Jumper Pattern

Here's the pattern I used to make the jumper with. The ladies on the cover are just chillin' in their jumpers. They know you're jealous.

Vintage Rose Pattern Fabric Close-up

Here's a close-up shot of the fabric I used to make the jumper. I love how pixelated it is.

I Made This

I spent two days sewing this. I got this cool vintage fabric from Treasure Mart and I had an old jumper pattern from a thrift store. The fit is a bit wonky, hence the pink belt, which I hope hides the fact that the back is kind of bunchy and the two sides are uneven. Ooops.

Return of the Red Jumper

I wore my red corduroy jumper to eastern market in Detroit on Saturday just to make sure I'd have a jumper photo to add to wardrobe remix.  Here I am at the Heidelberg art project in Detroit.

Flickr Wardrobe Remix

I've joined Flickr, (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thousandships/), as well as the group Wardrobe Remix, where people post pictures of the outfits they wear everyday.

Sadly, most of my outfits do not contain jumpers. Why is that?
I do feel a bit of pressure to look hip and up to date now that I'm taking pictures of my outfits every day, and I 'm just not sure if Wardrobe Remix is ready for "the jumper." Do I suppress my true jumper nature to fit in, or do I expose my jumper wearing self, in all my corduroy, pocketed, pleated glory? It is truly an age old question and one I will not soon find the answer to.

In the meantime here's a picture of me looking like Alice when she grows and grows and her head comes out of the roof of the house. We have low ceilings and it's harder than it seems to take those timed self portraits and get everything in the frame. This is a hand-made dress with really cool details on the bodice and a beautiful bright green floral print. It's not a jumper, so, yeah, it'll never be my favorite thing in the whole world, but it's still kind of pretty.

What is a jumper anyway?

I'm glad you asked!

American Heritage College Dictionary tells us it is a "sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or sweater. 2. A loose, protective garment worn over other clothes."

I agree. The jumper is sometimes called a "sleeveless dress," and some summer dresses can become jumpers when worn over blouses or sweaters, as mentioned above. A jumper is not a sweater, unless you are Colin Firth in "Bridget Jone's Diary," and your "jumper" has reindeer on it.

I had to search a bit in the OED ( past a lot of fisherman and religious movement references) to find this:


b. U.S. A pinafore dress. Also jumper dress.

1939 M. B. PICKEN Lang. Fashion 84/3 Jumper-dress, sleeveless, one-piece garment worn with guimpe. 1967 Boston Sunday Herald (Mag.) 16 Apr. 6/1 (Advt.), Wear as a jumper over blouses. 1971 NewYorker 11 Dec. 3 (Advt.), Wear a jumper to dinner!

c. Comb., as jumper suit, (a) a pinafore dress; (b) a woman's suit consisting of a jumper and skirt.

1908 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 1149/1 An unusually pretty jumper suit made of soft striped taffeta silk. 1925
Times 29 Dec. 7/6 Sports stockinette jumper suits. 1931 E. RAYMOND Mary Leith III ii. 225 .Mary was in
a jumper suit of primrose silk. 1973 Country Life 2 Aug. 335/2 Soft jumper-suits in fine printed wools.



But I am excited to learn that the New Yorker advised its readers in 1971 to "Wear a jumper to dinner." Yes, please do!

The origins of the word "jumper" may be from the obsolete "jup" or "juppe" meaning a woman's jacket or bodice. First recorded mention of "juppe" in literature is from 1603.

Modest Clothing For Girls of All Ages

This picture is from jumpinbloomers.com, a website that sells "modest clothing for girls of all ages."  Just thought I should give them a 'shout out.'  They are not messing around!