Welcome Elizabeth to the blog today! She’s here to share her love for the Oliver + S Garden Party Dress and showcase some of the incredible variations she's created. Thank you for joining us, Elizabeth!
[Image: Elizabeth’s Garden Party Dress creations]
Hi everyone, I’m Elizabeth, and today I want to talk about my absolute favorite Oliver + S pattern—the Garden Party Dress. Before my daughters came along, I mostly dabbled in sewing cushions, patchwork, and rag dolls. But once I became a mom to two little girls (now aged 7 and 4), my focus shifted toward creating clothes for them.
One day, while visiting London with my family, we stumbled upon the iconic Liberty of London store. As someone who adores fabric, this place was a dream come true. While browsing, I spotted a mannequin wearing the most charming little girl’s dress made from Liberty Lawn fabric. It turned out to be the Tea Party Sundress from Oliver + S—a brand I hadn’t known much about until then. I couldn’t resist buying the pattern, the “Little Things to Sew†book, and some Liberty fabric to try my hand at recreating it at home. That was the beginning of my journey with Oliver + S.
From the moment I started following the pattern, I was hooked. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and I quickly fell in love with the results. Living far from London meant I had to rely on digital patterns, which I meticulously printed and pieced together before filing them away for future projects. Each new release was anticipated with excitement, and I worked my way through patterns like Jump Rope, Family Reunion, Carousel, and Fairy Tale Dresses, along with a few Swingset Skirts and Reversible Bucket Hats. However, after tallying up my creations, I realized the Garden Party Dress remains my go-to favorite!
When the Garden Party Dress pattern first came out, I fell head over heels for its delicate capped sleeves, the gathered front reminiscent of the smocked dresses I wore as a child, the elegant neckline, and its overall charm. I made my first versions using crisp blue and white Japanese lawn fabric with contrasting blue bands, lining them with white lawn. Both my daughters loved their new dresses—they could wear them to formal events or play outside in them without a care in the world.
[Image: Blue and white Garden Party Dresses]
But it wasn’t just the versatility that won me over. My girls are big fans of dressing up, whether for special occasions or just for fun. After my eldest daughter wore her Fairy Tale Dress to climb around our village castle, it became evident that we needed something more practical for her imaginative play. Enter the Everyday Elsa dress! With appliquéd snowflakes, a detachable short train, and sparkly trim on the contrast bands, this version was made from soft cotton. It was comfortable enough for everyday wear yet magical enough to make her feel like a princess.
[Image: Everyday Elsa dress]
For her sister, I created an Anna-inspired dress featuring ric rac trim and appliquéd felt decorations. I even altered the front piece to give the bodice and skirt different colors. To complete the look, I added a modified Red Riding Hood Cape—minus the hood, with a collar, pom pom trim, and a metal clasp, all crafted from corduroy. This dress is still a hit three years later, cape or no cape.
[Image: Anna-inspired dress with cape]
Over time, I’ve experimented with various fabrics, including polka dots and sunflower prints, even making blouse-length versions. The Garden Party Dress is incredibly adaptable, making it my first choice whenever I need inspiration or want to tweak a design.
The past year brought two more additions to our dress-up collection. For her school play, my older daughter wanted an angel costume. Using an old fitted bedsheet (perfect soft white cotton), I added plenty of gold trim and a tulle sparkly overskirt to create a stunning floor-length ensemble. She loved it so much!
[Image: Angel costume]
World Book Day also called for creativity. When my three-year-old expressed interest in being the little girl from "The Paper Dolls" by Julie Donaldson, we embraced the challenge. The smocked look and simple design of the Garden Party Dress translated beautifully into a green-striped version. It’s been a summer staple ever since.
[Image: Green-striped Paper Dolls-inspired dress]
While I adore many Oliver + S patterns, none compare to the Garden Party Dress when it comes to adaptability, speed of construction, and pure charm. It’s a pattern that never fails to impress, and I’m grateful for the countless memories it has helped create.
Thank you again, Elizabeth, for sharing your passion for sewing and your beautiful creations with us today!
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