Paper Theory Patterns: Zadie jumpsuit

Ah the Zadie Jumpsuit – from Paper Theory patterns it’s a favourite in the Instagram sewing community. I think I was pregnant when the pattern was released so hadn’t managed to make it yet. But I was so keen to try it. And boy, was I not disappointed!

This double gauze from Sew Me Sunshine has been in my stash for a while, but I had a vague idea that I’d like to make a Zadie with it. I love this print – the brown background with white dots…maybe it’s that dress in Pretty Woman, but I really love this colour combo on me.

The pattern is legendary in the sewing community, with more than ten thousand photos on the Instagram hashtag. It took so long to get around to making, I seem to really procrastinate when wanting to make an item that looks like it’ll have long pieces – see the Kielo Wrap dress, and the trench coat I still haven’t made… Anyhow, it was much easier to cut out than I thought – the cutting layouts are single layer and I really like this, I’ve been doing it a lot lately and have managed to save a lot of fabric in the process. Anyhow, note to self: stop procrastinating and cut out those ‘big’ projects.

It also came together much faster than I thought too. Even though I was working with double gauze, it wasn’t very fiddly or complex, just a really enjoyable sew. And then I put it in. Oh my! I didn’t want to take it off. I love it! The fit! The colour! The wrap front.

I made the size 14 based on my measurements. As had been noted before, I could size down, and the crotch is quite low, but I’m now too bothered about that. The waist seam sits quite low on me – the ties naturally sit about 1inch higher than the waist seam and so if I make it again I’ll shorten the bodice by an inch.

I wore the jumpsuit to my cousin’s wedding party – my first wedding since Covid, and Alba’s first party. It was lovely and comfy yet still felt glam, and pretty practical (toilet undressing aside) for doing lots of dancing with an excited toddler. I love how you can dress this pattern up or down.

I’ll be honest though, as much as I love the jumpsuit, I don’t always love wearing it. It’s nothing to do with the pattern, but the faff of wearing a jumpsuit. That feeling of possibly dropping your jumpsuit on the floor as you pee, and the frustration of the ties getting caught. It’s not something you can throw on and off easily to go to the loo, and with a toddler in tow that’s a problem! I wore it again at Christmas and seemed less bothered by the toilet issue, so the jury’s out in whether I’ll make another for myself again.