I’ve recently had an urge for a jumpsuit that was kind of shapeless and which didn’t need anything worn underneath it. Not for public wearing, but to wander round the house in on a really hot day. Then I found the Fibremood Danika, which seemed to fit my mental image perfectly. It’s a bit shapeless, it looks easy to get on and off and doesn’t require layers. A bit like an adult romper or onesie really.

I committed to the pattern, printed it, cut it out of some beautiful cotton lawn, which may or may not be Liberty and then read the style advice on it, which says:

“Are you shorter than 165 cm?
Go for a fitted jumpsuit. It’s not possible to create a nice, balanced silhouette with a loose cut. The trouser legs should be straight or tapered at the ankles, and whatever you do – avoid wide-legged trousers. They will only make you look shorter.”

I’m 164cm so this did not bode well. I also hadn’t realised how short the pattern was, and had to add a 10cm band round the bottom after I’d made them. They still show my ankles, but I’m getting used to it. Having said all that I don’t mind the legs on this, although I do find the bagginess a bit much.

The jumpsuit has a little tie at the back but I decided I didn’t want that – I wanted an elasticated band, which is what I did. I really like it..

However, I really struggled to get out of the jumpsuit, to the point of panic, so I unpicked it and began again. I tried a vintage silver buckle but couldn’t do it up easily, so finished up going back to the original tie idea, except that I no longer had big enough pieces of fabric so they are pieced together.

I did add a patch pocket on one side, again I had to piece it together.

I made a straight size 40 but think I could go down to a 38 bust and 32 hips. After I took these photos I decided that the bagginess around the hips was just too much and I took them in by 5 cms on each side. Although I’m not sure it was enough, but it does feel better.

I said that I wasn’t going to wear this giant romper in public and then I did! I wore it for our wedding anniversary excursion to a local town (Augusta), where we had lunch followed by the most beautiful walk along the beach. It’s a really windy spot, as you can see.

The waterway behind me is the Blackwood River, which is the river that runs past our place and continues on for 80kms to here. It is a mighty river and it meets the sea just past where I’m standing.

As I’m entering this in the Make a Garment a Month challenge on Instagram, the theme for which is Jump Start January, I thought I’d better do some jumping – not from a great height of course!

This walkway is on the edge of the river and it was stunning. These gums have beautiful bark and I love the way the wind has bent them.

Here is the seated shot. Lots of room for sitting in this one!

I’m really liking this pattern; it does everything I want and being a Fibremood pattern, it’s well drafted and an enjoyable sew. Will I make another? I’m not sure, I would definitely add to the length, reduce the size, especially in the hips, maybe play with the neckline, I even fancy a colour blocked one, the possibilities are endless.