I have been challenging myself with choosing patterns that I haven’t dreamt of making...like a jumpsuit...with an invisible zipper...and hemmed pant legs. Nothing like killing three birds with one stone!

I was walking through JoAnns looking for fabric for my business when I came across the softest linen in a summery leafy print. I knew that I wanted to make something big with it. Now, when I say “something big” I mean not a cami or tank that I have made a hundred times (it seems). I saw that Peppermint Magazine put out a free jumpsuit pattern and I figured that the two should definitely be a goal of mine.

I printed and taped and pinned and cut and had everything ready. The zipper was my first hurdle. I have installed zippers before as I make and sell wristlets and pillows. Never had I sewn in an invisible zipper to a piece a clothing that would then have to lay flat and evenly against my back. So, I took it slow and read the directions on the pattern, the zipper package AND looked a video up online. Knowing if it all went to hell, I always had my seam ripper! 

I can honestly say that I sewed the slowest ever on this one. I wanted to sew as close the the edge as possible and of course try to be as straight as my nervous hands would allow. And the picture below says it all - old dogs can be taught new tricks! I. Did. It.

I confidently moved on to the darts (thanks to my sewing class at Sew to Speak). Matched my serged seams to construct the body. I even understitched like a champ. Then came the leg bottoms...man oh man am I short.  

I am not sure what the proper way is to size and cut the bottom of legs but I concocted a “measure and cut” method that chopped about 5 inches off the bottom. After hemming it, I was pleasantly pleased with how even I made the legs.

All in all, I am super happy with how the jumpsuit turned out. Easy and awesome for a free printable. I will be wearing this as a lightweight outfit in the summer as well as layered with a sweater in the winter.