How to Sew a Playsuit: Make a Cute DIY Romper From Scratch
Rompers or playsuits are the perfect summer outfit. Comfortable, cool, and flattering to wear, the Pilar playsuit is a great project for a confident beginner. If you were wondering how to make a romper or playsuit, this tutorial will help walk you through each step. Let’s get started with sewing a romper to wear today!
Tools and materials:
- Pilar playsuit sewing pattern
- Stretchy medium-weight fabric: jersey or rib knit
- Scissors
- Pins
- Tailor’s chalk for tracing
- Serger (optional)
- Sewing machine
1. Make the pattern
Purchase, download, and print the pattern.
When assembling the pattern, make sure you select your actual size.
Don’t overlap the pages when taping them together. Align the lines so everything matches.
Once it’s put together, place the pattern on your body to see if the size you chose will fit you well.
2. Cut the fabric
Check the direction of the fabric before cutting.
Cut the pattern pieces so most of the stretch is horizontal across the pattern pieces. Trace the pattern.
You’ll need to cut two pieces from each pattern piece. The pieces need to mirror each other, so use the piece you cut as a template. To do this, place your first piece on the fabric, right sides together, trace, and cut.
Cut the pieces for the sleeves, collar, plackets, and binding. You can either use one color as I’m showing you here in the tutorial or another color for contrasting trim for the binding, collar, and plackets.
3. Assembling the pieces
Lay the back pieces right sides together. Pin and sew up the entire center back seam by serging or with a stretchy stitch.
Place the front pieces right sides together. Pin and sew only to the placket notch about 11 inches (28 cm) down from the neckline.
4. Start sewing
Join the shoulder seams right sides together and sew.
Insert the sleeves into the armhole. Line up the notches in the center to the shoulder seam. Pin in place and sew across to secure on both sides along the top of the sleeve.
Lay the playsuit flat, right sides together and start pinning the underarm seam first.
Then pin along the sleeve and side seams. Sew into position.
Close the gusset or crotch seam by pinning in the center first.
Pin the legs out from the center. Sew together. Try on the playsuit to see the fit.
5. Make the binding
Fold in each raw side of the bias binding towards the center by ¼ of an inch. Press flat.
Then fold in half. Press flat again.
6. Hem the sleeves and leg openings
Lay the playsuit wrong side facing out. Pin the opened bias binding at the seam along the first ¼-inch fold edge.
The bias binding is a bit longer than the opening. Pin and close the bias binding shut where it meets the starting point.
Sew it closed with right sides together.
Trim any excess.
Sew all along the opening following the first ¼ inch pressed fold. Turn the playsuit right side out.
Fold the bias binding over, fold in the raw edges insides, pin, and topstitch down with a straight stitch. If the arm and leg openings are a bit tight on you, use a stretchy stitch instead.
Repeat this process with the other sleeve and both leg openings.
7. Make the plackets
Mark â…› inch on either side of the center front seam. Clip the fabric slightly.
Press the placket pieces into bias binding. Press the shorter ends inward as well for a smooth finished edge.
Pin in place and sew across.
Fold the lower edge inward.
Pin the placket to the inside of the playsuit. Sew shut. If your fabric is thin, follow this placket tutorial.
Repeat for the other side.
Pin the plackets at the bottom and ¾ inch upward on the right side.
Sew a rectangle to secure.
8. Make the collar
Place the two collar pieces right sides together.
Pin and sew along the outer curve and sides.
Turn right side out and press.
Pin one raw side of the collar right sides together to the inside of the neckline. Match up the collar notch with the center back seam. Pin. If your collar is longer, take the collar in at the ends to match the overall length of the neckline. Sew across.
Turn the playsuit over. Fold the open raw edge of the collar inside.
Pin in place. Topstitch down from the outside.
How to sew a playsuit
Here’s this adorable playsuit! I hope I helped to show you how to make a romper. Please let me know in the comments if you want to try this out too. If you do, tag me in your photos @recreateful.
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