A recent blog comment asked for more information concerning the jumpers that we sew. Most of the jumpers aren’t too difficult to make if you have some sewing experience. We usually purchase our fabric from JoAnn’s when they are having a sale, or we have coupons we can use. We buy fabric from the calico section.
If you are interested in learning to sew, here is a link to a Mom’s Corner that I wrote about teaching my girls to sew. It references a resource we have used and like for some basics on learning to sew. There is much information on the Internet about sewing, and you could research in your community for local sewing classes.
As far as altering the patterns, we will leave out a zipper if we think we can get the jumper to go on over our heads. When we do that, we simply sew up the seam where the zipper would go. We add length to the pattern. Because most patterns come with several sizes on them, we trace the size we need onto tissue paper, taping pieces of tissue paper together for the skirts, and labeling each piece after we trace and cut it out.
Concerning the fit, we simply experiment. If it doesn’t fit one of us, it might fit another, although we are all pretty close in size. If it is too big, we will take in the seams. If it is too small, we are in trouble. If we haven’t serged the seams, we can let it out.
Here are the pattern numbers for some of our more recent jumpers:
- McCalls #3129. This jumper takes a little more skill than a simple A-line would. We do not put in the zipper on this jumper. Because there is no zipper, we wait to sew up the back seam where the zipper would be until we have the facing attached.
- Simplicity #5917 is a very simple pattern. It is quick and easy! It’s no longer being produced, but you can often find it being sold on the Internet.
McCalls #3129
Simplicity #5917
“She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands” (Proverbs 31:13).
