Finished - the Super Ninja Jumpsuit or M7099 (plus bonus dress!)

This garment here has super powers. I put it on and it's like a switch flicks. Instant fabulousness. I can't explain it and if you'd said to me a few months ago 'thou shalt make a onesie and it shall be awesome', well, I would have said you were dreaming. I bring you the final piece of the 2015 Resort Collection. 

This is McCalls M7099, made in a lovely black viscose lycra knit from the Cloth Shop in Ivanhoe. I first saw Beth's version, also in black and loved it. I began to think why not? Why not make myself a giant stretchy jumpsuit for my jumpsuit-less life? I knew there'd be some mocking from the husband's corner, but had warned him waaaay back when this sewing caper was taking hold, that one day he'd come home and find me wearing a onesie.... 

So, this pattern. It's designed for knits only, and I'd look for something with some elastane or else those knees will bag out fairly quickly. There is a lot of ease. My measurements put me into a 12 or 14. The top is meant to be drapey but I made a 6 shoulders and 8 everywhere else and there is plenty of ease.  I compared the cut of the trousers to my Hudson pants and knew the 8 would be fine. The calf fitting is very narrow and almost identical in all sizes so if you have some muscular calves you may want to check this. It is also extremely long in the bodice - I normally have no issues with bodice length.  After attaching the top and bottoms I found the waist seam was going to sit around my hips. I removed 2cm of length from the bottom of the bodice which helped, but as you can see from the back view of this pic the waist seam still is maybe 1cm too low. If I was to make this again I'd add 1cm to the top of the trousers to lift it up a bit. Without the belt it looks ok, and I think if I add another belt loop to the centre back it will be fine (belt loops are just thread loops made using the Colette zigzag method). 

The style of the bodice is lovely - gathered shoulders, a loosely crossed drape front (that does need a snap for modesty) finished by bands that form a cute detail at the centre back neck. I took it in a little at the side seams by about 15mm at the top tapering to nothing at the waist. I also hemmed the sleeves in the flat before sewing up the sides. I basted the neck binding first on the machine then used my overlocker and I'd highly recommend this especially at the centre back unless you are super confident. 

It's comfortable, it's fabulous and yes, it's easy to go to the loo - it stretches, but you need to be prepared to be sitting there in just your underwear holding the whole shebang up. So probably not the best thing to wear camping or to east Asia. 

I've already worn this a heap of times and felt perfectly dressed for each scenario - drinks and dinner on our island holiday, my brothers 40th, drinks, Star Wars and shopping (with Anna who was kind enough to take these pics for me)! Tres versatile! 

And just to show how versatile this pattern can be I decided it would be the perfect bodice pattern to add to a basic skirt for my bestie. Her little Bebe is about 10 weeks old now and that loose crossover top gives perfect feeding access. 

I

 knew with a little narrowing of shoulders and leaving the elastic in the waist until last I'd be able to make the bulk of it without needing her to try in on and it was pretty much bang on! I was thrilled. I used another lovely printed viscose from the a Cloth Shop, very similar to my Olivia dress fabric. Instead of adding the trousers I just measured the bodice circumference and made a tube skirt to fit it with an elastic channel. Very very easy! 

I can't recommend this pattern enough - it's one of my favourite things I've made ever! Who'd have thought it - turns out I didn't! 

and ps the husband does rather like it, especially when I do ninja kicks....