Book review: Oliver + S Building Block Dress

Oliver + S Building Block Dress: A Sewing Pattern Alteration Guide by Liesl Gibson

This book is lovely! It takes a basic dress pattern and then shows you how to modify the snot out of it. Sure, I've sewn enough I could figure out the modifications without the book or I could utilize hundreds of tutorials scattered throughout the blogosphere, but this book gathers them all in one place with the trusted guidance of Liesl Gibson. The pictures and illustrations are wonderfully done, and there is plenty of inspiration in the sample dresses. I would say the instructions on the modifications are slightly less thorough than Oliver + s patterns, but it's not aimed at absolute beginners.

I made the basic bodice and skirt with added pockets at the waist seam, a bias neckline, tulip sleeves and a faced hem. It's for my oldest niece, who just turned seven, but measurements put her closer to a size eight. I hope it fits! She lives on the other side of the state. Flannel is from the JoAnn's plaiditudes line.

Totally messed up the back placket and didn't notice until way too late to fix it.

 

To reduce bulk, I surged and handstitched the hem facing.

 

The guts are so pretty with the serger!

Surprise pocket lining.

Almost forgot to put a size tag in before I packaged it up.

Sewing hasn't been very productive lately. I had a lot of fun out in the garden over the summer and then Stella started Kindergarten. I was expecting that to open up a couple hours of free time in the afternoon on my days off while Charlotte's napping, but I mostly just watch TV and nap. We're also brewing a small human over here and it's really sapping my energy. 23 weeks! More than halfway through the pregnancy and we're pretty excited over this little guy or gal.