Completed: Eliza's Easter Ensemble

Details:
Pattern: Oliver+S Music Class Blouse and Skirt
Size: 18-24mo (shirt) / 2T skirt
Fabric: 100% linen (shirt) / September Light by Lida Enche for In the Beginning fabrics 2011 (skirt) -- both bought at Waechter's Fine Fabrics
Modifications: None
Fit: Perfect
Pros: 

• The shoulder pleat detail is gorgeous, as is the pleating at the front and back bodice pieces.
• Oliver+S patterns have an outstanding reputation for good reason. I just bought three more (at 75% off, no less)** because they are That Good.
• All the notches fit where they were supposed to. All the raw edges lined up where they were supposed to. I'm not sure that's ever happened to me before.
• The design of the pieces are classic and precious. 
• I learned new skills of hemming (I'll always baste a guide line from now on) and gathering (I've never gathered with a row at 3/8" and 5/8" with the stitch line at 1/2". Wow.)
• The skirt took two hours. That's it. And I'm slow as molasses in January. (Or April, which is apparently still winter in these parts.)

Cons:
There aren't any cons to the pattern, but I have a few cons for me:

• Next time I'll use snaps. The linen pulled as I was cutting the button holes. There's nothing worse than completing an entire garment that takes HOURS and then having the fabric pull when doing the LAST step. Button holes. Gah.
• As much as I love linen in theory, it just wrinkles too easily. Linen/Rayon blend would be a good alternative.
• Collars with plackets are so hard for me. Why? I don't know.
• I decided to gather the side skirt panels because I was tired of pleating and figured the fabric was too busy to show that detail.
• The placket looks uneven in the photos, but it didn't look like that in real life. Hmm. If I wanted to, I'm sure I could adjust the buttons and fix it, but I don't want to. The yoke seams line up fine.

I'm making basic knit vests and bow ties for the boys. Tonight. I'd best get off here and get to it!

**Unfortunately, at the time of this posting Waechter's was already closed for business and was not filling online orders. They're currently attempting to fix the online hosting to reflect their closing.