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For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this ideal image of summers at the beach in my head. Gorgeous swimsuits, pretty coverups, nice sunglasses, and a big floppy hat. It wasn’t until this year that I finally made this vision more of a reality when I invested in a few nice swimsuits (rather than the cheapest thing I could find), and made myself a few nice swim coverups. It’s so nice to actually feel pretty and summery when I go to the pool or beach, rather than looking like a makeshift mess in an ill-fitting swimsuit and ratty tank top.
The cherry on top was finally getting a pair of designer sunglasses, which Sunglasses Shop generously sent to me. Nice sunglasses are a big deal for Philip, but I never really cared since I could find ones that I liked at Target or Forever 21. But these Ray-Ban sunglasses have exceeded my expectations — I’ve been wearing them non-stop, and feeling like a million bucks. I also plan to take much better care of them than my cheap-o sunglasses!
I’m currently loving them paired with my new floppy hat and this romper I whipped up from some of my Fabric Weekend stash.
romper: made by me // swimsuit: j.crew // sunglasses: c/o sunglasses shop // sandals: target (similar) // hat: target

Materials:

  • 1 1/2 yards (roughly) of thin stretchy knit
  • matching thread
  • elastic (optional)
Step 1. Using a pair of shorts as a pattern, cut the shorts portion of your romper, adding a 1/2 inch seam allowance (these are oooold shorts, so I added a bit more). Make sure you cut along the folded edge, as seen below. CUT TWO (2) OF THESE.

Using a loose fitting tank (or a tank with a loose sweater, like my ridiculous combo below) as a pattern and cut the tank portion of your romper, adding a half inch seam allowance. CUT TWO OF THESE.

Take one of your TANK pieces and cut the neckline of one of them to your desired depth (keep in mind that you will be climbing through the neckline to get the romper on, so make it big enough to allow that. Or consider adding a keyhole and button closure in the back).
Now you should have four pieces, like the four shown below.

Step 2. Take one of your SHORTS pieces and with right sides together, sew up the inseam, as seen below. Repeat with second SHORTS piece.

Step 3. With right sides together, pin and sew the two shorts pieces together from the front to the back, matching up the inseams at the crotch, as seen below.

You shorts will now look like this.

Step 4. With right sides together, sew the front and back TANK pieces together at the shoulders, then sew up the sides.

You should now have your TANK and SHORTS pieces all sewn together, as seen below.

Step 5. Fold the neckline of your tank over two times and pin into place. Then sew around the entire neckline with a straight wide stitch.

Now sew the arm holes, folding the edge over two times, pinning, and then sewing with a straight stitch, just like the neckline.

Step 6. With right sides together, put the SHORTS inside the TANK (as seen below) and sew them together with a straight stitch. My TANK was slightly wider than my SHORTS so I just stretched as I went to avoid bunching.

I planned to put elastic in the waist (like I did in this tutorial), but my fabric was stretchy enough, and my straight stitch allows some stretch since I pulled it as I sewed, so no elastic was needed. But add some to your waistband if needed. 

Step 7. Determine your desired shorts length and then hem with a wide straight double stitch.

And you’re done!
As always, email or comment with any questions!

[sunglasses shop sent me these sunglasses for review.  I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own].

 

SUMMER SUNNIES and A ROMPER TUTORIAL

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this ideal image of summers at the beach in my head. Gorgeous swimsuits, pretty coverups, nice sunglasses, and a big floppy hat. It wasn’t until this year that I finally made this vision more of a reality when I invested in a few nice swimsuits (rather than the cheapest thing I could find), and made myself a few nice swim coverups. It’s so nice to actually feel pretty and summery when I go to the pool or beach, rather than looking like a makeshift mess in an ill-fitting swimsuit and ratty tank top.
The cherry on top was finally getting a pair of designer sunglasses, which Sunglasses Shop generously sent to me. Nice sunglasses are a big deal for Philip, but I never really cared since I could find ones that I liked at Target or Forever 21. But these Ray-Ban sunglasses have exceeded my expectations — I’ve been wearing them non-stop, and feeling like a million bucks. I also plan to take much better care of them than my cheap-o sunglasses!
I’m currently loving them paired with my new floppy hat and this romper I whipped up from some of my Fabric Weekend stash.
romper: made by me // swimsuit: j.crew // sunglasses: c/o sunglasses shop // sandals: target (similar) // hat: target

Materials:

  • 1 1/2 yards (roughly) of thin stretchy knit
  • matching thread
  • elastic (optional)
Step 1. Using a pair of shorts as a pattern, cut the shorts portion of your romper, adding a 1/2 inch seam allowance (these are oooold shorts, so I added a bit more). Make sure you cut along the folded edge, as seen below. CUT TWO (2) OF THESE.

Using a loose fitting tank (or a tank with a loose sweater, like my ridiculous combo below) as a pattern and cut the tank portion of your romper, adding a half inch seam allowance. CUT TWO OF THESE.

Take one of your TANK pieces and cut the neckline of one of them to your desired depth (keep in mind that you will be climbing through the neckline to get the romper on, so make it big enough to allow that. Or consider adding a keyhole and button closure in the back).
Now you should have four pieces, like the four shown below.

Step 2. Take one of your SHORTS pieces and with right sides together, sew up the inseam, as seen below. Repeat with second SHORTS piece.

Step 3. With right sides together, pin and sew the two shorts pieces together from the front to the back, matching up the inseams at the crotch, as seen below.

You shorts will now look like this.

Step 4. With right sides together, sew the front and back TANK pieces together at the shoulders, then sew up the sides.

You should now have your TANK and SHORTS pieces all sewn together, as seen below.

Step 5. Fold the neckline of your tank over two times and pin into place. Then sew around the entire neckline with a straight wide stitch.

Now sew the arm holes, folding the edge over two times, pinning, and then sewing with a straight stitch, just like the neckline.

Step 6. With right sides together, put the SHORTS inside the TANK (as seen below) and sew them together with a straight stitch. My TANK was slightly wider than my SHORTS so I just stretched as I went to avoid bunching.

I planned to put elastic in the waist (like I did in this tutorial), but my fabric was stretchy enough, and my straight stitch allows some stretch since I pulled it as I sewed, so no elastic was needed. But add some to your waistband if needed. 

Step 7. Determine your desired shorts length and then hem with a wide straight double stitch.

And you’re done!
As always, email or comment with any questions!

[sunglasses shop sent me these sunglasses for review.  I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own].

 

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33 Comments

  1. Ruby says:

    Looks great! I was just thinking about making a romper….granted my idea was for my daughter. I'll have to give one for myself a try too! Thanks for the tutorial.

  2. Stephanie X says:

    omg this looks so cute! And it seems easy to make. 😀 thanks for this.
    xx Stephanie (www.stephaniesstyleblog.blogspot.com)

  3. You are truly amazing.. I soo want to soo things together just like you do.. See I love how you will just cut free handed without a pattern… that is my idea of sewing.. I promise I would looove to try and "Dupe" this outfit.. Im just scared.. my mom was a semstress.. and she passed away last year. I got her serger and sewing machine and swore I woud learn to sew.. needless to say im too scared and havent sewn NOTHING!! LOL.. I know… i need help.. lol.. love your sewing ideas.. keep them coming!!

  4. Madeline says:

    Looks great ! Can't believe you made it yourself

    Madeline | Its a Mads Mads World

  5. Katie says:

    Adorable! You are one talented lady! I love it with the cute sun hat!
    Katie (http://whatsupwiththebuells.blogspot.com/)

  6. Abbey says:

    Hi! This may be a silly question… but how do you sew your double seam at the end? Is it just two straight seams that you sew one after another or is there something more?

    Thank you!!

    • No, not a silly question! I use a double needle. I picked mine up at Jo-Ann's for a few bucks (with my 40% off one item coupon, of course!)

      You use it just like a regular needle, just thread your machine twice with two spools of thread and then thread one through one needle and one through the other. Super simple. Also, the double stitch allows a little bit of stretch, which is helpful for hemlines on stretchy knits.

      Good luck!

    • I broke my double needle the first time I used it. Bummer, right? I ended up doing two straight seams 1/4 inch apart. Doable, but only with a steady hand.

  7. sushi.latte says:

    Just curious… how do you get in and out of it?

  8. Kristina says:

    Aww this is super cute!! Perfect for the hot summer.

    Kristina does the Internets

  9. Mrs Gray says:

    So cute! I'm a Ray Ban wearer (I actually get a headache from a lot of lenses, so they work for me for that reason). I'm glad you made the jump! Gotta have a good pair of sunglasses!

  10. I love it! You look great in it.

  11. I really want to go make this right now. You look like a model!

  12. gebe1 says:

    Love the hat! Did I miss the announcement? Who won the Sephora prize?

  13. WOW! I can't wait to try this one out! I didn't think it was that easy! Thank you!!!

  14. Chic Trends says:

    This is seriously very impressive. I need to try this out asap!

    Best, x http://chictrends.co.uk/

  15. Unknown says:

    Thank you! I've been wanting a romper so bad…

  16. Cody Doll says:

    Geez you make the looks so easy that I want to try. I haven't sew hardly at all though so I don't know if this would be best for me to start with.

    And is that signs of a serger?

  17. You are so talented! I always want to make things like this….and the end result never looks even close! haha!

  18. Sarah S. says:

    Cute!! and this tutorial makes it look so easy to make.

  19. kate lewis says:

    Such a creative activity taht you have done .I really like it.
    http://www.apparelnbags.com/womens-tanks-and-camis.htm

  20. Very sweet romper! I love the colors!

  21. cuuuuute! what kind o fabric did you use for this?

  22. Even with the steop-by-step, there is no way I could make that! You are amazing!

    -AJ
    FitTravelerAJ.com

  23. kate lewis says:

    this is great! Can't wait to try it…Thanks for being so creative and to share it with us…and to make me discover new resources.
    http://www.apparelnbags.com/womens-tanks-and-camis.htm

  24. Ally Coyle says:

    Looks awesome 🙂

  25. Molly Garvin says:

    so cute! just confused for the middle, you did sew it together, right? and does it stretch well? thanks!

    http://thelollyprojectblog.blogspot.com

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