Ruffle Sunsuit - Free pattern and tutorial!!

Are you after a little 'free' today?? Well how does an adorable, ruffle sunsuit pattern and tutorial interest you??

It's divine isn't it! I've been thinking about drafting this pattern for a few months now, but I've been a little tied up making bonnets. With Sydney's summer humidity getting worse, I knew it was now or never! Adele needs a super, cute sunsuit in this weather and it's probably the last summer that she can get away with an outfit like this.

***Edit: I've now released my bonnet pattern via my Etsy shop for a super cheap $5. A fully reversible, retro inspired bonnet really completes this super sweet summer look. Get yours here. (OK ad over)

Do you want to make one for your little one too? Well, read on my friend.

What you need:
1/2 yard of fabric for main body
1/4 yard for straps and ruffles (I've used fabric from Amy Butler's new Soul Blossoms collection for both)
A small piece of lightweight interfacing
3 x snaps
2 x buttons
approx 11 inches of 20mm elastic
approx 20 inches of 6mm elastic (don't you love the mix of imperial and decimal measurements?!)
sewing machine, overlocker, scissors, thread, needle, pins etc.

These instructions outline how to make the sunsuit with an overlocker/serger, but naturally you can use a regular machine too.

Now a short word on copyright. This is my pattern and I'm spreading the love and choosing to share it with you. I'm going to say you can sell items from this pattern (home sewing quantities only, not commercial), but I'd like you to credit me as the source of this pattern. Clearly, I cannot police this, but it would be nice if you could honour this request.  :)

Here are the pattern pieces. I've only drafted this pattern in size 1. If your little one is smaller or bigger, you could alter the size by either adding (approx size 1-2) or removing (approx 6-12 months) 1/2 inch from all sides of the pattern pieces, except the fold - does that make sense??

EDIT: Hello Sewers. Please read the instructions in relation to downloading the pattern. There are two ways to download the pattern and you do not have to pay for either. Both of these work. If you can't get them to work, please re-read the instructions step by step and try again.

Download Option 1. There are 4 jpegs here.  Please click each invidually, then right click and 'save as' to your preferred location. When you print them, make sure they are at 100% and check the scale marker.

Download Option 2: Alternatively, you can save each page via Scribd and you don't have to pay or have anaccount with them. Simply display each pdf via scribed, then right click each image and 'save as' to your preferred location. Again, make sure you print at 100%.
little betty ruffle sunsuit page 1 of 4
little betty ruffle sunsuit page 2 of 4
little betty ruffle sunsuit page 3 of 4
little betty ruffle sunsuit page 4 of 4

Step 1:
Print pattern at 100%, tape together and check 1 inch test line. Cut pattern and fabric.

From the main fabric, you will need:
1 x front body
1 x front facing
1 x back body

From the contrast fabric, you will need:
3 ruffles - each are 2 inch strips the full width of the fabric
2 straps - 3.5 x 15 inches

From the interfacing, you will need:
1 x front facing

Step 2 - make ruffles
Roll hem one long edge of each ruffle piece, then set your overlocker to a gathering stitch and gather the other edge of each ruffle piece.

Step 3 - make straps
Take each strap and fold them in half lengthwise. Sew a 1 cm seam along one short side, then pivot and sew down the length of the strap. Trim corners, turn right side out and press. Top-stitch the strap along both long sides and one short side. I use my 1/4 inch foot to do this - it's easier to stay neat!

Step 4 - press back elastic casing
Take your back piece and press the top edge down 1/4 inch, then again 1 inch to make the casing for the back elastic.

Step 5 - attach straps
Before you sew the casing, place your straps underneath the casing folds as show below. I've centred these straps 4 inches apart. You only need to tuck the straps about a 1/4 inch under this fold. Sew the casing, staying close to the fold, then flip the straps up and top stitch them to the top of the back piece very close to the top fold. This reinforces the straps and positions them facing to the top, where they need to be!

Step 6 - affix ruffles
Pin your first ruffle as pictured below and sew just above the gathered, overlocked ruffle edge.

Once your first ruffle is attached, you can pin and sew the remaining two ruffles. I've spaced mine a little over half an inch apart.

Lightly press your ruffles down, try not to press all of the gathers flat, and top stitch each ruffle down, approximately 1/4 inch below the original sewing line.

Thread 11 inches of 20mm elastic through the back casing and stay stitch it in place on each side.

Step 7 - front facing
Affix interfacing to the wrong side of the front facing and edge finish the bottom, curved edge of facing. Pin the facing, right sides together to the front of the sunsuit.

 Stitch around the top as shown below

Step 8 - connect front and back of sunsuit
Pin front and back of sunsuit together as shown. Make sure you lift the facing and place the top of the back piece between the facing and front piece. Serge along each side - you may want to do this slowly as there are a few layers to sew through here.

Trim the seams on the top of the sunsuit and clip the corners and curves, then turn your sunsuit right side out and press. Top stitch the top of the sunsuit. Again, I do this with my 1/4 inch foot.

Step 9 - prepare leg openings for elastic casing
At this stage you should have what looks like a little sunsuit that is open around the bottom. To make elastic casings a little quicker, serge around each leg opening. Do not sew them shut or together, just around each leg opening, as pictured below.

Step 10 - make elastic casing
Press each leg opening under 1cm or 3/8 inch and sew. This forms the casing for the elastic. Thread 9 inches (or the size of you little one's leg plus 1 inch) of elastic through each casing and stay stitch each end.

Step 11 - measuring and making centre snap opening.
To create a centre snap opening you need to measure the bottom of the centre front and back piece. They should both be about the same as mine, approx 3 1/2 inches wide.

As my earlier sunsuit tutorial already covers creating a centre snap opening in detail with many photos, I'm going to rush through these instructions. If you need more information to create the centre snap closures, please look here in steps 3 to 7..

To calculate the size of each centre piece add 1/2 and inch to this measurement and cut 4 pieces of fabric by this measurement and 1.5 inches. Mine will be 4.5 x 1.5 inches. Cut two pieces of interfacing this size too. Attach interfacing to the wrong side of two rectangles. Place one rectangle with interfacing and one without, right sides together and sew around the two short sides and one long side with a 1/4 inch seam.
Trim the corners of each rectangle, turn right side out and press. Press the open edges, the raw edges, inside 1/4 inch. Again, please refer to the images in my other tutorial for this stage.

You can now take these two fabric rectangles and slip the bottom of the sunsuit into the opening, as shown in the below photo. Sew to the sunsuit, catching both sides of the snap closure rectangle with the sunsuit in between. Repeat for the back of the sunsuit.

Step 12 - Sew buttons, button holes, affix snaps and wear! 
Affix three snaps to the centre opening. There are many tutorials available online for you to refer to, like this one. I use a hammer and bang each snap quite hard to make sure it stays on. Sew two button holes at the top of the sunsuit. Measure your little one and place buttons on the straps where needed to keep the suit on.

You are done! Hooray! Now slip your little one into the sunsuit and watch them play!

To complete her look, Adele is wearing a matching little betty bonnet - too cute!

 

If you're interested in the bonnet pattern, head over to my shop.

Good luck!