When I first bought this twill fabric from Blackbird Fabrics, I had planned on making a jumpsuit. The New Look 6616 pattern had been sitting in my pattern stash and I thought it could be perfect. However, I’d read some reviews of fit problems with that pattern. After mulling it over for far too long (I always get nervous to cut into fabric I love), I decided on sewing a faux jumpsuit instead. I’ve never made or even worn a jumpsuit, so a faux jumpsuit is much more my speed. A two-piece matching set is much more versatile, so I figured it would get more wear in my closet.
Choosing a fabric for the faux jumpsuit
I’ve had this squiggle print ecovero twill sitting in my stash for months. I was so nervous to cut into it, I really wanted to wait for the perfect pattern. The fabric has a great drape to it, so the jumpsuit is fluid enough to look like a single piece. My only complaint is that it wrinkles pretty easily, which makes it not ideal for pants. I might try to do another faux jumpsuit look with something a little more structured.
Choosing patterns for the faux jumpsuit
For the top piece of the jumpsuit, I wanted a tank-top style top that would be versatile enough to wear on its own, but also easy to tuck into pants to give it a jumpsuit look. I initially planned an ogden cami, but ended up going with a grainline willow tank instead. I wanted a boxy look so that the top could drape over the pants when tucked in without drawing too much attention to the pants waistline. This helps give the set a fluid jumpsuit look. The grainline willow tank is such a simple sew and its a great layering piece. I wrote up a full post about the tank top, which you can find here.
For the pants, I knew that the Megan Nielsen opal pants would be perfect. They had been on my to-make list for a while, I had just been waiting for the right fabric. They are great for a faux jumpsuit because they have an elasticized waist. This also makes them a pretty quick sew, at least for a pair of pants.
Final thoughts
Overall, I think that both of these pieces will get a lot of wear in my wardrobe, as a set and individually. I’m not sure that I have any need for a real jumpsuit in my closet, when a faux jumpsuit gives me almost the same look with the benefit of mix and match outfits. If you’re thinking of sewing a faux jumpsuit and need some inspiration, I started a Pinterest board with great faux jumpsuits from a variety of sewists.
