How to Sew a Playsuit: Make a Cute DIY Romper From Scratch

Recreateful
by Recreateful
7 Materials
$20
3 Hours
Medium

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
Playsuit sewing pattern

1. Make the pattern

Purchase, download, and print the pattern.

Selecting the correct pattern size

When assembling the pattern, make sure you select your actual size.

Making sure not to overlap the pages

Don’t overlap the pages when taping them together. Align the lines so everything matches.

Placing the pattern on the body

Once it’s put together, place the pattern on your body to see if the size you chose will fit you well.

Stretching the fabric

2. Cut the fabric

Check the direction of the fabric before cutting.

Cutting the pattern in fabric

Cut the pattern pieces so most of the stretch is horizontal across the pattern pieces. Trace the pattern.

Cutting out 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.

Cutting the collar pieces

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.

Assembling the pattern pieces

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.

Placing the front pieces together

Place the front pieces right sides together. Pin and sew only to the placket notch about 11 inches (28 cm) down from the neckline. 

Joining the shoulder seams together

4. Start sewing

Join the shoulder seams right sides together and sew.

Inserting the sleeves into the armholes

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. 

How to make a playsuit

Lay the playsuit flat, right sides together and start pinning the underarm seam first.

Pinning the sleeve and side seams

Then pin along the sleeve and side seams. Sew into position. 

Closing the gusset seam

Close the gusset or crotch seam by pinning in the center first.

Pinning the leg seams

Pin the legs out from the center. Sew together. Try on the playsuit to see the fit.

Pressing the bias binding flat

5. Make the binding

Fold in each raw side of the bias binding towards the center by ¼ of an inch. Press flat.

How to prep the bias binding

Then fold in half. Press flat again.

Hemming the sleeves and leg opening with bias binding

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.

How to attach bias binding

The bias binding is a bit longer than the opening. Pin and close the bias binding shut where it meets the starting point.

Sewing the bias binding

Sew it closed with right sides together.

Trimming the excess fabric

Trim any excess.

How to sew a romper

Sew all along the opening following the first ¼ inch pressed fold. Turn the playsuit right side out.

Sewing a romper

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.

Hemming the sleeves

Repeat this process with the other sleeve and both leg openings.

Making the plackets

7. Make the plackets

Mark â…› inch on either side of the center front seam. Clip the fabric slightly.

Pressing the plackets into the bias binding

Press the placket pieces into bias binding. Press the shorter ends inward as well for a smooth finished edge.

Sewing the plackets

Pin in place and sew across.

DIY playsuit tutorial

Fold the lower edge inward.

Pinning the placket to the inside

Pin the placket to the inside of the playsuit. Sew shut. If your fabric is thin, follow this placket tutorial.

How to make a playsuit step by step

Repeat for the other side.

Pinning the plackets at the bottom

Pin the plackets at the bottom and ¾ inch upward on the right side.

Sewing a rectangle to secure

Sew a rectangle to secure.

Placing the collar pieces together

8. Make the collar

Place the two collar pieces right sides together.

Pinning the sewing the collar

Pin and sew along the outer curve and sides.

Turning the collar right sides out

Turn right side out and press.

Attaching the collar to the playsuit

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. 

Making a DIY playsuit

Turn the playsuit over. Fold the open raw edge of the collar inside.

Topstitching the collar

Pin in place. Topstitch down from the outside.

How to sew a playsuit

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.

Suggested materials:
  • Pilar playsuit sewing pattern
  • Stretchy medium-weight fabric: jersey or rib knit
  • Scissors
See all materials

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