9.24.2016

Sewing Is A Virtue.


Sewing my own clothing is making me more stubborn, and yet, more patient. Both pieces in this combo were intended as something completely different than their outcome, and both actually made it to completion because of these attributes.  

oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing | simplicity 1919 | burdastyle 119

First up, the cropped jeans blazer, which was meant to be a peplumed affair: Simplicity 1919 (OOP). I was ever so patient with this jacket! So patient, my hands literally turned blue! (Oh yeah, the dye on this one is strong. Every time I touched this thing, I promised myself it would be a short session, then hours later, I'd walk away looking like something out of Yellow Submarine. CLEARLY EXHIBITING EXTREME PATIENCE. AND YES ALSO STUBBORNESS.)

oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing | simplicity 1919 | burdastyle 119

I fitted, I pressed, I changed thread colors, I topstitched with care…

oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing | simplicity 1919 | burdastyle 119

AND THEN, EVEN WHEN MY BLUE HANDS SAID WOMAN QUIT AT THE CROP I STUBBORNLY WENT AHEAD AND PATIENTLY MADE A LINED, CLIPPED, GRADED, TOPSTITCHED, CURVED FIVE PIECE PEPLUM WAIST WHICH I HAD TO EVEN MORE PATIENTLY RIP OUT WHEN I ENDED UP LOOKING LIKE I WAS AUDITIONING FOR SWEET VALLEY HIGH: THE CAREER GIRL YEARS.

Happy with my eventual decision. Mad at those lapel wrinkles, which don’t show IRL as much as in these photos. Or do they? Must check that.

As for the jumpsuit, well. WELL.


The jumpsuit is actually pants.

Burdastyle’s 119 Jersey Track Pants pattern was the candidate, and my vote proved very ill advised when I threw them on for the initial fitting. Although I love Burdastyle drafting, I wonder if the jersey patterns don't take negative ease into account as much as they should? My size came up too wide, the waist gathers were thick and frumpy, the thin waistband was out of proportion, the length in both the crotch and leg were of supermodel stature. In short, they were a hot mess, and not the chic little pair of pants I imagined. But I was far too stubborn to abandon this dreamy Rayon Jersey (from Mood) to the loungewear shelf. So, I quite patiently made a laundry list of mods...

oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing | simplicity 1919 | burdastyle 119
· hacked off 4″ from the hemline, gathering the new length into cuffs
· took away 1″ from waistline

· increased the crotch curve by 3/8ths

· removed gathers from waistline

· added 6 evenly spaced inverted box pleats to front and back waist

· stitched each pleat closed about 3″ down from the waist line

· cut 16′ of jersey on the crossgrain, folded to equal an 8″ band when attached.

WHAT?! I ACTUALLY REMEMBERED WHAT I DID?! Yeah. Been keeping a notebook filled with details of my sewing process now, the better to explain myself later. (Though I could practice a little more patience in penmanship. Such chickenscratch.)


The ridiculous 8 inches of foldover band length were meant to add adjustable proportion at the waist: wear it pulled up high-waisted, wear it scrunched down low on the hip. But, lo and behold, when I pulled them on and tried the band at “high” height, I found that those inches were also just enough to serve double duty as a top! Did I just make a jumpsuit? I maniacally breathed to my mirrored reflection. HEY YOU IN THE MIRROR. Are you kidding me?!

oonaballoona by marcy harriell | sewing | simplicity 1919 | burdastyle 119

Well, the answer is: I ALMOST did. I DECIDED TO BE PATIENT HERE! AGAIN! You see, although the top did stay up on its own in my stomp-around-the-house-test, I’ve got two pieces of doublestick tape aiding and abetting in the frontal boob tube area for the photos (the better to avoid flashing the streets of New York). Before going permanent on this unanticipated path, I wanted to see all angles of this jammy in pictures, and not just in a mirror. We all know mirrors lie. Believe in Cher.

Now that we’ve got pictorial evidence, I’ve decided to make things permanent. I’ve got rayon leftovers at the ready for options…maybe wide gathered straps? Or leave it strapless with an elastic casing? I'd love to find a way to make it secure enough for a jumpsuit, but still have the option for pants. Hmmmm. Suggestions welcome!

these virtuous separates were made using my fabric allowance as part of the mood sewing network. and i highly suggest grabbing some of that jersey!

33 comments:

  1. How about tie-at-the-neck halter straps which can double as a belt when you wear it as trousers?

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    1. i am a BIG fan of double duty ties! that could work, perhaps attached at center back? GREAT idea!!

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  2. Holy cow I love this outfit. I have no suggestions except to say, find a way to make that jumpsuit just like that. I'd suggest elastic casing but do it in such a way that you don't get any ruching. What makes it great is how flat it sits.

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    1. i do love how flat it sits! i suppose i could keep going with tape---except that i had some lovely, tape shaped red welts to show for it. i would be a stylist's nightmare.

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  3. I like the idea of halter ties that turn into a giant ass bow but I know not everyone shares my feelings on giant ass bows. I do rather like it as-is though, too. That jacket is friggin off the chain though!!!

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  4. *sniffle, sniffle* Mama is so proud of you! A notebook...a list of modifications...my little sewing kitten has grown up! And I'm loving the outfit!

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    1. do you know that when i'm making something *well*, i think of how proud you're going to be?! i have a blouse coming up where i thought that a lot :)))

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  5. You did it again! Perfect reinventions. That little jacket must be great on so many of your dresses.

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    1. um i haven't even tried it with other stuff yet-- i see a sunday afternoon of playing dress up in my future..

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  6. I love this. That jacket is perfection. I admire your patience. I like the jumpsuit in the strapless form. With a stretchy enough elastic, it could be versatile as a top and gathered waist pants.

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  7. So happy jumpsuits are in style again - and this is just great on you. What a great idea to make it do double duty! I like the idea of a tie that could double as a halter or a belt, but I envision one in a wide casing (although maybe that's too much bulk? True story, by the way: I bought a very ($9) cheap pair of harem pants off Amazon, recently (my first - fell in love with the fun fabric). They involve lots of shirring, but they are so long that I've actually only worn them pulled up under my armpits, where they become an adorable jumpsuit that would look super hot on a 30 years younger version of myself. Your jumpsuit is so chic, and the lapels on that little jacket are wonderful.

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    1. i've got a handmade shirred jumpsuit in silk CDC, it's the best! and i'm sure you look hot in it ;))

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  8. Kinda wanting to see Sweet Valley High: The Career Girl Years now.

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  9. Boom! Sewing saves for the win :D I am team halter/giant ass bow as well - it's what all the rad ladies wear ;)

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  10. OMG the jumpsuit is amazing! Love it!

    Why not add wide gathered straps with snaps at the ends so you can convert from pants to strapless jumpsuit to gathered strap to cap sleeve (if you have enough fabric to make them nice and wide!) if you use clear plastic snaps (don't make my mistake... put the flat side on the top and the sticky out snap on the strap...) then it should be easily convertible without showing. You might want to add some elastic to the top anyway, but equally you could add more snaps to a strapless bra that you're happy to sacrifice to the cause so it's secure enough to stay up without straps...

    Sooooo many possibilities! Love the jacket too.

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    1. i do love the idea of cap sleeves, and snaps would make double duty possible!

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  11. Seriously CUTE Marcy! I love the cropped jacket and see nary a wrinkle.

    Pants with a bonus jumpsuit option...you should pant-ent the idea...harharhar. But really...this is a great idea...and I second, or third, or is it fourth the idea of a wrap-halter-strap thingy.

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  12. Elastic in the top. Make it 1 inch wide minimum, with good torque and it will sit flat and hold up without digging in or puckering up :)
    Love the suit and the look and wish we got to see the peplum, so adorable!

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  13. It looks awesome! And I know what you mean about sewing making one both stubborn and patient. It can be a good combination.

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  14. Awesome! All your patience and hard work on the little jacket/vest paid off in spades, and ditching the peplum was a genius move. What's left has great design lines, a highly flattering collar and neckline, and a year-round look. Total genius! Creative Hormone Rush

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  15. I loved the Sweet Valley High books. For years I bought every single one that came out. I also really love this jacket. The lapel is fantastic. It goes really well with your cute jumpsuit.

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    1. i only know the covers of the book. totally judged them. now i feel i have to read them...

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  16. I love the entire outfit! Genius, that's what you are!!! You look great.

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  17. Love the jumpsuit, Marcy! Wanted to thank you for all the sewing inspiration--I just started my own blog, in large part because of reading yours. My first post just happens to also be a jumpsuit! http://mdhouseofwhite.blogspot.com/

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    1. way to go on that denim!!! and it would look so cute with a sweater too. i should probably be saying this on your blog:) a copyin' and pastin' i go!!!

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  18. love the whole outfit.. i remember seeing this post way back when you posted it, but being so hungover that day, so i couldn't say a thing about it.. but made a mental note to come back here one day and tell you that you're rocking this outfit! so yeah- this outfit, it rocks! and so do you, sis! a toast to all the pants that accidently become jumpsuits, and all the future outfits that don't give a fuck about what we want them to be, but have their own ideas instead! also, wanted to tell you that lately your hair is looking even more glorious than it usually does (didn't know that's even possible)

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  19. Good lord, woman! That jacket is insane! I like to think I'm pretty good at sewing. I bow in your general direction.

    Just found your blog today on the suggestion of a friend.

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!