By now many of us are tired of wearing sweatpants day after day, so I decided to make a different kind of sweat suit: a skirt and puff-sleeved top! Made of fleece fabric, it’s warm as a regular jogging set, but way fancier.
The fabric is a super soft bamboo/cotton sweatshirt fleece (with a smooth knit face and fuzzy back and matching rib trim) from Stonemountain & Daughter Fabric in a gorgeous azalea pink color (it is sold out).
The pattern is vintage 80s McCall’s:
The skirt has pockets (!) and the top is beautifully drafted with deep armholes and a curved hem. Here’s a view of the inside of the top: a piece of interfacing is used to make a separate gathered sleevehead to add that extra oomph to the puff sleeves.
I finished the sleeves and neck with ribbed cuffs and neckband like a regular sweatshirt, instead of the plain turned-back hems of the pattern.
To modify the sleeves, I shortened the pattern by a little less than the finished length I wanted for the cuff. If designing your own cuff, remember to double the finished length you want, and then double the seam allowance as well. Here’s a diagram:
I also trimmed the neckline opening larger to allow for the extra width of the neckband. I was hoping to give some definitive advice on measuring for a neckband, as they can be tricky; but I ended up accomplishing it by trial and error. Typically the neckband is cut a bit smaller than the neck opening. I recommend basting the neckband and trying it on before sewing it, so you can make adjustments, and then topstitching the seam allowance to the main fabric afterwards to help it lie flat.
Matching sets are my favorite versatile pieces: together, you get a fully coordinated look, and each piece also pairs with other things. Playing around with some styling ideas here:
So what do you think of my fancy “sweatsuit”?
Love it! You are so talented!
Thank you, Cherrie!
Fantastic!
Thank you!! 💕