Sew Along – McCall’s 7626 – Romper – Getting Ready!
Welcome back! I’m thrilled to see you’ve decided to join me on this exciting adventure of making McCall’s 7626 romper. We’re going to have a blast and hopefully learn some new tricks along the way, all the while creating an outfit that is both fun and fits perfect! Today marks Part 2 of the Sew Along, so if you haven’t already, be sure to jump over to Sew Along – McCall’s 7626 – Romper and catch up from the beginning.
Let’s Get Started!
I’m excited to help you with your sewing adventure. To start, I recommend downloading my free Sew Along McCall’s 7626 Romper Guide. This illustrated guide has eight pages full of tips to make your sewing experience easier and fun. I’ve simplified figuring out measurements, pattern sizes, and construction challenges, so you can focus on the fun part – creating. Plus, it’s completely free!
Project Planning
Okay so, I’m someone who’s super visual. But also, let’s just say I’m not the best at remembering things. I can see an idea in my head and then totally forget about it a few minutes later if something else catches my attention. So to help me out, I like to use the pattern line art. Basically, it’s a simple outline of the garment I want to make that I can fill it in with colored pencils to get a sense of what it might look like with different fabrics.
On the first page of the Sew Along Romper Guide, you’ll find the Pattern Description page. That’s where you can find the pattern line art that you can use for your own creative ideas.
Measurements
When it comes to sewing clothes, getting the right measurements is the key to success. Sewing can be a delightful and satisfying hobby, but it can also be a bit frustrating and disappointing if you end up with a garment that just doesn’t fit.
Making sure you take accurate body measurements is absolutely essential if you want your clothes to fit the way they should. Sewing patterns are designed to fit specific measurements, so if your measurements are off, your clothes won’t fit properly. It’s important to keep in mind that our bodies are constantly changing, so it’s a good idea to re-measure yourself from time to time to make sure your clothes always fit perfectly. I usually take full measurements a few times a year and quick basic measurements before starting each sewing project. If I’m familiar with how a particular pattern brand fits, I might even skip measuring myself altogether.
Deciding What Pattern Size You Need for Your Romper
Sewing pattern sizing and ready to wear sizing can be quite different. For instance, while I usually wear a small or size 4 top in ready to wear, my sewing pattern size for a top is actually an 8! And for bottoms, my ready to wear size fluctuates between a 4 and 6 depending on the style, but my sewing pattern size for a bottom is a 12. It may seem like a big difference, but remember to use your measurements as the guide when choosing your pattern size. Don’t worry too much about the pattern size, focus on the measurements. Trust me, a size 8 top and a 12 bottom in ready to wear would be way too big on me, but those sizes fit me perfectly in pattern sizing. So don’t get caught up in the numbers, just concentrate on finding the right fit for you.
How to Measure Your Body for Sewing Patterns
On page 2 of the Sew Along Romper Guide, we talk about measurements and fitting.
Before we start measuring, it’s important to wear the undergarments that we plan to wear with the garment that we’re sewing. This will give us the most accurate measurements.
Let’s take the measurements as directed below and note them in the “My Measurements” block.
- Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape measure straight across your back.
- Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of your waist, usually just above your belly button.
- Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips, usually about 8 inches below your waist.
- Inseam: Measure from your crotch to the desired length of your pants if you’re planning on making the jumpsuit instead of the romper.
To get the most accurate body measurements, use the following tips –
Utilize a Flexible Tape Measure
When it comes to taking body measurements, a flexible tape measure is your best bet. It will conform to your body shape and provide the most precise measurements. Avoid using a ruler or a metal tape measure, as they are not flexible and may not yield accurate measurements.
Seek Assistance
Taking measurements alone can be a challenge, especially around areas such as your back or hips. Enlist someone to help you ensure that you get precise measurements.
Maintain Good Posture
While taking measurements, maintain a straight posture and keep your shoulders relaxed. Avoid slouching or standing with your weight shifted to one side as it can skew your measurements.
Take Measurements Multiple Times
To ensure accuracy, take multiple measurements of each area. This will help you identify any discrepancies and get a more precise measurement.
Record Your Measurements
Keep a record of your measurements in a secure location so that you can revisit them when necessary. This will also enable you to track any changes in your body measurements over time. The Project Planner page of the Sew Along Guide is the ideal spot to maintain your ongoing measurements.
Finding the Right Pattern Size
Locate the Body Measurement chart. You can usually find this on the envelope flap or the back of the envelope. Look for the pattern size that’s closest to your measurements
My bust measurement is 33″, and the body measurement for size 10 is 32 1/2″, while size 12 is 34″.
Since size 10 is the closest to my measurement, I’ll go with it. My waist measures 28 inches, which corresponds to size 14 and my hips measure 38 inches, which is also size 14.”.
Check the Finished Garment Measurements chart. This is usually on the back of the pattern envelope, but can sometimes be on the first page of the instructions.
Write down the measurements and sizing indicated by the pattern for the sizes corresponding to the Body Measurements you selected.
The bust measurement for size 10 is 35 inches, and the hip measurement for size 14 is 41 1/2”. Unfortunately, this pattern does not include waist measurements.
To understand how this garment is designed to fit, we need to determine the pattern ease. This will help you decide if you can adjust the size by simply changing the seam allowance. Plus it will give you an idea if you’ll like the recommended finished fit. If you prefer looser clothing, you might want to add some additional ease. If you prefer a closer fit, you can subtract some ease.
Subtract the Pattern Body Measurements from the Pattern Finished Measurements to determine how much ease the pattern provides. Write down your results in the Pattern Ease section.
For the My Measurements Plus Pattern Ease section, simply add your measurements to the pattern ease and write them down.
The final step is to determine what size pattern you need. Compare your My Measurements Plus Pattern Ease to the Pattern Finished Measurements to determine your size and if you need to make any alterations.
Example –
My Measurement Plus Pattern Ease
Bust – 35 1/2”
Hips – 41 1/2”
Pattern Finished Measurement
35” – Size 10
41 1/2” – Size 14
Size to Cut Plus
Alterations
Size 10 +0.5” Alteration
Size 14 +/- 0” Alteration
My waist is 28” and the Pattern Body Measurement for Size 14 is 28”, so I’m going to use a size 14 for my waist.
What this all means is I’ll cut a size 10 for the upper part of the bodice, grade the side seam to a size 14 at the waist and cut the shorts out in a size 14. According to my calculations this should be a perfect fit but I’m going to sew a mock up to be sure.
Feel free to use the Additional Fitting Notes block to jot down any important details.
Supplies Needed
The romper pattern is designed to be made with minimal fabric and notions. Page 3 of the guide provides a list of required notions. This page also includes fields to track the supplies you already have, the supplies you need to purchase, and the associated costs. Being aware of the amount of money invested in a project can be helpful, especially if you plan on selling the finished garment.
Additionally, there is space on the page to document any creative ideas or changes you may want to make.
Project Checklist
So, let’s talk about prepping! It’s a pretty important step to make sure you have a good time and get a great outcome.
Here are a couple of the most important prepping steps:
Before you start, make sure to pre-wash your fabric according to care instructions. This way, you’ll prevent any unwanted shrinking after your outfit is done.
Cut out the pattern tissue pieces according to your determined size. If you plan on making adjustments, leave a little extra tissue around the outline for drawing the new pattern line. Remove the fold marks by pressing on low heat.
Take a good look through the pattern instructions before beginning. Make sure you understand all of the steps involved in the sewing process. I like to highlight important notes and mark the steps I’ll be following for the version I’m making.
If you’re worried about a good fit, it’s not a bad idea to sew a mock-up for fitting. Since it’s been a while since I’ve sewn clothing for myself, I decided to do that for this project. More about this in Part 3.
Fill two bobbins & change machine & serger needles.
Clean your iron. Set out pressing cloth & accessories.
That’s all for now, folks! In our next session, we’ll be talking more about alterations, sewing a mock-up, and figuring out what’s the best fit for this pattern. We’ll also be starting the fun part of actually stitching our romper together!
I can’t wait to see you for our first sewing session. Let me know what you thought of today’s chat by dropping a comment or question below!
Thank you for visiting with me at
Down Home at Dee’s
Subscribe to Down Home at Dee’s and join Litten, Rosie and me on our adventures of Exploring Life Every Day!
Down Home at Dee’s is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com