Gifted Ankara | Named Helga Wrap Playsuit

Greetings to all! I've been away on vacay so I've been trying to get acclimated back into normal life but it's haarrddd. lol I was in beautiful Guam with it's hot temps and beautiful beaches, so to be back in the DMV with bipolar temperatures and city pollution is not the easiest transition.

As I had been planning for my trip, I knew that I didn't want to make anything new. I have PLENTY of outfits and warm weather pieces and I didn't want to stress myself out by trying to rush a last minute garment with my schedule being so packed the weeks leading up to my trip. It was decided: NO VACATION SEWING.

......thennnnn Named Patterns came out with their Spring/Summer '17 patterns: The Playground Collection. I basically dropped everything, including my payment information to buy the Helga Wrap Playsuit. If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you may know by now that anything with a wrap bodice is my cup of tea! That afternoon I had already picked up my copy shop print from Kinkos and was on my way home to whip up a quick muslin to check the fit and see if it would be an easy sew.

It is very rare for me to drop all my plans for a new and shiny pattern, but something about it intrigued me SO MUCH and I just had to have it. Not JUST have it, but have it for GUAM. I made a muslin out of some different remnants of cotton I had in my stash (stash-busting FTW!) and it looked pretty okay. I cut the size 10(42) straight because that's what I cut for my Kielo. I was nervous about the shorts part but it seemed to be okay so I forged ahead.

The fabric suggestion for the pattern is "a lightweight fabric with drape for both the bodice and lining".  Even though I was pressed for time and unsure about how the finished product would be, I decided to go with a cotton wax print. Yea, lol, literally the opposite of "drapey"... but it was "lightweight" so I wasn't tooo out of the ballpark lol no?.. After I washed and dried it, it was a bit softer so my nervousness meter went down a few pegs lol

I got this Ankara fabric from my aunt as a gift. I don't remember how she said she acquired it but she had been meaning to give it to me for months. She ended up giving it to me a week before Named released the collection.... fate or naw?

I wanted to take advantage of the selvage/border of the print in a unique way. I was really nervous about not cutting the pattern pieces on grain thinking it would result in playsuit being too small all around, but luckily I didn't have a problem with that at all.

The pattern only has you line the bodice but I lined (actually, underlined) the shorts as well because the white cotton was a little see-through so I wanted to have that extra coverage. The only part that isn't lined on this garment is the front skirt. The bodice back and shorts are lined with a satin-y material while the front bodice pieces are lined with a crepe-y lining. No one can see from the outside and I'm just happy I'm using up remnants that I bought so long ago when I was addicted to the remnant bin at JoAnn's.

For the drawstring, I bought some black cord from Hobby Lobby. I made it as long as I felt like and then tied the ends in knots. I loosed it out at the ends of the knots so that they would resemble tassles.

For the shoulder strap trim, the pattern suggests to use the same cord that is used for the drawstring but instead of doing double cord for the straps. I decided to use a trim that has been sitting in my stash for YEARS. I won this YSL trim from a giveaway that Leisa was doing on her blog back in December of 2014! It's so beautiful, I wanted it to be used for something special and that would be worth it. I absolutely love the look of it on this playsuit as it compliments the design of the windmills so well! 

The ONLY complaint I have with this piece is my own fault. I think I attached the straps in the back too close to the seam allowances, so instead of them coming out of the back bodice vertically, they come out horizontally. It doesn't feel bad wearing it, but I just know that isn't how it's supposed to be... so I will correct that in future makes. And I'm PRETTY sure there is a bright future for more of these in my wardrobe.

The only fit change I made to this pattern was to make the straps 8" long instead of 7" per the pattern instructions. I thought about adding length to it in the muslin stage but I decided against it. I'm glad I kept it short. I'm not a huge fan of mini dresses but I can definitely do short shorts... As long as I'm not flashing anybody, I'm usually good lol

As a general romper-hater, I have to say, I absolutely ADORE this pattern. The drafting, the instructions, the creativity! This is definitely a winner for the summer. 

And NO this is not a sponsored post... i wish lol. 

Named just hit it out of the park with this one. I want to give the Ronja Dungarees a try but I know I wouldn't get to that ANY TIME SOON. You know we sewists already have our never-ending lists lol I can't afford any other interruptions to it right now as I want to make a dress for Easter and a wedding I will be attending soon.

Anyway, let me know what you think about it! Did you see the new Named Patterns? Any one of them grab your attention?? Tell me in the comments!

See you back here soon!

xoxo, Tasha

Me yelling about a crab I saw LOL