Roller Skate Dress + Kina

I may have been stalking the Oliver & S blog, Facebook and website just a little over the last few days, waiting for the Roller Skate dress to be released.

Last week catching up with a dear friend, she told me a how her almost-8-year old wanted a new dress and she had come to her so sweetly wondering if Lisa would make her one. Pffft like I need to be asked twice! So I finished Bella's first to check the fit and next up, another in a pretty navy with white birds. The fabric I made Bella's in is a cotton from Spotlight, isn't it pretty?

True to Oliver & S patterns, the dress is designed to be beautifully finished, fully lined, but also this is definitely the easiest and quickest O+S pattern I have ever done... and I have done a few. So much so it didn't really "feel" like an O+S pattern because it didn't have those real details that normally comes with their patterns and the time it normally takes to construct them.

The pattern comes with only 2 pieces, front and back, and then a small rectangle for the button loop. The sizing is spot on (this was a size 7 with a touch longer length for Miss 7.5) and I was able to sew it up in just over an hour last night. I finished my seams with the overlocker and note if you cut the lining the same length as the outer fabric instead of the 1/2 inch shorter in the pattern, then it would be reversible.

I also finished off my first Kina in a Debbie Bliss EcoBaby Cotton in a lovely lovely Navy earlier in the week, and it even has a button on it already. I cast on the size 6 but knit the size 8 length for my slight girl. It is a little loose on the shoulders, but looking at all the other projects on Ravelry they are the same too.
I scored with the Debbie Bliss Ecobaby on eBay and snapped up a 10 ball pack for the price of 3 balls here in Australia. With quite a few balls left over my Mum has now snuck off with some and a copy of the Kina pattern to knit one for Eva while I work on a Granny's Favourite for Bella in long sleeves for the colder months. Only the sleeves to go and then it will be ready to wear.

Ravelry link