Here’s the next episode in the “My Favorite Oliver + S Pattern†series. For those who aren’t familiar, this is where we ask Oliver + S fans to talk about their favorite patterns, sharing what they love about them and what they’ve learned along the way. Sometimes, they even show off multiple versions of the same pattern they’ve made. Today, we’re featuring Emily and Ashley from Frances Suzanne. Take it away, ladies!
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**Déjà vu Anyone?**
Yes, we’ve already shared our favorite Oliver + S patterns before, but since there are two of us, we were given the special privilege of choosing two favorites! Given how indecisive we can be, narrowing it down to just two was no easy feat.
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**Our Signature Style: Puppet Show & Music Class**
We decided to go with the patterns that best represent our personal style, which just so happen to be the Puppet Show and Music Class patterns. Let’s just say we adore both of these designs, and they really capture what we love in sewing.
To give you a bit of context, we’ve made the Puppet Show Tunic, Dress, and Shorts multiple times, but there was one small hiccup with the Music Class Blouse + Skirt combo. How could we call it a favorite if we hadn’t even sewn the skirt yet? (*Spoiler alert: we eventually got around to it.*)
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**The Music Class Blouse: Timeless Elegance**
First up is the Music Class Blouse, which has that timeless charm reminiscent of what we wore growing up—but with a modern twist. This blouse is a must-have for any little girl’s wardrobe. Each time we’ve sewn it, we’ve added piping to the yoke and collar to give it that extra pop. This time, though, we went for a more subtle approach by using the same fabric for the piping as the blouse itself. While it gave the blouse a polished finish, it was a bit disappointing not to see more contrast.
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**Blouse Details You’ll Love**
This pattern offers two views—short sleeves with a classic collar for spring/summer, and long sleeves with a band collar for fall/winter. We absolutely love all the intricate details that make this pattern stand out. One of our favorites is the small tucks on the front and back of the blouse. The long-sleeve version includes cuffs and a placket, giving it that professional, finished look.
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**The Placket Challenge**
As experienced sewists, we’re always looking for ways to improve. On our first attempt with the sleeve band placket, we’d give ourselves a “needs improvement†grade. While it wasn’t terrible, we knew there was room for growth. Thankfully, the sewing community came through for us! We found a fantastic tutorial by Nicole that helped us nail it the next time around.
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**The Music Class Skirt: A New Love**
Now, let’s talk about the skirt. For a long time, we had this irrational aversion to skirts. Yes, you read that right. About three years ago, our dear friend—a sewing Jedi master—pulled out her Music Class pattern and suggested we try it. Let’s just say Emily was more diplomatic about it, but I’m pretty sure I wrinkled my nose in mild disgust. Dresses are for little girls, skirts are for ladies—end of story.
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**Breaking the Rules**
Fast forward a year and a half later, and we finally caved, buying the pattern purely for the blouse and its gorgeous collar. Spoiler alert: our sewing skills have come a long way since then. We now realize skirts are adorable on little girls and are surprisingly practical during potty training. Plus, they’re usually quicker to sew, which is a huge bonus.
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**Our First Attempt: A Success**
For our first skirt, we stuck to the pattern exactly, and we loved the result. It was simple, sweet, and perfectly aligned with the spirit of the pattern. However, our winterized version took things in a different direction. We used a heavier fabric—possibly bouclé or tweed—and while it worked, it didn’t fully capture the essence of the pattern. The thickness of the fabric meant we had to use gathers instead of pleats, which was a bummer because pleats and pockets together are just too cute for words. Still, our niece loved the whole outfit, so mission accomplished!
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**Looking Ahead**
Currently, we’re debating what to do with a blue version of the skirt fabric we originally planned for the winterized Puppet Show Shorts. There are just too many details in the shorts, and we’re worried the seams might overwhelm the fabric. Any advice from fellow sewists would be greatly appreciated!
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**A Nod to the Past**
For those who want a trip down memory lane, here’s Liesl’s original introduction of the Music Class Skirt from 2010. And if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out some examples of the Music Class Skirt in action!
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*P.S. If you’re reading this and want to share your own favorite Oliver + S pattern, we’d love to hear from you!*
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