Oh, how I love this dress!  I loved sewing the dress, I love the dress on the hanger, I love the dress on Stella.

The pattern is the Oliver + S Croquet Dress. I made it in size 6 for Stella, and truly think that it is one of my favourite makes for her. The fabric is from Darn Cheap Fabrics, and is a very lightweight cotton that looks a lot like a chambray but is actually finer. It is cross-woven like chambray, with blue threads one direction and white the other, then it has that lovely broderie anglaise style of embroidery along one selvage.

I used the border along the hem of the skirt and the hem of the sleeves. Other than looking great, it saved on hemming! As with all of the Oliver + S patterns that I have used, the instructions were clear and comprehensive and all pieces fitted together exactly as they should.

There are two options for the front, one with a little collar and the one that I chose with a band with some central gathers. A small detail that really adds up to sweetness. The sleeves ease in nicely to the bodice, and the bodice back closes with one button and a hand-worked thread loop.

There is elastic in the dropped waist, but it doesn’t pull it in particularly tightly. The waist casing is cut on the bias, as is the decorative front bow.

When she first tried it on, Stella assumed that it was too big for her because the waistline wasn’t at her waist! Since I have reassured her that a dropped waist is “the style” she has been very happy to both model and wear her new dress.

A definite win for all concerned! Hooray!