DIY: The Ultimate Terry Cloth Set
Out of all the fashion trends that emerged this year, I am the most grateful for comfy-chic loungewear. Don’t get me wrong- I love a good Blair Waldorf numbers as much as the next, but sometimes a girl just needs to feel cozy. And refined loungewear? That’s a thing. When I was perusing my local fabric store for cloth for a future project (stay tuned), I came across this terry cloth material that instantly caught my eye. As a textural person, I love terry cloth as towels, but even more so love the idea of a towel outfit. Thus, by the power of my own sewing machine, I combined these two interests: loungewear sets and terry cloth, and voila! I created this piece. And you know what? While you’re at it, perhaps add a dash of a desire to be at the beach at this moment.
You’ll need:
1.5 yards of terry cloth in the color of your choice
pins
buttons
needle + thread
sewing machine
your choice of clothing that would serve as a reference for sizing/proportions
The Top
When I sew, I like to visualize a finished product by the panels that it is comprised of. This way, the only real task to be done is attaching those panels to create the finished product. The top is composed of four panels: front, back, and sleeves x2. I used a wide/cropped top that I own to measure out the sizes of each panel and cut them out. Then, I pinned them together, visualizing the piece as inside-out such that the seams were facing outward, and then sewed them together. I then cut a slit through the front of the shirt and hemmed the edges. For an aesthetic component, I added cute heart buttons with an accent thread (green is my current color of choice). I decided not to add actual buttonholes.
The Shorts
Again, I referenced my favorite pair of lounge/pajama shorts to cut the panels for my shorts. Following the same method that I used to create the shorts in my matching linen set, the panels I cut were left and right leg as opposed to four separate panels for right/left/front/back. Because this is a looser-fitting item, you can get away with this. An additional modification I created was stringing a terry cloth string (simply cut a long rectangle longer than your waistline/create a trifold/hem) through the waistline as opposed to an elastic. I chose to create this extra step for a more refined look.
The Scrunchie
To create my scrunchie, I referenced this Youtube video for guidance. It’s simple enough and perfect for all your extra fabric scraps! Nothing completes a look like matching accessories (perhaps a matching mask?), another trend that emerged in 2020.
What better way to elevate your run-of-the-mill loungewear than with a texturely-fabulous fabric like terry cloth? I cannot wait to wear this towel outfit around the apartment or (eventually) after a dip in the pool. Enjoy!
