Teenage Me’s Dream Jumpsuit
Back when I was in high school in the 1980s, I saw an oversized fleecy jumpsuit. It was at a mid-year study camp, the weather was cold, and a girl in our dorm wore one to bed (and to study in, if I remember correctly). I loved it! And determined that one day I would own one, preferably soon, however I was neither confident enough to sew one nor rich enough to buy one (from Sportsgirl, according to the girl).
For historical context, in the late 80s no-one in our part of the world wore jumpsuits; they had been out of fashion since the 1970s, and the onesies people wear now were only worn by sports mascots. Sure, garments like the one below appeared in fashion mags, but no-one actually wore this stuff. It was like wearing your pajamas out of the house.
This photo is from Georgina O’Hara’s The Encyclopedia of Fashion (1986 Thames and Hudson) which I begged my mother to buy me for Christmas, and read cover to cover.
So, 35+ years later, I’m making one and fulfilling my teenage sartorial dreams.
Actually, the real reason is that long covid has given the gift of peripheral neuropathy, a burning, tingling sensation in the hands and feet. I can live with the hands, but these past few years I’ve had to sleep with my feet hanging out of the bed – highly inconvenient in a shared double bed. Bed socks are a thing of the past, as my hot feet are like a pair of lithium batteries about to burn a house down. On bad nights I sleep on top of the covers in my dressing gown. But now I’m thinking: why don’t I skip the covers altogether, and just wear this over my pajamas, like a baby in a cot?
I already have some fabric, some arctic fleece with (by happy coincidence) perfectly matching ribbing.
If I didn’t already have this fabric, I might choose this heavy brushed sweater knit, made in Australia.
I’ve also calculated a tentative pattern.
The pattern is a bit of a mash-up of things I’ve done in the past. The body is based on the Tuta and uses the full 148cm width of the fabric. The crotch gusset is based on the Mompei trousers, and the sleeve is borrowed from the Modular Jacket.
The top part is a little like a varsity jacket, with press studs and ribbed neck.
As I don’t relish undressing to visit the smallest room in the house, some kind of dropseat or butt flap is required. I looked at onesies, Union suits, long johns, combination underwear, and Victorian and Edwardian underwear. I wasn’t sure what was underneath the flap – was it a vertical slit or a cutout? It appears that modern onesies often have a round cutout with a zip. But I think what I’ll do is make the jumpsuit, then retrofit a horizontal slit across the seat, since the jumpsuit will be wide, similar to this tutorial.
So there’s not much to see in this blog post, only a lot of talk, but come back next week for a progress report. Until then,
Cheers!
Hi Liz! Thank you again for another super cool progress post! I love reading them. My grandmother gave me a yellow onesie to wear at the beginning of my first Canadian winter and I loved it. Love love loved it! I look forward to reading about the zip solution – my onesie was a zip up and going to pee at night in her frigid house was…❄️❄️
Thank you, I’m quite excited about this project. With the back flap, I’m sure an elegant solution will present itself.
I wish you joy in making and wearing the wonderful jumpsuit.
Thanks Helen, I think I’m really going to like it.
I made something for my sons when they were too old for baby sleeping bags but not able yet to stay under their sheets during the night. They loved it. I’ts definitely not sexy but if you cut it out of a furry/fluffy blanket as I did, you end up looking like a giant sutffed animal and it’s sooo cosy everyone wants to hug you 🙂
I suppose you’ve thought about it because you’re way better than me at pattern making and sewing but it’s worth oversizing in quite a lot in the LENGTH (body and legs), otherwise you end up with the ankles behind the knees and it’s not very comfy.
Looking forward to see the progress!
Thank you, that is a good tip for the length. I plan to make the sleeves longer (as I won’t be able to put my hands under the covers) but hadn’t considered the other lengths. I’m sure things will be very cosy!
ooh, I’m looking forward to seeing the progress, these sound epic!
Thanks Sue, quite excited about this project.
I never thought I’d come across the words “butt flap” whilst reading your blog. LOLOLOL
Actually I’m excited to see how this turns out! Sounds very comfy.
Haha! Yes, I never thought I’d write those words!
Ooo- that sounds awesome!
Thanks Laurinda. At the time, when I was a teen, I thought how fab a fleecy jumpsuit would be to wear while studying in my chilly bedroom. Should have made one years ago.
I’m pleased to see that you have decided to go for two legs rather than the single, sack bottom of babies’ sleep suits these days 😉
It’s a great shade of red – just add your signature lip colour and a pair of heels (ok, maybe snake proof wellies) and you’ll be ready for your retro photo shoot.
I thought about that when I thought of babies in cots, but since it has to be left open for my feet I thought it would be draughty. Possibly my nightie wearing days are over.
Agree – love this shade of red.
I thought of something tonight after my little one woke me up: do you need the weight of sheets on you to fall asleep? The suit won’t feel as heavy on you than the sheets. I do need the weight and my solution is to sleep with a duvet or sheets not tucked under the bed when my feet overheat (for me it’s not due to covid, just super sensitive skin and hormones).
Good point. Not sure – I seem to fall asleep OK with a dressing gown, but I’m usually shattered by then. I guess we will see if 50+ years of sleeping with covers on is an irreversible habit!
Mr H suggested untucking the end of the bed to let my feet poke out, which sometimes works, but it’s tricky in a double bed as my feet don’t reach quite to the end and he’s taller than me.
I’m very excited to see how this progresses. You’re making me think I need a pyjama onesie myself.
Maybe I’ll wish I’d made one years ago!