4.11.20

Beachy Jumpsuit

I don't know why it has taken me so long to get on the jumpsuit bandwagon.  Possibly because this is the sort of clothing I used to wear in my teens / twenties...you know, not taking on the fads the second time around.  Anyway, I should have got there sooner because I love wearing this jumpsuit.


There are plenty of jumpsuit patterns to choose from, but non of them was quite what I wanted.  I thought it would be just as easy to start with a trouser patter that I already had, and make the required changes, as it would be to buy a new pattern and make alterations.  Both options would require a muslin.

I didn't want patch pockets, because they never seem to sit right once you fill them up.  I didn't want in-seam pockets, because they flap about.  I wanted curved inset pockets, which would necessitate a waist seam, at least in the front.  

I started with the Jalie 3676 Vanessa Pants, and made the following changes

- I added an inch to each side seam (ie total 4" added ease)
- I lowered the crotch by 3 cm (just watch me flit between metric and imperial)
- I added 5 cm to the waist height, which is the same height as the Jalie Vanessa waistband.  I kept the back darts, extending them up to the new waist seam.
- I increased the height of the pocket pieces 5 cm to match.  I also made the pockets a bit deeper, as the ones in my Vanessa pants are a bit shallow for my phone
- I created a bib shape for the front and back, with a bit of trial and error.  The side curves on the bibs are quite low.  They are actually are as high as I can make them without having to add a side opening, being pear shaped and all.
- the tops of the bibs are folded over.  The side edges are finished with self-made bias binding.
- the straps are just rectangular tubes.  They might have looked better a bit skinnier.  I went with ties instead of buttons, because I thought the button holes would drag with the weight of the jumpsuit in this linen.
- I cropped the leg length and sewed a deep double fold hem that can be turned up as a cuff.  Not that the cuffs stayed up on my walk to the beach.  I might have to stitch them up.






The fabric is a beautiful linen twill from Tessuti.  It has a thin white stripe running through at about 5 cm intervals, but that is not showing up in the photos.

It turns out that having a big red blob in the middle of your photo creates some fun filter effects, so here are some more photos for you.








9 comments:

CAN I said...

Lovely color! Isn’t it nice to get what you want in clothes? Pockets, pockets that actually work, hems where you want them... thanks for sharing such an inspirational project

Jojo said...

Love your jumpsuit and how you modified the Vanessa pattern to get where you wanted. Very creative. Just one question: you mention. Just one question: in the third item of changes you made, you say you kept the back dart, but there are none. Do you mean you kept the waist shaping in the side back? (which indirectly is a dart)

katherine h said...

Hi Jojo, The Jalie Vanessa pants have back darts, even though they have an elasticated waist. If you look closely at the line drawing, you can see longer lines among the gather lines. they talk about the darts in this post http://jaliesewingpatterns.blogspot.com/2017/05/joggers-fluid-pants-pattern.html

katherine h said...

Thanks CAN I. I have to let loose and make more changes to patterns to get them how I like...this would double the value of my pattern collection!

Jojo said...

Ah yes, I missed that, thanks!

Tropical Threads said...

Ah! Make my own from a pair of well-fitting trousers! What a great idea! I am not on the bandwagon yet but I keep wanting to try it out, but not sure which pattern or style to try. Making my own pattern sounds like a really good idea.

I really like your version, too so I might copy your adjustments. And I love that red linen. Sooooo yummy. And fun to photograph!!!

katherine h said...

Thanks!! I really should do more pattern hacks and make the most of my pattern collection...though, my collection is so huge it always surprises me when I don't have exactly what I want somewhere in there :)

Megan O said...

I would like one exactly the same. Love everything about this!

katherine h said...

I can lend you my pattern, anytime you like. You will have to grade it down yourself though :)