Clothes with half meters, it's possible!

If you are like me, you started stocking your shelves with fabrics when your children were very young and half a meter was quite enough to make one or two pieces for them. It must be admitted that they often grow faster than our ability to sew all the beautiful fabrics we have accumulated over time. Even today, I sometimes buy this minimum amount when I have a crush on a fabric but want to stick to my budget. So today, I am offering you five sewing project ideas for adult clothing using half meters of stretch fabrics (jersey, French Terry…) with a width of at least 150 centimeters. Of course, the suggested patterns are often "colorblocks" that will require using an additional 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 fit into half a meter of fabric for all pattern sizes up to size 32. Since it is a unisex pattern, it offers great possibilities, including using three accumulated half meters at once. You just need to decide where on the pattern you will place your "accent" fabric. If you plan to make the long-sleeve shirt, you will need a larger amount for the fabric used for the top of the shirt and the sleeves. For the short-sleeve shirt, the top and sleeve of all sizes can fit into half a meter, maximizing fabric use.

 

The Mix Tape Tee by Peek-a-boo

In the same vein 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, which goes up to XXXL, will probably be more challenging during cutting, which is why it seems preferable to use your "accent" fabric in the center.

 

The Xoe by PSCO

The top part of the Xoe by Petite Stitchery shirt fits into half a meter of fabric up to the large size. So the possibilities are more limited for this pattern, but it can still beautifully showcase your small amount of fabric if it matches your size.

 

The Parker Pullover by Peek-a-boo

For a hooded shirt, the options are fewer, but the bottom of the Parker Pullover by Peek-a-boo as well as the waistband can fit into half a meter for all pattern sizes. If you want to make the bottom of the shirt and the bottom of the sleeve, it will be easier up to the large size. The inside of the hood, as well as the front pocket, can also be a great way to showcase your small fabric quantities.

 

The Adult Free Legging by Sustainable Cloth Co

After four tops, I had to find at least one bottom to complete my selection. I would have liked to find a shorts pattern that accommodated all sizes in half a meter, but I didn’t quite succeed. The best I found is the free legging pattern offered by Sustainable Cloth Co which allows making biker shorts up to the second to last size, 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 suggested patterns allow you to use your half meters for several adult sizes, know that they are all also available as children’s patterns. On that note, here is some interesting information regarding the use of half meters for children’s clothing: it will be possible to make most short-sleeve shirts up to size 5 years like the Gomme balloune, Vanille or even Jujube. If you are looking for a long-sleeve option up to 5 years, know that it is possible with the Carambole. For most pants, it will be possible to make them up to size 2T, sometimes a bit more if they have a waistband and ankle bands (like the Évolution pants which can go up to 3 years). For dresses without a circular skirt, you can sometimes go up to size 18 months for a short-sleeve dress (Mandarine, for example). By making only the bottom of the dress, you can sometimes reach size 5 years. The option that offers the most possibilities is to make only the top of the dress with the half meter. In fact, this is even possible with some adult dress tops or rompers like the top of the Camellia by Samantha Marie Design. In all cases, it is always best to consult the instructions and dimensions of the chosen pattern pieces to determine if it is feasible before starting to cut the fabric. Sewing underwear or accessories, which often require less fabric, can also be a preferred option.

 

I hope these ideas inspire you to sew your half meters that you may have abandoned or allow you to be tempted by a small amount of a fabric crush that exceeds your budget.

Happy sewing

XOXO

Julie