known as iandvi<\/a> on Instagram and @iandvi<\/a> on Flickr.<\/em><\/p>\n In 2016, I finally managed to make more time for sewing and I\u2019m pleased with the amount of clothes I made for my kids, most of them Oliver + S patterns of course. For instant gratification, I use what I call the basic patterns like the Playtime, Roller Skate<\/a>, and Ice Cream<\/a> dress, they are quick to make and get worn a lot. My daugther has also reached an age where she has an opinion on what she likes when I sew for her and I started to involve her in the process of picking out fabrics and patterns: sometimes kids can surprise you with their choices and combinations, in a good way!<\/p>\n I also sewed the more fancy patterns like the Fairy Tale dress<\/a>, the Jump Rope dress<\/a> and the Art Museum trousers + vest<\/a> for the first time and I really enjoyed those a lot! By using these patterns, I learned to sew welt pockets with a different and more accurate technique than the ones I sewed some years ago, they look so much better! I also learned to sew a placket and I sewed with knits for the first time, now I really don\u2019t remember why I was so afraid of sewing with knits before, it\u2019s so easy!<\/p>\n I\u2019m especially proud of the Jump Rope dress and the Art Museum trousers and vest, they are my favorites!<\/p>\n My sewing goals for 2017 are to keep sewing clothes for my kids as much as possible, try to sew some trousers for my girl that fit well (After School pants<\/a>) and sew more with knits (School Bus t-shirts<\/a>). I received the Building Block Dress book as a Christmas gift and my idea is not only to adapt the pattern that comes with the book, but any other pattern I own, let\u2019s see if I finally manage to do it!<\/p>\n Thank you Hilde!<\/em><\/p>\n And lastly we have Maria<\/a> who is known as mariajsanroman<\/a> on Flickr.<\/p>\n 2016 accomplishment: I’ve sewn things for me that I actually wear!![\"2016](\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2016mosaicsT-760x758.jpeg\")
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\n2016 new skill learned: Sewing with knits for the first time.
\n2016 what I’m proud of: My family! Or was it all about sewing…?
\n2016 personal favorite: Gallery Tunic<\/a><\/p>\n
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