NOT Just a Sunsuit Pattern Tour

Hello!  Now that I’m off pattern design/testing mode, I took a little time to participate in a pattern tour for Call Ajair’s NOT Just a Sunsuit pattern tour!

Ajair and I go way back – virtually.  We both were avid followers, sew-along-ers and later contestants in Project Run & Play, and are members of several of the same sew-y, craft-y Facebook groups.

The first thing I did was to ask Arden which of the ten views she wanted me to make.  She instantly pointed to view C, the maxi dress.  Duh, Mom.  A dress that goes nearly to the floor, of course that’s the one I want!  For the analytical folks out there, the list of views by letter are:

A: sunsuit

B: jumpsuit

C: maxi dress

D: jumper

E: tank with elastic waist

F: tank with hemmed waist

G: trousers

H: maxi dress

I: shorts

J: skirt

I knew I would use this great pin dot chambray from Imagine Gnats *affiliate link* and then I auditioned a few fabrics I had enough of for the bodice.  Arden liked this Art Gallery voile left over from a blouse I had made for Hadley.  The pattern has an option for flat piping or other trim along the top panels and I had this great picot edge bias tape from Frailey Place on Etsy that was the same dimensions when opened and ironed flat AND coordinated perfectly!

View C doesn’t specifically call for the pockets that are in the skirt options, but I added them because pockets!  Aside from that the only changes I made to the pattern were for my lack of appropriate width elastic.  The straps and back called for 1/4″ elastic; I only had 3/8″.  The waist called for 3/4″ elastic; I only had 1/2″. I just inserted the strap elastic into the same sized casings, and I narrowed the casings for both the back and the waist.  I really like the more delicate waist for this view, so happy accident!

We don’t normally have Arden’s hair down for photos – or really ever because it tangles so easily.  But you all know how days flash by and suddenly it was getting darker and we had to get photos done ASAP.  Rather than re-braiding it I just brushed it and sent her out the door.

I made the size six, and for reference, Arden’s current measurements are:

Chest: 24″
Waist: 23″
Hip: 24″
Height: 46″

She’s still a little sensitive about wearing her new glasses, so there’s only a few shots before she asked if she could take them off.  All together now – she looks cute in them, right?

For a pattern with so many options, I thought the instructions were very clear and easy to follow.  I personally prefer illustrated patterns and Ajaire’s were clean and concise with a shading key on each page so you could easily tell right side/wrong side/lining/etc. as you worked.  She kept a clear eye on the options to which the steps referred and instructed to skip to the correct step as appropriate.

The options for this pattern are seemingly endless since in addition to the ten views, there are way more potential combinations of the details like flat piping on the bodice or pockets, adding different trims, or now Ajair has published a free sleeve add-on to take the entire suite into cooler climates.  Get the Paneled Sunsuit pattern at 15% off through September 4 (that’s today so hurry!) and there’s an additional discount code available for members of Designs by Call Ajaire Facebook group.

While you’re here, enter for a chance to win one of four Paneled Sunsuit patterns:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If my ramblings aren’t enough to convince you to check out this pattern, Arden immediately latched onto it for her first day of school outfit.  So I sent my very mature-looking six year old to 1st grade wearing Designs by Call Ajaire!

I’m posting on the last day of the tour, so if you haven’t already checked out everyone else’s posts for the parade of Paneled Sunsuits, here are links to all of the participating blogs: