Here’s what Gail has to say about it:

I love shirt dresses, but they can be hard to find in ready-to-wear for anything but a rectangular figure.  So I was thrilled to find this Lisette pattern, enabling me to make my own, to fit my curvy frame!  I have to admit I copied this dress pretty much to the letter from another seamstress in the Lisette Flickr group, Julieree.  I’m a big fan of seersucker for spring and summer, and when I saw her dress in the group pool, I had to make one just like it!

The pattern was a dream to work from.  I used the size for my chest measurement, and graded out at the hips to the next size up.  In actuality, my hips are two sizes larger than my waist according to the body measurements on the pattern envelope, but I didn’t want to make the skirt appear too A-line, and having used Lisette patterns in the past, I knew there is usually a little extra ease.  Worked out perfectly!  Now I’m enjoying daydreaming about fabric choices for the next one!

Since fashion these days is all about prints–and especially mixing prints–I wrote a little piece for the magazine about successfully combining prints in your own sewing. In the article I provide some tips for mixing and matching prints in ways that will work for everyone, even if you’ve never tried this look. I hope it will help you to combine printed fabrics in ways that are fun and unique to you and your own tastes.

We had fun with the photos for the piece. To illustrate the suggestions I give, I was able to put together several different print combinations for the same pattern, the Lisette Passport Dress and Jacket, to show how print selections can really change the character of a single style.

Sew News has generously provided the article as a free PDF  on their website. Hop over there to download your copy. And then start mixing some prints!

Here’s what she has to say about them:

I saw a pair of floral shorts in a store last year, so when the Souvenir pattern arrived I sewed up the shorts with some flowery home-decor Denyse Schmidt fabric. I think the patterned fabric adds a bit of punch to an otherwise casual outfit. So far, I’ve been wearing them with a  t-shirt for hanging out in the garden or at the beach, but I think you could also dress them up them with a lacy top or a cardigan for Sunday brunch.  I love that they zip up the side, and have little pleats, which means the front has a smooth, flattering fit.  It’s always hard to find time for “selfish sewing”, but these shorts sew up pretty quickly, so I’m already planning another pair in bright blue twill.

I think they look great on her. Thanks for showing us how you wear your style, Hilary!

Jeanne made this adorable version of the dress (and don’t you love the shoes she has paired with it!) and has this to say about it:

Since the first Diplomat Dress turned out so nicely, I decided to make another one using a smaller scale Lotta Jansdotter print. This time around, I made View B and added short sleeves to the dress. During our recent preview of summer weather here in New England, I paired the dress with cranberry-colored t-straps for an added punch of color. This dress has already proven to be very versatile given its seasonless nature.  I’ve worn this dress with tights, boots, and layered a cardigan on top on colder days. Once I find a pattern that I love, I tend to reuse it over and over again, so I’m positive I will be sewing more Diplomat Dresses soon.

I’m glad to hear that, Jeanne. It looks great on you, and I’m eager to see what our workshop participants make for themselves in the coming weeks, too!

Here’s what she has to say about this one:

I adore the simple clean lines of the Diplomat Dress.  Given its vintage-inspired silhouette and appealing updated look, I was thrilled to get to work on sewing this dress.  I choose to make the mini-dress (View C) with the ¾ sleeves using a bold print by Lotta Jansdotter.  I was a bit hesitant of using this fabric given the scale of the print, but even though the pattern on the fabric doesn’t match up exactly at the center seam, I love the result.

This has become my go-to-party dress.  I’ve already worn it to a number of evening work-related events, receptions, and parties. Every time I wear it, I receive lovely compliments since it is the most flattering dress I have currently hanging in my closet.

Here is what Dorie has to say about her tunic:

I chose the portfolio tunic because I loved its modern shape, and the interesting construction of the sleeves and pockets.  I’m on the short side (5′-2″), and I know that the lengths of most dress patterns are way too long for me, which made me think that the tunic length could probably even work well for me as a dress.  I used an egg blue linen fabric.  I had thought about using a voile print, but decided that the unique shape and details of the tunic would be more visible in a solid.  The linen feels good over leggings for spring, and if our spring ever stops acting like summer, I’ll wear the tunic styled with the leggings, boots, and a bright scarf.  I think the tunic will work well on its own for those really hot days when you don’t event want to think about how you used to wear an extra piece of fabric around your neck.

Dorie also styled her tunic for summer, and you can see it over on her blog post.

This dress is a dove-gray color, and I might look for something similar next time I’m at the fabric store. I plan to play up the seams with heavy top-stitching in a lighter shade. It could make a nice Easter dress, although I’ll certainly wear it for lots of other events as well.

What are your sewing plans for this spring? Are you starting to think about Easter sewing?

The idea for this bag started long before I launched Oliver + S or Lisette. It was the second pattern I developed for a sewing class at Purl, back when I was teaching beginning sewing and wanted a good pattern we could use for the class. I wasn’t really inspired by the patterns that were available, so Joelle encouraged me to develop one of my own. The result was actually two patterns: the Day in the Park Convertible Backpack (a few copies of the pattern are still available at Purl; once they’re gone, that’s it!) and this one, which we never published.

Over the years I’ve thought about it now and then, and I’ve come up with ideas to improve on the bag and to add to it. So when it came time to develop our first Lisette bag pattern, this was my chance to finish the pattern the way I had envisioned it.

The pattern includes two different sizes and shapes. There’s the really big version, which is the one I’m carrying in this photo (because New Yorkers don’t have cars and need to carry everything they need for the entire day along with them, we like big bags) and the smaller size (for those of you who don’t carry as much, or who can leave some of your stuff in the car).

Each size has two different styles. The first (the one I’m carrying, above) is the sweet, feminine style with a big tie that cinches up the top and makes a big bow. The straps become the “belt loops” for the tie, but since the tie is removable you could always take it off and use the bag by itself, without the tie, if you wanted.

Then there’s the more tailored version, which features a pocket on the front. It has a clean look, but you can use a contrast fabric for the binding at the pocket edge, and of course you can have lots of fun with the button. So you can make this version as fancy or as minimalist as you like.

Anyway, inside each bag we’ve included a nice zippered security pocket for your valuables as well as a divided patch pocket for your cell phone, etc. Both pockets are easy to sew and add a lot of nice details to the bag. And the lining itself can, of course, be a fun fabric. I used the Little Lisette firefly print inside mine and love it.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention the cosmetic case/pencil case! It’s really cute because it sort of mimics the shape of the bags, and it comes with the bag pattern. I especially like the tabs at the ends. They sort of hide the zipper and make it easy to open and close.

So which bag are you going to make, and which fabrics will you use?

I was inspired to design this dress when I found myself collecting all sorts of images of dresses with a similar silhouette. All those images, both vintage and contemporary, went up on my inspiration boards so I could spend some time studying them to determine what it was about them that I liked.

There were several features that were especially compelling. First of all, I think the silhouette is flattering to a variety of figures because its gentle, flattering lines skim the body but still gives you a nice shape. In other words, it’s a feminine, figure-flattering dress. The bodice is fitted and slim through the waist, while the A-line skirt can camouflage hips or give the illusion of curves, depending on your figure type.  This dress actually emphasizes and enhances an hourglass shape.

My favorite part of this style is the yoke seam. We constructed the pattern so that the lines are very clean and simple, and to do that we moved all of the shaping, including the bust darts, into the seams. This gives the dress a contemporary look, and it also gives you a great opportunity to play with the topstitching along the seams. I emphasized the seams on my navy linen version, above, by topstitching them in a turquoise thread to match my favorite shoes and turquoise necklace. When I made the maxi-dress version, below, I downplayed the topstitching by stitching it in a matching thread so it didn’t detract from the dramatic print.

I also like the neckline on this dress. It’s a nice, open shape with a little notch detail that deepens it a bit while still remaining demure and sweet.

The pattern comes with three different views, so you can mix and match them to sew your own style. Choose from sleeveless, short sleeves, or three-quarter sleeves. And select the length you prefer: from a mini-dress, just above the knee, or the more dramatic maxi-dress length. For my Palm Springs version (the maxi-dress, above) I added the three-quarter sleeves to the maxi dress length because I wanted a caftan look.

I hope you’ll like this dress as much as I do. I’d love to see how you wear it!

The dress and top are a relaxed, pull-on style with no closures. The raglan sleeves, square neckline and yoke are all fun details. I love the way we clean-finished the yoke. It’s a fun, easy style to sew, and I’m a big fan of the dropped-waist dress style, which I’m happy to report has been making its way back into fashion. (I’m planning to wear this dress at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington, tomorrow where it’s expected to snow. Here’s hoping I don’t freeze!)

The shortened top version of this pattern is my “go-to” blouse pattern this summer. It sews together quickly, and the relaxed fit is perfect for our ridiculously hot, humid summers here in New York. I’ll be making it in our printed lawns so I’ll have a variety of comfortable tops to choose from. I made sure the hem at the sleeves was really wide to give it a little weight and so it would be a visible detail when made up in semi-sheer fabrics like this, too. You’ll see what I mean when you make it yourself.

And of course the shorts. They’re short, but not too short. I think they have a little bit of a vintage appeal, don’t you? But they’re completely modern, too. The waistband sits below the waist, a little lower than most of our other styles so far, and the wide yoke is flattering to your backside, if you know what I mean. (It’s a little like well-placed back pockets on jeans. Have you read this blog post about “Mom jeans”?) The front pleats give a little extra room through the hips and thigh, and the side zipper keeps the silhouette looking clean (and makes the shorts much easier to sew than a traditional fly). See? I never dreamed I’d be posting photos of myself wearing shorts on the internet. Goodness.

And one last thing: While I was sewing my Souvenir Dress a couple of weeks ago it occurred to me that I could make a similar dress for S by lengthening the Oliver + S Class Picnic Blouse by a couple of inches and adding a ruffle for the hem. We even took a photo together for you. (See? Mother-daughter dressing? I’m finally there.)

So there you have it: two mother-daughter designs, in one season.