Nettie bodysuit + Simplicity 2413

I've decided that I need to make an effort to make entire outfits instead of just pieces. Lately, I've been sewing sort of random don't-go-with-anything-else-I-own items, and then guess what? I don't wear them, because they don't go with anything. This outfit was a concerted effort, and I think I did pretty well. Couple of problems, but that's inevitable.

Two patterns here: the Nettie bodysuit by Closet Case Patterns (you'll just have to trust me that it is indeed a body suit, and not just a top. Confidence is not high enough to pose on the interwebs wearing basically an adult onesie.) and view A of  Simplicity 2413, which I think might be out of print. I've had that pattern for ages; I actually made view B in probably 2009, then never wore it (shocker) because it is a paper bag skirt, and those are tough to wear if you're not a size 2. Which I am not. But anyway. This time I made view A, which is much more normal and wearable. 

So, the bodysuit. When I bought the pattern my husband thought I was insane, but honestly it's exactly what I've been needing for-EV-er and just had never realized. With this style of skirt, it's so hard to keep your top tucked in, or not bunchy, and usually things end up looking odd, or I get frustrated and just change into my Argentina t-shirt and jean shorts and say, "Screw it, didn't want to look nice anyway." Bodysuit under skirt: genius. Works so much better. This is my second Nettie. My first was a pretty epic fail, because I used some white knit from JoAnn's that was way too lightweight and stretched out during sewing. That bodysuit is about 6 inches too long for me, and that's awkward. Plus I made the version with the lower back, and it always feels like it's falling off my shoulders. So for this version, I bought some true medium weight knit online from Girl Charlee (great store), and it was night and day different when sewing. So much better. I also made the higher-backed version, just for peace of mind. It's an easy, quick pattern to sew. The only changes I made were to sew on the bands flat instead of in the round, because that's just my preference. 

Skirt! I used one of the "silky solids" from JoAnn's, and it's pretty nice. There's some weight to the fabric, which surely made it easier to sew. I really wish I would have read through the instructions fully before I started, because for reasons that would make sense never, the invisible zipper is on the same seam as the pocket. I could not figure out how to put that zipper in. First I sewed it in so that the pocket was sewn closed, then I was dumb and sewed the zipper in wrong-side-out, then I just sort of sat and stared at it for awhile. I finally got it, but geesh. It would have been so easy to just put the zipper in at the center back instead and not have to bother.

See? That's stupid. 

In conclusion: these are the types of pieces I need to be sewing. I like to wear higher-waisted skirts with belts, so in theory, that's what I should be sewing, yes? Instead, in the past couple of months, I've made an anchor-print romper that absolutely does not fit; an open-back, buttoned, zippered top that's just a bit too complicated; a peter-pan-collared little girl dress (but for me, not a little girl); and a pair of pj shorts that are sorority-girl tiny. Great success! But no, not really. Mostly, the pile of "oh wow that is awful, now what do I do with it?" stuff is just getting bigger and bigger in the craft room. Ah well. Live and learn.