Alrighty… earlier this week I groused about the early sunsets cramping my picture taking style and I may have mentioned something about low light, home-made movies… just wait ‘till after the jump…
I made my second pair of bloomers – these ones are actually meant for me to wear! I altered the pattern a bit and sewed this version up in a knit (BTW… bloomers work well in knits, too!) The fabric is from the same Oliver + S line that I used for the pink ones… just yellow and stretchy!
I raised the waistband about 4” by slashing horizontally right above the hip notches and adding some wax paper (marked in pink below.) I also graded the pattern up horizontally by about 3” total by adding .75” to each pattern piece (marked in green below.) A note on the pattern sizing – my hips and waist are about 3” larger than the Colette size 18 measurements. BUT the pattern printed out a little on the small side – the test patch was 3.75 x 3.75”, not 4 x 4” like it should have been. So for anyone working through the pattern alterations in their head, I hope that’s helpful.
The pattern pieces are totally rocking the granny-panties look, no? The extra length on the waist looks a little ridiculous, but what with the idiosyncrasies of the human body, the finished garment looks just the way I wanted it to look! Here’ is a heavily Photoshopped shot – enough vintage lighting and I will look like a supermodel, right? 
Mini-bloomers… the final analysis…
- Serging is your friend
- They are SUPER low cut, so if you’re like me, a few inches to the waistline might make ‘em more comfy for you!
- Mini-bloomers in knits are EXTRA comfy!
- Be sure to measure your test square!
- To make it extra easy, edge finish the leg openings and waistband BEFORE sewing the sides together – always easier to sew flat!
They do look adorable on you! I'd love a tutorial, when you have a chance, on how to use elastic with your serger – do you change the differential feed? How much? Do you pull the elastic?
Super cute! I love the higher waist! I'd love more details on the elastic as well, it looks like you did a casing with two rolls of elastic at the waist? Or maybe you just followed the pattern and I should just read it.
Would it be weird to make bloomers for my sisters & girlfriends for Christmas? It seems like a great way to help destash..
So cute – I'd probably add extra to the rise like you did, I quite like the look of them! Love the yellow and the knit looks super comfy!
K-Line – OK – first, I actually used my sewing machine for the entire yellow pair (I was sewing at home, not work, so no serger!) It went MUCH faster when I did the pink ones on the serger! Also – I just did the main seams with the serger – I still sewed the elastic casings (on both) with my sewing machine! I'm really a serger dunce and will likely cut off my finger using it WAY before I can do anything more advanced on it!
Laura – I just followed the pattern! Sew a line 1/2 inch from the edge, then 3 more lines 3/8" apart from each other – then thread 2 pieces of quarter inch elastic through the little channels. I think the waistband is SO AWESOME!! It just looks so much nicer than my usual fold-over with 3/4" elastic…
And NO! I think these would be awesome gifts! They're quick and easy and sized a little more simply (with the close to RTW XS-XL)! Cute gifts! i also think it'd be cute to print out super small (or just freehand draw) and make christmas tree ornaments out them…I have christmas trees and red ticking on the brain!
I am actually making some for my cousins, aunt and friends, well, the ones that have sent me their measurements. This Christmas will be Bloomers madness. I love your Christmas tree idea by the way!
I will most certainly use your alteration for my aunt and me (higher waist).
YOU GO GIRL!!!!
In a knit—brilliant! And cozy!
Oh, got it. I think there's a way to actually use differential feed on the serger to attach the elastic (I have a serger book that complicatedly refers to this). But you really have to be sure you know what you're doing, or there's some fabric in the garbage 🙂 Needless to say, as a serger newbie, I haven't tried it.
Thanks for the alteration pics! I've been thinking about making these, but will definitely raise the waistline, too!
Thanks so much for the pinterest invitation! I signed up as soon as I got it. Unfortunately I haven't taken the time yet to figure out how to do anything. I think internet explorer might be causing some problems.
Jill – glad you got the invite! I found IE to be a bit of a pain as well. I did most of the set up (of the boards and stuff) in Firefox, once I got everything set up, I can surf in IE – but any editing to boards, etc., will def work better in Firefox!
How fun are those!! Very cute!
Love these! I think when I make mine up I will make similar adjustments since I'm about your same size/shape.
To K.Line: I atually have a foot that goes on my serger that stretches the elastic as it feeds into it. Once it's all stiched you have a very uniform elastic band. Very handy when sewing panties!