The Marigold jumpsuit sewing pattern has sooooo much design hack potential! Not only can you make a jumpsuit and trousers with it, but we're bursting with ideas for other styles and garments you can create.
Here are a few suggestions - and please do share your own ideas in the comments! Clockwise from top left...
1) Marigold-Bettine dress
This one's next in my sewing queue - a Marigold sun dress using the skirt from the Bettine pattern.
To create this Franken-pattern, you'll need to make some simple tweaks to the pattern pieces first. The Marigold waistline is slightly larger than the Bettine waistline, so start by redrawing the side seams - widening the Bettine skirt a little bit and narrowing the Marigold bodice and waistband a little bit so they're the same width.
The waistbands on the two patterns are constructed slightly differently. I haven't tried it out yet, but I expect it would work best with the Marigold waistband pattern piece included, as the bodice needs the extra length. You'll need to lower the waistline on the Bettine skirt pattern by 15mm (5/8in) to omit the Bettine waist channel allowance. Then follow the Marigold instructions to construct the waistline, pretending the skirt is the trousers.
2) Marigold-Dominique dress
Another dress option is to attach the flared Dominique skirt and sash to the Marigold bodice - this would be soooo pretty to wear to a wedding or garden party.
The Dominique skirt waistline is slightly larger than the Marigold waistline, so start by redrawing the pattern side seams so they're the same width.
Again, I haven't tried this out myself but what I reckon you'd need to do is lower the Dominique waistline by 40mm (1 1/2in) to omit the waist channel allowance, then sew the Marigold bodice and waistband to it following the Marigold instructions, imagining the skirt is the trousers.
3) Playsuit
Wanna get your pins out? Crop the trouser pattern into shorts and make a playsuit!
However much length you take off, remember to leave a hem allowance at the bottom of the shorts so you can finish them off.
4) Sun top
While making our Marigold dresses at TATB HQ, the team agreed that the bodice would make a really lovely top on its own. We think it looks cute slightly cropped, with the waistband sewn as a hem band. It'd look lovely over high-waisted jeans or shorts - perfect for sunbathing.
5) Spaghetti straps
We designed the wide straps to cover your bra, but if you're not bothered (or are happy wearing strapless or going without), you could change them to spaghetti straps.
Here's a tutorial on making rouleau loops. Maybe you could make two or three for each shoulder?
6) Bettine-Marigold jumpsuit
Joanne (our sales and comms manager) is planning to sew a Bettine-Marigold mash-up the other way round to mine, with the Bettine bodice and Marigold trousers.
If you want to do this too, just bear in mind that you'll need to add some kind of opening to the bodice so you can step into the trousers. One option is to add a 15mm (5/8in) seam allowance to the centre front of the front bodice and front neckline facing, and insert a zip - either invisible or exposed.
Alternatively, if you're comfortable with the basics of pattern making, you could add a button stand. I reckon it'd look particularly cute at the back :)
7) Contrast bodice + trousers
Not so much a pattern hack as a simple design idea, but how about sewing the trousers in a contrast fabric to the bodice and waistband? I'd love to see one of these with a white top and black bottoms (tuxedo stylee), or maybe a ditsy print bodice and solid colour trousers.
8) Straight neckline
Sweetheart necklines not your thing? Straighten it off!
Draw a new neckline on the front bodice, making sure the new corner runs at right angles to the centre front so it'll be a straight line once you cut out your fabric on the fold.
You'll also need to redraw the front neckline facing to match.
9) Dungarees straps
How about making a dungarees-style Marigold? Cute!
Lower the neckline and straighten it off. Lengthen the straps, maybe make them a little narrower, and add dungarees buckles. You could even make them cross over at the back on this version as you'll have the buckle opening (there wouldn't be enough space to step into a crossover back without these openings).
10) Tie straps
The straps could look really cute tied up in double knots at the shoulder. Make four long straps instead of two, sewn along one short edge as well as the two long edges. Pin the straps to the bodice, try the jumpsuit on and tie them up, so you have a chance to get the length right before sewing them in place.
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Remember to share your Marigold designs, fabric choices, work-in-progress and finished makes on Instagram, tagging @TillyButtons and using the hashtag #SewingMarigold so we can all see :)
