If you are like me, you started stocking your fabric shelves when your children were very small and half a meter was enough to make them one or two pieces. It must be admitted that they often grow faster than our ability to sew all our beautiful fabrics accumulated over time. Even to this day, I sometimes buy that minimum amount when I have a crush, but I want to stick to my budget. Today, I therefore propose five project ideas to sew for adult clothing with half meters of stretch fabrics.jersey, FTerry…) having a width of at least 150 centimeters. Of course, the suggested patterns are often "colorblocks" which will require the use of a different amount of fabric. That said, they will allow you to showcase your favorite half-meters.
The Upton by SMD
The three parts that make up the Upton by Samantha Marie Design enters into half a meter of fabric for all sizes of the pattern that goes up to size 32. Since this is a unisex pattern, it can offer beautiful possibilities, including the option to use three half meters accumulated at once. All that remains is to determine where on the pattern you will place your "accent" fabric. If you plan to make the long-sleeve shirt, you will need to allow for a larger quantity of fabric for the part that will make the top of the shirt and the sleeves. As for the short-sleeve shirt, the top and sleeve of all sizes can fit into the half meter, thus maximizing its use.
The Peek-a-boo Mix Tape Tee
In the same line of thought as the Upton, but with a slight diagonal variation, the Mix Tape Tee by Peek-a-boo offers the same options since the three parts of the pattern can be made with half a meter of fabric. That said, fitting both sleeves with the top part in the larger sizes of the pattern that go up to XXXL will probably be a bigger headache during cutting, which is why it seems preferable to me to use your "accent" fabric in the center.
The Xoe De PSCO
The upper part of the sweater Xoe from Petite Stitchery Enter a half-meter of fabric up to size large. The possibilities are therefore more limited for this pattern, but it can still showcase your small amount of fabric very well if it matches your size.
The Peek-a-boo Parker Pullover
For a hoodie, the options are fewer, but the bottom of Parker Peek-a-boo Pullover as well as the waistband can fit within half a meter for all sizes of the pattern. If you want to make the bottom of the sweater and the bottom of the sleeve, it can be done more easily up to size large. The inside of the hood, as well as the pocket on the front, can also be a nice way to showcase our small amounts of fabric.
The Adult Free Legging from Sustainable Cloth Co
After four tops, I had to find at least one bottom to complete my selection. I would have loved to find a shorts pattern that accommodated all sizes in half a meter, but I didn't quite succeed in my mission. What I found best is the pattern for legging offered for free by Sustainable Cloth Co which allows for a biker up to the second to last size, which is size 4X. You will understand that it is impossible to fit long pants into half a meter of fabric, but it is always possible to use it for adding small details like pockets.
If the five patterns offered allow you to use your half-meters for various sizes in adult sizes, know that they are all patterns available for children as well. On this note, here are some interesting facts regarding the use of half-meters for children's clothing: it will be possible to make most short-sleeve sweaters up to size 5 years like the Glike a balloon, the Vanilla or even the Jujube. If you're looking for a long-sleeved option up to 5 years, know that it's possible with the Carambole. For most pants, it will be possible to make them up to size 2T, sometimes a little more if they contain a waistband and ankle bands (like the Evolution pants who can last up to 3 years). For dresses without a circular skirt, we can sometimes go up to size 18 months for a short-sleeved dress (the Mandarin, for example). By only making the bottom of the dress, one can sometimes reach size 5 years. The option that allows for the most possibilities is to only make the top of the dress with the half-meter. Moreover, it is even possible with certain adult dress tops or rompers like the top of the Camellia by Samantha Marie DesignIn any case, it is always preferable to consult the instructions and dimensions of the pieces of the chosen pattern to determine if it is feasible before starting to cut the fabric. The option to sew underwear or accessories, which often require less fabric, can also be favored.
Hope these ideas inspire you to sew the half-meters you may have abandoned or encourage you to indulge in a small amount of a beloved fabric that exceeds your budget.
Good sewing
XOXO
Julie