Sewing: Candy Stripe Lounge Suit [New Look 6518]

This fabric is all the pastel, ice cream colour goals! I found this fabric at a car boot sale about 5 years ago and although it cost tuppence I just loved the colour combo and width of the stripes so much that I’ve never made it into anything because I was worried I wouldn’t do it justice.

My mission to use up all of my fabric stash before buying anything new continues and I knew it was time for this this fabric to become something wearable and wonderful.

You can imagine how long I pawed over my patterns trying to choose the ‘perfect’ one. Despite my initial idea to make a gathered skirt/dress, I decided to go down a different route and make a lounge suit for wearing around the house – something loose and comfortable for the warmer weather.

As well as blitzing my fabric stash I’m also trying to use patterns that I haven’t sewn up before, rather than using the old favourites again and again. So I decided on this little frilly number – New Look 6518. There’s a number of different options on the envelope and I decided to make the trousers and the top with the frill (without the lace border). All I needed was was my fabric, thread, 3 buttons and elastic for the trouser waist. Satisfyingly, I had everything I needed in my home-haberdashery so the cost outlay for this project was really minimal.

Cutting the pattern out took a little bit of ingenuity as I only had a enough fabric by a hairs breadth. I had to jiggle the pattern pieces around on the fabric until I could make everything fit and amazingly it did! You’ll notice on the trouser cuffs that I’ve cut them separately but with the stripes going in the same direction – I would ideally have had the stripes going the other way to contrast but I couldn’t make it fit so needs must!

The construction of this pattern was so simple, and there is nothing like a quick project to get your sew-jo going! I sewed the trousers up first and they fitted great around the hips/bottom (of course I did the ‘sitting’ test to make sure I could sit comfortably, especially with this being a lounging suit and all) and then I added the elastic to the waist band as required. I added a length of grosgrain ribbon which reads ‘live, love, grow’ to the back of the trousers in place of a label; 1) because it looks cute and I enjoy a good label, but 2) because I’ve made trousers this style before and it’s impossible to tell the front from the back!

The top I really enjoyed making. It has a simple sheath over the bust which is self lined and a gathered lower bodice. You’ll notice the seam down the center of mine. I lined up the stripes as perfectly as I could to try to disguise this but again it was dictated by my fabric supply!

The lower bodice is stitched together at the back but the upper bodice is left open and three buttons used as the fastening. I got these plastic flower print buttons from my stash having bought a bag of 8 for 50p from the local antiques market (they’re not antique, just have a slightly retro feel about them).

One of my favourite features of this outfit is the straps – I love the style of them. They’re double folded so quite thick in depth but only about 1.5cm wide and super long! I’ve replicated these straps on a few items since.

All finished and I really love this little set! After taking photos I realised that it does look slightly more pajama-ey that I had anticipated but considering that it’s just to wear around the house I don’t mind!

I know I can’t be the only sewer who hangs onto beautiful fabrics for fear of cutting into them – let me know if you have something special stashed away that you know you should have sewn up before now!

Thanks for reading – happy sewing!

Rebecca