Pattern Review: Summer Jumpsuit Tofo by Halfmoon Atelier

Hello!  I am excited to share today about the summer jumpsuit Tofo pattern released by Halfmoon Atelier.

Line drawing:

The recommended fabrics are mid­ to lightweight wovens such as Tencel twill, broadcloth, chambray, linen, seersucker, shirting, etc.

My version: Belted, Including the optional straps (worn crisscrossed), Belt loops included

Notions:

Pattern Review

Pattern Description:

Jumpsuit TOFO is ideal for long, warm summer days. Whether you’re heading to the each or park with the kids, running around town or on a date with someone special, this  jumpsuit will work with you and your lifestyle all day long.

TOFO is a loose fitting pull on short jumpsuit featuring two yoke options, elastic back and waistband, adjustable, removable straps, a bowtie belt and pockets.

• Belt loops

• Belt

• Removable straps, you may wear them straight, criss crossed, or remove them for a strapless option

• Knife pleats at the shorts

• Gathered yoke

• Hidden strap attachments

• Pockets

Pattern Sizing:

My sizing: The pattern suggested that if you are only one size different to chose the larger size and not grade the pattern. I chose a size 5. This was exciting for me as I always grade across multiple sizes so picking one size was a faster option.

Did it look like the photo/drawing when you finished sewing? Yes

Were the instructions complete and easy to follow? Yes.

Fabric used (did you use the suggested fabrics in the pattern)?

Fabric: I chose a woven stretch chambray from the Simply by Ti website**.  The drape on this fabric is so lovely, it’s light and airy (being a cotton base) without being see through.  I love the denim look to the fabric to be a nice neutral color palette.  There is a slight amount of stretch in the fabric, which makes it very comfortable to wear.  The selvedge was so lovely in this fabric that I saved the leftover selvedge pieces to use as trim on a future project.

Did you alter the pattern in any way? Slightly.  The pattern calls for 2″ non-roll elastic to use at the back yoke.  The elastic in my stash is thin and rolls when stretched.  When I first sewed this garment, I found there was a rippling occurring at the yoke back, shown in the photo below:

I decided to sew two parallel, straight stitched lines across the back (in between the button holes) to help flatten the elastic.  This trick worked really well for a much nicer finish with a thinner 2″ elastic.

I also added 1″ in length to the shorts.

Was there anything you disliked or would change? No. One item to note is that the design intent of the belt is for it to be worn as a bow tie length.  The pattern length does allot for a bow.  If you find that you prefer a longer belt for a bow option you may want to lengthen the pattern piece.

Would you sew it again? Yes. I’d enjoy trying some pattern hacks with this design.  I think lengthening the legs to a pants length would be fun.  I also think it would be fun to chose contrasting fabrics for the belt loops, belt, straps and yoke for more versatile options.  I would enjoy sewing a second set of straps and belt for contrasting options with my current jumpsuit.

Would you recommend it to others? Yes! I’ve not yet tried sewing a jumpsuit pattern but I’m so glad I finally jumped in with this pattern.  The removable straps are a really nice option for those that prefer both strapped or strapless garments.

Do you consider the pattern beginner/intermediate/advanced? Advanced beginner (knife pleats, gathering at the yoke, bust darts).

Does the pattern include layers for easy printing? Yes

Seam allowances used in the pattern: 5/8″ with a few exceptions,

• 1 cm (3/8“) on straps
• 2 cm (3/4“) at the waist
• 2.5cm (1″) hem allowance the shorts

Is the pattern cut or no cut pages? Cut pages

 

Tip:

For the straps, I tested the button placement by trying on the jumpsuit with safety pins holding the straps in place.  When I was happy with the strap length, I used a gluestick to temporarily place the buttons on the straps.  Then I used my sewing machine to quickly sew the 6 buttons in place.  If you haven’t tried using your sewing machine yet to sew on buttons, I’d recommend you check out if your machine includes this hidden feature (by looking through your sewing machine’s manual).

**I’m a Simply by Ti Ambassador and received the fabric mentioned in this post as complimentary fabric in exchange for review and promotion.  The fabric selected was my choice and the views expressed are my own.