Blank Slate Patterns Raleigh Romper: How I did....

This pattern comes with the Raleigh dress, it is two for one if you like :)

 

As such, the bodice is exactly the same as with the Raleigh dress.

 

I got this lovely owls fabric in a online fabric shops sale.

 

I choose a teal thread to match it. Once cut out, and the lining cut out, you sew the bodice part in exactly the same way as the Raleigh dress. Firstly sew from under the arm hole, across the neck, to the armhole, lining and bodice fabric right sides together.

 

Next, trim the seams, clip corners and curves etc...

 

Next, turn bodice right way out.

 

As I said I do like a bit of top stitching.. so I do that next along where I've just stitched.

 

Next, place the front and back bodice right sides together. Open out the lining and bodice, and pin lining to lining, bodice to bodice either side.

 

Now sew in one line, lining down to fabric.

and flip down, putting right side out, all the seams will be encased inside.

 

Now its the shorts. You place each front piece and each back piece onto each other, right sides together. Pin and stitch along the crotch.

 

Now open out both front and back shorts. Place them on top of each other, right sides together. Pin and stitch along the side seams.

 

Now to hem, open out so the shorts, so the crotch seams are either side.

 

Turn over along both bottom edges twice, pin and sew, creating a hem as normal.

 

Now, as this pattern is for babies and toddlers, it requires an poppered opening between the legs, for ease of changing nappies (its so annoying when you have to strip a toddler/ baby completely off to change their nappy - and you can guarantee that day will be the one they fill one every hour! haha).

 

Firstly you cut a wee bit of interfacing and iron it on approx. 3/8 inch away from the bottom edge on both front and back. I didn't take a picture of this, I do apologise :/

 

Next you fold up that 3/8 inch over the interfacing and then again to cover the whole of the interfacing, pin and sew.

 

Now, to attach the bodice to the shorts. These need no gathering unlike he skirt on the Raleigh dress, so you just pin to the bodice, right sides together.

 

Now is the buttonholes onto the front bodice. I chose to use some of the lovely buttons I inherited from my late grandmother. They are teal so went perfectly.

 

Now my favourite (NOT) bit - hand sewing. You need to stitch the poppers on. I found 4 closed the gap nicely.

 

Next, snip the buttonholes open and stitch the buttons on in the correct places.

 

All done! This is another lovely easy pattern for a beginner who wants to do a baby/ toddler romper/dungers. They could be done for either boys or girls. This pair is for my niece in Australia again :) My friend has commissioned a pair from me too for her gorgeous baby girl :)