Earlier this week I shared the jumpsuits I made for my daughters. I really love those jumpsuits. So much so I developed jumpsuit envy and decided the time had finally come to attempt one for myself.
I say attempt, because I was convinced I would not succeed in making something I liked or would wear. Whilst I was envious of my pre-schoolers jumpsuit, I did not actually want to look like a pre-schooler, and while I’d like to think I’d never pay attention to ‘fashion rules’ the idea that jumpsuits were only for incredibly tall people who wear high,high heels (neither of which applies to me) had definitely made me nervous.
With doubts firmly lingering, I chose my pattern and fabric with care. For the pattern I used the By Hand London Holly Jumpsuit as my starting point and for the fabric a very dark navy (looks completely black unless right next to actual black) viscose linen from Minerva Crafts. The pattern was kindly given to me as By Hand were one of our Sew Social sponsors (but there is one to giveaway a long with lots of great prizes from our other sponsors if you can make it to the end of this very long post!)
I altered the front panels of the jumpsuit to make a faux wrap v-shape, turned the darts at the waist into pleats and drafted a collar for the whole neckline the same width as the sleeve cuffs. For the lower half I added pleats on the front legs and pockets (there are tutorials for both of these hacks on the By Hand blog), I also took a good few inches of width out of the legs to make them straight rather than flared.
I think I might just be a jumpsuit convert.
Next, a much simpler hack that makes use of more of the original style, a Holly jumpsuit dress.
Again I think there is a tutorial for making a dress similar to this on the By Hand London blog, but I decided to remove the zip, fully line the bodice and add a single gathered rectangle with a placket at the centre front for the skirt section. I actually wanted to make the skirt a little fuller with side pockets but sadly ran out of fabric.
The fabric in question is a type of double gauze cotton, which is indeed a dream to sew with, but a nightmare to unpick without snagging. Originally the squares were much more obvious as the fabric was very light blue with darker blue squares, but I dyed the whole piece of fabric with an ocean blue colour to make the design a little more subtle.
So are you a jumpsuit convert too? Or perhaps you prefer a dress? Either way you can win a Holly Jumpsuit paper pattern and loads of other goodness listed below, but if entering giveaways isn’t your thing Upcraft Club is also offering all readers 20% off their order with 20SEWSOCIAL .
There will be 4 very lucky winners
Pack 1
Pack 2
Pack 3
a small piece of Liberty lawn and a few haberdashery items.
Pack 4
Enter the giveaway here: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Winners will be notified by the end of July.
Made by Toya 
Very lovely garments Toya. I like jumpsuits on me – they always make me look taller and thinner (always in navy) because there is very little of the horizontal going on. I would like to make one. I made an 80s one in animal print and it was horrid, but I have learnt my lesson now. I love the blue dress too – very timeless and summery.
Thanks Kate – now we just need some summer!
Oh I like them both so much — and I am not a jumpsuit fan. I really love that v-shape. Not sure that I have the courage to make one for myself, but I am very tempted. They look lovely on you.
Wow your version of the jumpsuit is an absolute stunner! I was a convert already, but now even more so 😉