This romper was made for Stylemaker Fabrics – summer release campaign with fabric gifted in exchange for my thoughts on sewing and for promotional photos. Please check out the blog post with my thoughts using the fabric, here. If you would like to use this fabulous Lemon Sateen, or check out all of the other lovely new fabrics, you can find them here .
I love working with Stylemaker Fabrics and their huge variety of substrates. So when Michelle reached out again, I just had to say, “yes.” She has a great eye and her curation is always solid if you want to follow trends or if you need some good basics. As a quilter, I also appreciate how Stylemaker also carries the fashion fabrics from all of my favorite independent surface designers. You can find my first collaboration with them when I make some cranberry colored Ginger Jeans and the cropped Sunday Everyday Sweater.
PATTERN
Since I was part of “Bottom-weight” week for the summer release, I always had either some fun trousers or some type of jumpsuit on my mind. So when I saw the fun Lemon Sateen, a light bulb went off in my head and I knew exactly what I would make. I’ve been holding onto this McCall’s M7330 pattern for a minute (like over a year) and knew this pairing would be some lemonade! I have a few jersey knit rompers and know a woven one would be a welcome addition to my wardrobe. They just make getting dressed SO easy. Rompers make a statement already and a bold lemon one will add the jolt of color my closet needs.
With warm weather finally arriving in Ohio and a girls trip planned in Florida, I picked View B for a more tailored romper with a button placket and zipper fly. The pattern also has jumpsuit views that can also take this silhouette more to the safari-type of look. I opted for the cleaner finishes with my make. I made several changes to this pattern — especially after realizing I only had the XS-M version, but needed the medium AND the large templates. Whoops! My hips land me into large, but with very little time left before my vacation, I decided to just move forward using the medium top and bottoms with the following adjustments:
- Made 1/2″ bicep adjustments to each sleeve – With summer tops, I always like extra ease around my arms with woven fabrics. You never know if you are stuck outside in 80-90* heat and are literally dying for some more air circulation.
- Swapped out gathers around waist for pleats for the top and front bottoms – I like to highlight my waist and keep the silhouette clean. This also reduced bust all around the waistband.
- Used only a 3/8″ seam allowance (instead of 5/8″) for bottoms – since I didn’t have the large template
- Added a 5/8″ crotch adjustment to back only of bottoms – This is a common adjustment I make on bottoms since my hip measurement tends to fall two sizes larger than my waist and my volume carries towards the back and not spread out on the side saddles.
- Added 1/4″ to top center back of bottoms – The extra volume on my backside tends to pull a
“V” at the center back, so this is added in to level out the waistband - Added pleats to both sides of back bottoms – I sewed them completely as darts (instead of leaving as pleats) to keep the silhouette smooth
- Converted the patch pocket to slash pockets – Again, this was to keep the lines clean and I also didn’t have enough fabric for a matching up the fabric design for patch pocket
- Removed the waist tab and realigned the top to be aligned with zipper fly top-stitching – This is completely my own preference for a straight line from the top button placket going all the way down to the fly.
FABRIC
On top of bing incredibly cute and whimsical, this Lemon Sateen also has the benefit of some stretch! Yes, please! That means it can be used for more form-fitting garments and/or ones that will see more movement. I can walk (even run) and sit with absolute ease in my romper. There is also no worry about wedgies or camel toe when you can make your own garment. The added touch of spandex also helps reduce wrinkles that appear more from 100% natural fiber content like cotton and linen. I went out to dinner with my friends in WARM Ft. Lauderdale, FL and was absolutely comfortable. We even went out for a little bit of dancing afterwards and yes, the fabric can handle some salsa!
Since the lemons have a one-way directional print, I would recommend ordering just a little more than needed for a project. I had just enough even after adding in the slash pockets, but wouldn’t have if I made an error in cutting. This fabric is mid-weight IMO and would work in so many different garments. I used an 80/12 needle for this make. Anything larger could snag a thread and disrupt the print, but anything smaller wouldn’t get through the folds and bulk once you join seams.
Overall, I’m so happy with this make. I got lots of compliments on it from my friends…and even from the restaurant manager of our dinner location! There are so many great memories locked into this garment that I KNOW I’ll be wearing it all summer-long. Are you into rompers too?
Happy Sewing,
Cristy
Fabric was courtesy of Stylemaker Fabrics for their spring/summer 2022 campaign. There was no obligation to write a blog post, but you know I gotta share my pattern mods with you!
