Pattern review: Oliver + s lullaby layette jacket

Another Oliver + s pattern review. What can I say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The lullaby layette set has this jacket, a pair of pants, a bodysuit and a shirt. And it's equally cute on boys or girls as a whole bunch of bloggers proved when the pattern first came out.

I made the jacket along with the free baby leggings pattern from go to patterns for my newest niece. When it was passed around at the baby shower my aunt gave me an A+ (and that's a big deal because she used to teach home economics). Woohoo! It was so adorable that I made a second jacket to match for Charlotte to wear this winter in a 12-18 month size.  

Pink and white strips on the reverse. Oh, it's reversible, by the way.

 

I added this little detail to the leggings. It was inspired on pinterest by this, and it added a nice touch that made it into an outfit. I made the leggings from this ponte de roma from Girl Charlee. Sewing with this stuff is awesome and it has great recovery, but some leggings I made for Stella from it have pilled from the dryer (you're not actually supposed to dry it. Says it right on the website and I chose to roll the dice. Wah wah waaaaah).

 

And here's Char in her jacket. It's the perfect weight for our mild winters.

I didn't really need to adjust the pattern or the instructions for sewing the jacket out of a knit instead of a woven, but my pink flowered knit didn't have much stretch. On the second jacket, I interfaced both pieces for added stability under the snaps. Here's a tip for sewing on the bias tape that I meant to apply to the second jacket but forgot: In the first step of sewing the bias tape onto the jacket outer use bobbin thread that matches the jacket lining. Mine had quite a contrast, and while theoretically it should be covered by the bias tape when it's wrapped around to the lining, the bias tape could be peeled back and expose the seam. Hope that makes sense!

In other news, these girls are becoming friends! And, the little one can now climb onto the dining chairs and the piano bench at my mom's house.

 



And then this happens and I'm reminded that they aren't good friends yet. Sigh. (And yes, she did push her sister off the bench with her elbow.)


Pattern: Oliver + s Lullaby Layette Jacket

Sizing: I made a 3-6 month for the niece (pictured) and a 12-18 month for Charlotte. I can't speak about how the little one fits yet, but Charlotte looks pretty sweet in hers! Although the flowered knit I used didn't stretch very much, if I make it again in knit, I might slim down the body a little.

Material used: All from Joanns. Pink flowered (100% cotton so not much recovery) is really soft with a nice weight and isn't piling in the wash. Pink striped was a red tag clearance buy a while ago and has some spandex in it. It is piling a little, but not bad. Kona navy woven for bias tape.

 

Notions needed: Three snap sets (I used kamsnaps, which I love because they are so easy to put in and look nice. I've also used sew ins and snap pliers with metal snaps before, but kamsnaps are by far my favorite. I bought mine here). On the second jacket I interfaced both the outer and lining pieces (the pattern only has you interface one of the pieces) because it seemed like it needed it. The snaps started out pretty sticky, but are getting less so with use.

Appropriately rated: Yes. Rated advanced beginner, and instructions are terrific and up to par with other Oliver + s patterns I've tried.

Time spent: Pretty quick! Just a few evenings and quicker the second time. It could have been faster if I didn't make my own bias tape. Sigh. It just feels so much nicer than the premade stuff and it was going to be rubbing on baby necks.

Comments: I love how this turned out! It looks so cute and it's reversible. So. stinking. cute. I'm looking forward to making up the bodysuit and shirt before Char grows out the size range, and the pieces work for little boys and girls so this pattern set is going to get a lot of mileage.

I've linked up this post at Straight Grain's Sew and Show. I've no idea how to add the button.