The (unseasonal) Party Animal Jumpsuit: Closet Case Patterns animal print Sallie Jumpsuit

Yep, this is a very belated sharing of my very last make as part of the Minerva Blogger Network, and it’s the Closet Case Patterns Sallie Jumpsuit in a rather in-your-face animal print. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Sallie Jumpsuit

The post actually went up in August so I’m more than a little tardy in blogging it here, and it’s definitely not seasonally appropriate (unless you’re lucky enough to live in the Southern hemisphere), but hey, if I’m going to catch up with all the unblogged stuff I’ve got to start somewhere!

There are lots of sewing details on the Minerva post, so I’m going to skip recapping all that and just muse about jumpsuits in general.

Sallie Jumpsuit

I was a child in the 1980s and owned three jumpsuits in shades of turquoise, purple and khaki. At the time we called them boilersuits (they were of the button front, utilitarian style) and they were bang on trend. I’m still traumatised by memories of me in the turquoise one with matching beret and plastic jewellery. Sorry, I don’t have a photo to share here!

After that I swore off jumpsuits for life. When they came back into fashion I said “no way” and avoided them like the plague. Then something happened. I began to see sewing bloggers of all shapes and sizes looking rather fabulous in their jumpsuits. I saw soft jersey jumpsuits that looked incredibly comfortable to wear. I saw ones that even looked kinda sexy.

And I thought maybe, just maybe, I should try one out. So I did. And I’m really glad I did!

Now, I do have mixed feelings about jumpsuits still. On the one hand, this particular jumpsuit is incredibly comfortable and really practical for small child wrangling/ picnics on the grass in a way that dresses and skirts aren’t.

I also have had more compliments wearing this than any other handmade garment ever, hands down. All from women, I hasten to add. Andy just isn’t convinced although he says it’s not as bad as he expected. I guess maybe jumpsuits are enjoyed more by other women than by men?

But there’s that whole getting completely undressed when going to the toilet aspect that I still don’t like. It’s not too bad in the height of summer, but I can’t see me wearing a jumpsuit any other time of year unless it had a cami or something underneath. Perhaps I need to make dungarees instead? I am planning on trying out the Closet Case Jenny dungarees this year.

What the hell, I’m going to make another one of these jumpsuits too. Plain black, probably, and I’m going to look all sophisticated in it. Honest. No one will ever know it’s secret pyjamas!

The deets

Pattern: Sallie Jumpsuit and Maxi-dress by Closet Case Patterns (PDF only)

Size: 12

Fabric: discontinued viscose/elastane jersey with 50% stretch in both width and length

Modifications: 1″ added to length between waist and crotch. Armholes lowered by 1cm, woven interfacing used to stabilise pocket openings.

Costing: 

  • Pattern: £5.30 (cost £10.60 but have used twice now)
  • Fabric: £0 (provided by Minerva free of charge for this make)
  • Notions: £0 (all from stash)
  • Total: £5.30

Other inspirational versions: It was Sew Sarah Smith’s slinky black version that first convinced me I needed to try out this pattern (and I’m still planning to make one in black myself). I’m also indebted to Jasika Nicole for showing how it can be done in a bold print. Finally, I’ve got to give a shout out to Becca Made That for this amazing multi-way bodice hacked Sallie that I just have to try myself someday!

Here’s a cute photobombing pic from a naked toddler (and evidence of how I hadn’t really bothered to tidy up properly before the photoshoot!):

Sallie Jumpsuit

Have you succumbed to the jumpsuit trend yet? And are you already planning your summer wardrobe like I am? (Winter, for those south of the equator)

What do you reckon? I'd love to hear from you!

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