From the Couch to Crunches: Meet the Peppermint Wattle Tracksuit

Wanting a cosy new fit to take you from the couch to cardio, or maybe from lunch to lunges? Well, your weekend wardrobe just got a glow-up: enter the Peppermint Wattle Tracksuit!

The multi-customisable Wattle is a two-part pattern featuring a snuggly drop-shoulder hoodie and tapered joggers, both with nifty ribbed details. Where you take the pattern from there is entirely up to you… a crossover or funnel neck hood, two pocket options, matchy-matchy fabrics or minimalistic muted tones – what’ll it be?!

The Wattle is not a simple sew, but she’s not as tough as she looks. The construction itself is fairly straight-forward, but we’ve thrown in a few fancy details here and there (see: spliced bodice, piping options and colour-blocking potential). If you have the derring-do to take on knit fabrics and sew buttonholes in stretchy fabrics, you’ve got this one made.

In terms of the hood, the pattern allows for either a crossover or funnel neck. The hoodie can be made with kangaroo or in-seam pockets; there are slash pockets for the joggers (in a contrasting fabric, if that’s how you like to roll); and we’ve included an optional patch pocket to adorn the derriere.

The joggers are a classic fit. Think: waist-sitting, thigh-loving – but not too loving – with a beautiful taper to a ribbed cuff at the ankle. Naturally, there’s an elastic waistband (because if there’s not an elastic waist, it’s not suited to Sunday feasting/lounging – and that kind of tracksuit has no place in your life).

We’re sewing for comfort and function here, so in terms of fabrics you want something soft and with a bit of stretch, like a French terry, sweater knit or fleece.

For our versions we chose the ‘See You At Six’ french terry in Tofu Beige for the patterned hoodie and our joggers and black hoodie were sewn from Australian Good Earth Cotton French Terry in Black. Ribbed details were made using Australian Organic Heavy Ribbing in Black. The piping on the black hoodie was made with ‘See You At Six’ french terry in Autumn Maple Orange. We also used Vilene Knit fusible interfacing and a flat drawstring cord for this make. All this and MUCH more is available from our pal and pattern sponsor, Maaidesign.

A fabric shop built by a sewist, for sewists, Maaidesign is based in Victoria’s High Country. Born from her frustration of not finding clothing that fit properly, Maaike (founder) dusted off her sewing machine and started sewing them herself, while sourcing joyful, quality fabric that she decided to share with other sewists searching for the same thing. A one-stop shop with a multitude of fabrics, patterns and supplies, Maaidesign is a small business run by a very friendly team. Maaidesign offers carefully selected patterns and fabrics that are not only lovely to wear, they also stay lovely wash after wash. Maaike also hosts an online sewing community, Modern Makers, built around genuine friendship and mutual support which offers personal fitting support, masterclasses, sewing challenges and pattern credits (she describes it as “a quiet corner of the internet for sewists of all levels”). Maaidesign’s support made it possible for us to create the Peppermint Wattle Tracksuit (big thanks, Maaike!).

Our snazzy suits were sewn up – AND modelled (can she do no wrong?!) – by our sewing manager, Laura Jackson, and photographed by another multi-hyphenate, Kate Weychardt of @KatieMakesADress.

And in more exciting news, you can get the Wattle Tracksuit pattern FREE with the newly-released edition of our digital sewing magazine, Sew&Tell!⁠

Sprint over here to grab the pattern, or buy Sew&Tell and nab it for free!