The very clever Heather of Closet Case Files has released another pattern, this one is a must-have basic, the bodysuit, available here. Named Nettie, after the totally gorgeous Nettie of Sown Brooklyn.
Of course, I say “must-have” and I didn’t actually have any. But I’m rectifying that now since everyone knows that bodysuits are super useful and way superior to a tucked in tee when it comes to winter warmth. So good to have that thermal layer underneath everything else. I used to have a few bodysuits years ago which did hard duty all winter long but I don’t know if they’ve gone out of fashion favour? or what; because they are pretty darn hard to come by nowadays. Even patterns for bodysuits are pretty few and far in-between.
Thank you so much Heather, for asking me to test the pattern, and for filling this gap in the sewing pattern world! 🙂
Hmmm, seven Netties… seems excessive for one person? well they’re not all for me. Occasionally I make things for other people. Occasionally 😉
The instructions stipulate to size up if you are tall or if you think your fabric is a little firm; and yes indeedy; this. My first version was in a mystery black knit with just a medium stretch, bought in the Morrison remnant sale, and it turned out a little er, bottie-baring for me! Fortunately I have a petite daughter who can absorb into her wardrobe everything that is too small for me. 🙂 And then I went up a size for me.
The red, orange, green, pale taupe and white coloured Netties are all in a super stretchy viscose/rayon knit from Fabulous Fabrics; and for this stretchier fabric I didn’t need to lengthen although I did cut the sleeves at the size up. The fit is snug and fabulously comfy.
The white long sleeved tee is for my niece; her measurements matched the smallest size on the size chart and so I just ran it up quickly to test the fit. It was on the tight side for her too; so when starting out I do recommend erring on the side of too big, just to start with. You can always shave a bit off!
For the crotch closure I used strips of black snap tape; leftover from my Issey Miyake tucked dress. Obviously it would be every bit as quick to hammer in a coupla snaps though. Really, the Nettie is a wonderfully quick and easy project, the kind of thing you can run up to wear an hour later. The hardest part of making the body suits is finding scraps of woven for the crotch bit to match your fabric! I had nothing matching my green so used self fabric stiffened and stabilised with fusible interfacing.
I did something a bit different with the sleeves on my green one; I made them super long and put in a little thumb hole, finished with a band just like the neckline. Built-in hand warmers!
The pattern comes with multiple variations; a high, mid and low back neckline, and a high and low scoop front neckline, and with long, elbow-length and short sleeves, and a body-con dress. And obviously you can slice it off at hip level too and just have a tee. So much choice! If I’d had the dress option earlier I totally would have made one of these too…
I made some with elbow length sleeves and some with long sleeves, and some high neck and some scoop. I made them all with a high back neckline just because winter is around the next corner here, but I think a high front neck/low scooped-back neck Nettie would be an absolutely stunning summer evening option; worn with a huge oversized flouncy skirt, hair up in a bun. Imagine!
Also, I reckon if you made it with a closed crotch and a scoop neckline wide enough to allow you to step into it then the Nettie would work beautifully as a dance or workout leotard too. The sides are quite low-cut allowing for full bottom coverage and minimal chance of a wedgie wardrobe malfunction.
