Summertime Romper Tutorial

I'm sorry this has taken so long to post.  Life is busier with everyone home, and I've also been a little worried about how to make the PDF not a pain to download, yet still usable.  I decided to go ahead and publish it in its current form, and then use your feedback and comments to help make the pattern better in the future.  That way we learn together.

My favorite part of this romper is that it is truly a blank canvas...you can embellish and decorate it to your heart's content.  I am really excited to see what you come up with.

I'll show you the main construction techniques first, and then show the differences between the boy and girl versions.  If any are interested, in a later post I'll show you the techniques I used to make the ruched panel and the pocket/applique.

As always, this is for personal use only.

Let's get started.

Gather your materials.  You'll need:

• Your pattern. You can print that from HERE.
  
• One yard of fabric. Pick something light like woven shirting, soft seersucker, or madras.
  
• Four grabber snaps and tools to attach them.
  
• Three buttons that coordinate.
  
• Matching thread.
• Light interfacing, a 12" by 12" square should be plenty.
• One yard of 1/4" elastic for girly version. 
  
• Scissors and seam ripper.
• Sewing machine.
  
• Hand needle and pins.
• Iron and ironing board.

Step One.  Cut out your pattern pieces.  The front and back pieces are distinctly different.  Your version has you cut it out on the fold to reduce paper.  In the pictures you see my rough draft on newsprint.  Please note, the boy's button placket  needs 2 inches added to it's length.  I realized that as I've been writing, and didn't do that on the pattern until it was already uploaded...so be sure to add 2 inches to the button placket length.

With the crotch interfacing pieces, trim the outer edge 1/4"...as shown here:

You should have the following pattern pieces:

Girl version:

• Front piece.
  
• Back piece.
  
• Button placket facing.
  
• Three crotch facings.
  
• Interfacing for two crotch facings, and that fits half of the button placket. 

Boy version:

• Front piece.
  
• Back piece.
  
• Button placket facing.
• One long neck facing.
• Two short neck facings.
  
• Three crotch facings.
  
• Interfacing for two crotch facings, and that fits half of the button placket.  
• Two leg cuffs, 14" by 1.5".

Time to sew!
Step One.  Prepare facings.

Button placket facing, Girl Version.
Find the middle/center of your back piece.  Iron to mark the center.  Also fold the button placket facing in half.  Make a cut down from the neckline that is the same length  as half of the placket.

Open up the cut you've made so that it is in a straight line.

Lay the button placket, right sides together, against the opening, and pin in place. 

Carefully sew the facing to the opening with a 1/4" seam, except when you reach the center point.  Here you'll sew as close as you can to the edge.

Lay the opening flat on your ironing board, and iron the seam toward the facing.

Take the interfacing you cut, and tuck it under the 1/4" fold.

Fold the facing back over in half, matching the folded edge with the seam.

Topstitch the facing over the seam.

Fold the placket and mark the closed position.

Congratulations!  You just completed the hardest step.  Aren't you glad the rest is easy? 

For the Boy Version.
Construction is exactly the same, except you leave an inch of facing sticking out above the neckline that will connect with the neck facings.


Crotch facings.  (If anyone has a better term, PLEASE SHARE!)  Instructions are the same for both versions.
Iron the interfacing to two of the crotch facings. 

With one facing, zigzag the outer edge.  With the two remaining, place right sides together, and sew the outer edge at 1/4".  Trim the edges as shown.

Turn the second set of facings right side out, and press.

Sew the single facing to the front romper piece.

Front of romper is now ready for the next step.

Back crotch facing.
Pin the facing to the right side of the back romper piece.  

Sew the facings together with a 1/4" seam.  Trim the curve as with the other facing, and zigzag stitch the seam edge.

Back facing is finished.

Step Two.  Sew the shoulder seams.

Match the shoulder seams, right sides together.  Sew with 1/4" seam.  I added some clear lastin to the seam to give some additional strength.  Zigzag stitch to finish the edge.  Press the seams to the back.

Step Three.  Attach the sleeves.
For boy version:
Before attaching the sleeves for the boy version, make a small rolled hem on each sleeve by ironing in 1/4".  Iron in again 1/4", and topstitch closed.

F

For both versions:
The sleeves are marked with a "front" and "back".  Place the sleeves so the right sleeve is in the right place.  

Carefully sew the sleeve into place, and finish the seam with a zigzag stitch.  Repeat for other sleeve. 

Step Four.  Sew the sleeve and side seams.

Pin together the side seams, right sides together.  Pin from the beginning of the sleeve to the end of the leg.  Repeat for  both sides. 

As you pin the side seams, you will find that there is a gap between the front and back at the leg.  This was to give a little extra fullness in the bum area.  Just trim the legs to match.

Step Five, Finishing arms, legs, and necklines:

For the girl version, elastic in neckline and leg hems. 

Both the neck and legs are finished in the same manner.  The neckline is finished with a small casing and elastic threaded through it.  Cut an 11 1/4" length of elastic for the neck, and two 9" lengths for the legs. 

 Use a locking stitch to secure the elastic on one side.  Fold over the casing with the elastic inside.

Stretch the elastic to reach the other side of the casing and lock stitch the elastic in place, just inside of the facing or placket.  Fold over the fabric to create a casing, and while stretching the elastic tight, sew the casing closed.  Stitch just on the inner edge of the casing. 

For the arms, cut two 8 1/4" lengths of elastic.  Sew each piece to itself, making a circle.

Iron over the edges of the arm sleeves 1/4" as with the other openings.

With the elastic tucked in, fold the fabric over again to create your casing.

Sew on the edge of the fabric, like a topstitch.  Sew all the way around the sleeve.

Repeat for other side.

For the boy version:
To finish the neckline, prepare the neck facings.

 

Carefully pin the facings to the neckline, matching the the shoulder seams.  Pin the edges of the facing to the button placket facing that is sticking above the neckline.

Sew the facing to the neckline with a 1/4" seam.  Clip the corner where the neck facings and button placket facings attach.  Turn the facings right side out, and finish the outer edge with a zigzag stitch.

Complete the neckline with a topstitch around the edge to hold everything in place.

Finishing the legs for the boy version.  Take the leg cuff pieces and iron in the short sides 1/4".

Pin the cuff to the leg, right sides together.  Sew with a 1/4" seam.  Iron the unfinished edge over 1/4", then iron over to match the fold to the seam.  Pin in place and sew along edge.

Finished cuffs.


Step Six.  Closures.
For button holes, lay out your buttons and determine where to place the buttons.

Final step...apply the snaps.
Update:  There is a great tutorial on snaps from Sew4Home if you need more info.

Repeat for the remaining sockets.
Transfer the location of the sockets to the other facing where the snaps will need to be.  I used pins and my pen to mark the spot.

Apply the snaps as you did the sockets.

You've completed the outfit.  I hope these instructions are somewhat clear.  I would love to hear your feedback so I can improve.  Please share your likes/dislikes, and suggestions, and as always, I love to see what you come up with.

Featured on Craft Gossip and Women Who Do It All.

Linked up to:  Someday Crafts, Women Who Do It All, Tea Rose Home,  Life in my PJs, Just a Girl, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths,  A Few of My Favorite Things, Those Northern Skies, KoJo Designs, The Train to Crazy, Tatertots and Jello, and Creative Jewish Mom.