A Winter Jumpsuit - Burda #130

Every now and then I stray off the vintage path and make something from the present day. This Burda jumpsuit caught my eye, partly because it reminded me of something which Clare at Sew Dixie Lou brought my attention to:

Joan Collins in 'Tales of the Unexpected', 1980

It's a massive stretch from Joan and her zips to Burda 09/2011 #130, but stick with me:

(Is it me, or does Burda Girl look massively depressed, so much so she's taken to drinking alone, while staring out the window, wondering where all the time went, or something...)

This is one of a number of projects waiting to be blogged, but I've been too busy wearing them. This jumpsuit has been a particular favourite, though I somehow couldn't get it to photograph at it's best. Excuse all the wrinkles and draping, the fabric was misbehaving!

I used a wool/poly/lycra blend from my new local supplier in Walthamstow, The Man Outside Sainsburys! (#TMOS), which was only £3 per metre. It took 3 metres, so a total of £9 - bargain! It's one of those in between colours, a bit brown, a bit grey, a bit khaki, but it handles beautifully and the stretch makes it really comfortable to wear.

Here's the back:

I'm used to wearing quite fitted styles, so something this loose and draped is a total departure for me. At times it feels like I'm wearing pyjamas. Unlike the girl in the photo, I have boobs and an open front to deal with, so I had to add a hidden hook and eye and press stud to keep it decent:

As I usually do with trousers, I lined the back seat section for stability and comfort:

I'm not a big lover of PDF patterns, but this one was really inexpensive - £3.99 - and wasn't as painful to put together as they usually are. 

The instructions are a bit vague, but it all went together pretty well. The only thing I would recommend is to use an invisible zip for a sleeker look; I used a lapped zip and it sticks out a bit. Might change it later...

Some other details - 

The sleeves are pretty long, but going by the picture they are meant to be rolled back in a cuff, as are the trousers. And there's pockets, which is always a plus!:

And I think that's it! See you soon!

Minerva Bloggers Network - 1970's Jumpsuit, McCall's 5366

Hello, there! Time for May's Minerva project. This time we're having a foray into 1976, and the world of jumpsuits! A while ago I noticed a giveaway on the lovely Stacey Stitch's blog, where she was giving away this pattern:

McCall's 5366 from 1976

It was love at first sight, so I was really happy when I won it. With a few meters of black polycotton gaberdine from Minerva, a black zip, and a tiny bit of interfacing, I created this jumpsuit:

I made a few adjustments, such as adding pockets. The original was all one piece with a seam at the center front and back, but I also added as seam at the waist and some slanted pockets:

 

The original didn't have the elastic at the waist, but I added it to this version as I was worried it would shift around while I wore it:

Casing with elastic inside the waist

The pattern's really simple, with almost no shaping except for some gathers at the shoulder:

And there's a center front zip so getting in and out is easy:

I didn't go for the tie belt - a bit too karate kid; I thought a glam gold belt (which I already had) would lend a touch of 70's disco vibe.

And finally - trouser width. These babies are HUUUGE. They measure 26" around; it's going to have to be wedges or high heels with these, or else my legs will look really short.

A while ago, Clare over at Sew Dixie Lou blogged about her Ailakki jumpsuit from Named patterns (which BTW made her look scalding hawt). She finished the post with a suggestion from her husband that women like jumpsuits, while men aren't so impressed. Well, I love this jumpsuit and have been practically living in it since I finished it, and several people, men included, have commented on it positively. The debate rages on! 

This is also my third entry to the Vintage Pattern Pledge, run by Marie at a Stitching Odyssey - go check it out

Don't forget, if you want a black jumpsuit of your own, head on over to Minerva where you can get everything you need.

See you soon!