I was looking SPECIFICALLY for a 1940s gymsuit pattern because they’re incredibly hard to come by. When I at last found one, I was fooled into thinking it looked quite simple.

Not many pattern pieces, short instructions. But no – it was that there basically were no instructions. I’ve bemoaned this before: vintage patterns assume you’ve done six years of home economics and your mother lovingly taught you how to be a neat little housewife.

This pattern was pretty much just blank tissue-thin pieces and a few paragraphs hinting at the rough construction. Everything else was vaguely mentioned by name – make soft pleats, slipstitch, baste – as though barely worth lingering on. Excuse me, baste? Like…a turkey?

Freestyling

It’s a massive challenge but I suppose it’s staving off Alzheimer’s, so I struggled through the pattern. As usual, once the big construction was done, I began to make it up as I went. I find it much easier to figure it out by myself than try to translate mysterious instructions.

Making clothes is something I spend a lot of time visualising. I’ll lay in bed with my eye mask on, mentally building a pattern so I practise the steps before moving ahead.

What have I ended up with, from all that obsessing? A HIGHLY customised 1940s gymsuit in lilac-striped seersucker with lilac buttons and big cuffs. I had to fit it to death with darts, I closed the crotch instead of having buttons, and the legs I actually shaped on my body to get the exact cut I wanted. I now have alarming needle marks across my thighs. Hot.

The finish line

Last night, I finally perfected buttonholes on the sewing machine – and then immediately ran out of the specific lilac thread I need. That’s on order but I’m ITCHING to get these goddamn buttons on. Eight of ’em.

As I’m a glutton for punishment, I’ll probably make the matching overskirt for the gymsuit (I’d imagine no one intended for a lady to run around without the skirt but hi, it’s me) anon.

For now, here she is sans buttons and pockets.

Update: buttons

Finally, my thread came. I did all the button holes in one go but hated every single one. Way less tidy than my practice. And last night, I sewed on the buttons. Eesh, tight fit. Definitely made the buttonholes too small.

Lessons learned, gymsuit earned. It’s definitely giving Rizzo. Husband said I looked like I work in a roller diner: success!