Pattern and Instructions: Make Do and Mend Overalls
The Make Do and Mend Overalls take inspiration from the women of the 1940s, who met change and challenge with ingenuity, practicality, and hope. Faced with limited resources, rationing, and increased demands on their time, they still found ways to dress themselves and their family, all while trying to hold a household together without despair.
Designed for ease, these overalls feature a shirred elastic back panel and elastic back waistline for extra comfort and flexibility. They also have a shaped and lined bodice with adjustable shoulder straps, a side button opening, wide-leg pants, and plenty of practical pockets. They can be worn on their own or layered over a top or sweater, making them endlessly versatile.
IMPORTANT: You'll find the tiled file (for printing at home on A4 or letter size sheets and taping together) and the A0 file (for printing at a copy shop like ThePlottedPattern.com). Please note that we have two size blocks, so make sure to download the correct files for the size you're making. If you have any questions about which size to sew, don't forget to read our blog post with all the details!
Don't forget to share your makes with the hashtags #makedoandmendoveralls and #charmpatterns!
xoxo,
Gertie
Comments (132)
Turning these into a short-all… just chop the pant leg? Thiughts?
Took a few weeks off socials and now I’m tearing up with excitement 🥰🥰🥰 I haven’t been inspired to sit down and sew in a very long time. PDFPlotter…I’m coming for you!
Is there a skirt pattern that would work with the bodice? I also think these would make cute shortalls!
Yes, there is! The skirt expansion for the overalls is the mid-month pattern for Glamour Circle+ members. It'll be released on the 15th.
I cannot get the patterns to download. When I select Download All, only the first one downloads. I cannot individually click the others. HELP! Got it to work by changing browsers!
I love these, particularly as someone needing adjustable sizes on a garment. It's great not to sew something very form fitting and then not be able to wear it half the time.
I love this! One possible request: as a very long torsoed lady I would love some tips on adjusting the torso length. It's easy enough with dresses, but jumpsuits and other trouser one pieces have been a little trickier.
Have been looking for something like this for ages! Thanks so much
I love this so much!! You read my mind!! I was thinking of making overalls for work… these are PERFECT!!!!! Thank you!
Ooh, love this! I'm hoping the mid-month pattern will be a flared/circle skirt hack to make a pinafore dress version. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
This is a fantastic pattern. I’m so looking forward to making this pattern. 😃. Thank you!!
I adore this pattern and really admire the thought and care put into the message and history lesson. I've been wanting a pair of overalls for pottery, but feeling so down about everything happening that my sewing machine has been sitting untouched, hobbies feeling frivolous at this moment in time. I think I'm ready to get back to it. Thank you, Gertie and Team Charm. Your message really landed for me. I'm very grateful.
I literally squealed out loud when this came into my inbox. I had been eyeing a similar pattern but haven't been able to purchase it. Imagine my surprise when I this my birthday month the pattern is the one I have been eyeing. I cannot wait to make these.
I am seriously loving the Rosie the rivetervibes I am getting from these I have to have a set or two for work!!
Could we make these as elasticised waist pants without the bodice? Also what blouse is Suzie wearing? Patsy? Or is it Marlene with Patsy sleeves? Looking forward to trying out some shirring. Always been nervous
It’s gotta be Marlene, the lapels are longer and wider than Patsy.
Loved the article and resources and the whole idea this month of immersing yourself in this time period and way of thinking. I don’t long to live in this time period (terrifying in so many ways) but I’m forever inspired by the creativity and strength of this generation and what we can learn from them. Well done bringing history to life charm ❤️🛠️
Does this come with the blouse underneath? If not, what's the pattern for it
Pretty sure it’s the Marlene Blouse from last year!
The adjustable waist is amazing! Thank you so much Charm! ❤️
Omg YEESSSS!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE 😍😍😍
ooh! Maybe this will be the pattern to get over my irrational fear of shirring.
She really ran with the request for more casual patterns. Nobody is going to argue this is too dressy. :D Love it!
super excited about these!
The bodice could be easily hacked into a summer top, and as others have mentioned it all could be made insulated for winter - just replace the shirring with an adjustable buckle tab at the back. This might be my new favourite charm pattern!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!
I'm so excited for these. I was going to hack the Rosie Jumpsuit to try and make something similar to this, but now I don't have to.
AMAZING! I've been reading a book on 'Make do and mend' the last few days! This design is right up my Rosie the Riveter alley! Brilliant, Thanks so much for this Gertie and team, i know i'm going to love making this one :)
I was very happy to see Buddy so engaged in the process. And my guess is you’ll wear that all summer, even if you have to redo the pocket to satisfy your need for order.
Love these. :)
These look amazing! So excited to try them!
Love love love 😍😍😍😍
I love this soooo much!
LOVE THESE!!!!!
This is going to be my summer romper!! I'm imagining these as shorts, with cute sandals and a big sun hat! I love it!!
Love this version! I have the Simplicy and the Folkwear versions and this pulls the overalls into next level with that back detail! Thank you 😊
Also the versions you can make! Winter ski pants in water proofing and lining for winter sports or a fleece lined one for winter walkies with the dogs! So excited every sentence has an exclamation point at the end. 😅
Oh, I LOVE it, just what I‘ve been looking for for ages! Thank you so much ❤️
Oooh, cute! Any plan to do a skirt hack variation? Also, what's that cute shirt? It looks a little like the camp shirt but with a sleeve variation.
I would also love to know about the shirt!
I love these be I definitely didn't guess overalls. Lol My daughter is already requesting a pair. 😆
YES YES YES I LOVE THIS!!!
This is the first time I guessed the clue! Of course, I got it after someone mentioned the Rosie coveralls. I love how fitted this is. I tend to look frumpy in overalls but the fit should fix that!
Adorbs!
Yeeees!! Love the 40’s and i love this!!!
YES I love these! Definitely the casual, practical, workwear, everyday type garment I was thinking of for this year's survey, the infamous "casual" lol - So excited to make these!
Love these overalls! And i can't wait for the monthly crowdcast about it
I was so hoping for a Claire McCardle popover dress, but I'm happy that this hits the vintage casual vibe. Has anyone done a full belly adjustment on overalls/jumpsuits before? I'm concerned this wouldn't work on someone like me with an apron belly.
I was hoping for a house dress as well. And I have the same belly concern. I don’t want it to look like a maternity overall.
Love this! Beautiful combination with the Marlene blouse 😍
Love it!
Loved reading the history lesson with this month's pattern instructions! My mother grew up during this time period, so I inherited a lot of this same attitude from her without question, so it was fascinating to read more about where it all came from! I'm enjoying this membership so much! I just need to get my machine running. Lost my studio to a flood last year and we're still recovering. The membership was my gift to myself for all that I've had to deal with. Lol
This is already becoming my favorite year of Charm. I'm part way through an American Beauty pinafore and now I need to make these overalls asap! I own a similar pattern from Big 4 but I held off making them because I always struggle with fit on commercial patterns. Now y'all have saved me the headache.
The overalls are perfect, no notes. But can we talk about the article? It feels like a letter from a strong, activist sister. Someone who knows the terrible things happening, but hasn't given up hope and shares her strength with everyone. I'm over here crying over a sewing pattern in the best way. "In a world that encourages greige, conformity, and acquiescence, making do and mending is a quiet, powerful way to assert your value, use your voice and creativity, and take care of yourself and your small corner of the world."
Be cute to make into a dress. Swap out the pants for a circle skirt.
i was thinking the same thing!
Finally! I was about to downgrade my subscription to the basic level because I don’t need more dress patterns. I need more casual separates like this!
i have no words. thank you for another dream pattern! 💖
I love overalls, and these are gorgeous. I'm afraid to wear them, because if I need a bathroom for a big job, I have to be sitting within 20 seconds, and I fear not being able to undo them in time. Same fear applies to onesies.
Thank you for putting in some shirring!
Super super love this!!! I actually haven't sewn any of the monthly patterns in a really really long time - they were all really pretty but not for me, one reason or another. But this is 10000% a yes
I love it!! 😍 I was looking for one, perfect time!
I am thrilled! I pinned another pattern company's version of these a few years ago and this project has been on my want to sew list... but I wasn't sure about the pattern. Now these! This is perfect!
OMG, I was literally just wishing I had a pants pattern with that exact side closure, I might need to mess around with making these without the bib part, because that is exactly the women's land army pants style I've been looking for and never found a pattern for!!!!!!
Ohhhh button up side pants! Yes!
This is perfect!
I am so excited for these! Rosie the Riveter Overalls were my first thought from the hint yesterday and I am so glad to see that I guessed it. LOVE IT and can't wait to make a pair I can wear to work. My students are going to love my new outfit!
Never ordered fabric and a print-out of the pattern this quickly. I cannot wait to start this one!
Absolutely incredible! These get me some excited to sew 🤩
I’m so delighted!! This is perfect 💕💕💕💕Thank you!!
Nice, I wonder how it would look as a romper (as shorts)
super cute, i’m sure!
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Thank you!!!
Nailed it!
Fantastic!! So excited and a back that allows fluctuations in the waistline. Many thanks, im delighted! 💕🥰
YEESSS!! This has been on my survey for the last two years haha! So excited to make these!!
Absolutely LOVE these! I've been dreaming of a way to sneak 1940s Land Girl into my day to day construction work clothes. Boom! Here it is. Love the stretch at the back - ladies you have nailed it! Thank you!
Ok this is definitely NOT something I will wear - but I'm glad for everyone who's happy about this.
Love these! There was an exhibit in the SFO Airport titled Rosie the Riveter. It honored the woman that worked in the heavy machinery factories. Definitely want to create a set honoring those ladies!! https://www.sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/rosie-riveter
Thank you for sharing the link
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I'm am beyond excited for this!!!! I'm a gardener and have gotten started making my own overalls from upcycled materials. THIS IS PERFECT
This has been my answer to the dream pattern question for the last two years! I'm so excited!
I am so hyped for these!
Sew cute! 😍
Thanks for putting out a pattern I can use day to day!
OMG Yes!! I have been wanting a pair of 40's overalls, but all the patterns I found didn't come close to my size. I'm so excited for these!
Same! There was one other overalls pattern I really liked but it stopped at around a 10, I think. It was kind of expensive considering how much grading I would have to do to make it fit. The Charm block works so much better for me, I am glad I wauted!
Omg i am going to Goodwood Revival car show in September and I will for sure NEED a set of these babies to wear! Thank you so much x
I love these! Is it possible to work it so we don't need the shirring? Something about shirring on myself makes me think about little kid stresses
When it is in the back it doesnt seem kid like .
OMGoddess, I love this pattern!!
LOVE! I almost cancelled my subscription at the end of last year because I was having trouble justifying having and paying for so many patterns that were not practical for every day but decided to stick it out because I love Gertie so much and I am SO SO SO glad I didn’t. This is perfect!
I absolutely love these!!!
So cute. The shirt under kind looks like a shirt version of the scout dress. I'm all about puff sleeves.
They make me think of Francesca Michielin at Eurovision 2016. She looked lovely and now I want to find the perfect flower print fabric to make a pair similar to hers.
I am in LOVE!
In my opinion, all bibs should have a darted bodice, so rare, such a special treat, this has been on my draft the damn thing yourself list for years
I've never wanted to try making bibs bc they are horrible for curves, but these are actually tempting me with their fit.
Yeeeeesssss I’ve been eyeing work overalls and this is perfect!
ohhh I wanted to stop my subscription but was too late for the coming year but woman I'm happy I'm still here!
These are really Nice, but I really hoped for å dress from the picture yesterday. I thought they finally made a 40's everyday dress that soooo many others want.. But no.. Not this time either 😅 at least it is the right era this time and not the awful 60's 🥳
Yes, I think I will make a cobbler dress in plaid for now . The overalls are nice too
I love these! Super cute and practical too.
YAAAAAAAAS 😍 I love this pattern so much. It looks like something id wear every day. The shirring in the back make thwm size flexible i would think and I love that. I have plans to make 1 on last month's pattern, but now I have plans to make so many of these 😂 I hope there is a shorts cutting line for summer rompers ✨️
Fantastic, and so much functionality and versatility for everyday life. Love the usable pockets!! And the elastic back is terrific for those monthly weight fluctuations. Thank you all!
I'm feeling this year with Charm Patreon will be the best one ever!
Apron dress meets Rosie coveralls! I love it!
That was my exact thought
Super cute.
Size em up 1-2 sizes, Make with warm fabric, and Im seeing a lovely pair of winter overalls (from the perspective of someone in Ohio facing down subzero temperatures and 2ft of snow 😅)
Oh that’s so smart. A flannel plaid lined denim for this would be amazing
Those are soooo awesome! I’m absolutely going to make those
So much better than I even dreamed!!! Love this!!!
The side buttons are so cute!!!
Making! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ farm chores will be stylin!
The buttons really make it cute!
haaaa LOVE THEM SO MUCH ! 🤩🤩🤩🤩
This could definitely fit the category of “casual” as my el Camino is calling. I need these for when I work on her.
SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP 😭😭😭😭 These are PERFECT for me to live my best 40s farm girl life! And all the giant pockets?! 😍😍😍😍
JUST NOTICED THE WAIST IS STRETCHY FOR COMFORT (*cries in hormonal bloating*) 🥹
I love this! I was browsing overall patterns just last week 😍
Youhou ! Trop bien 🙀🙀😍😍
Allez allez c'est partí mon Quiqui, roulez casquette c'est la foire aux chapeaux💃💃💃😅
Oh wow!! Love these so much!! Thank you for modeling them without a shirt on underneath too! Love that they can be worn that way in my hot Florida climate!!!!
Preach, though not so warm today LOL
Obsessed. Its like a dream come true.
These are so fun! Can't wait to make them!
Yessssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️🌸❤️🌸❤️🌸❤️
OH MY GODDESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEART BE STILL!!!!
Ok these are adorable! I cannot wait to make these!
SUPER excited for these, oh my gosh
So cute and perfect for your woodwork, fabric and design teacher!