However, I had a success last summer in making swimsuits for the girls and myself. They are swimdresses, really. A dress with shorts underneath. I tried them because I was sick of ill fitting swimsuits that let the girls buns hang out and/or drooped way down in front. Plus, I thought it might be cool to make myself one - thinking I'd be more comfortable in a modest swimdress than my regular suit. Having never sewn on stretchy slippery swimsuit fabric there was a steep learning curve, but they held together. (Actually, Leah's was the first one I made and ended up being stitched twice because all the seams popped the first time I stretched it over her head when it was wet. Lesson #1 learned: stick with a 4 thread overlock rather than a three thread lingerie stitch.)
So, after that success I was ready to tackle new suits for this year. Those girls grow fast, you know. :) Plus it would give me a chance to putz around and try some new things.
I am thrilled to unveil this years suits:
And this is what the shorts/leggings look like. They are not attached to the dress. The only way your tummy might show is if you stood on your head on the bottom of the pool for a long time so as to let the dress float down around your head. :)
I am really really happy with how they turned out. I love both the fabrics (the only two pink/girly fabrics in Hancock's scant selection - how lucky am I!) and I like how my pattern alterations worked out. Just the thought of altering a published pattern is a bit scary to me, but I was able to make it work. I combined the bodice and skirt pattern pieces into one so that the pattern goes all the way from the shoulders to the hem. So there are really only three or four pattern pieces: a front, a back, a sleeve, and the leggings/shorts are made from one piece cut in mirror image. I omitted the sleeves from the swimsuits this year - they are cute but not really necessary. I kept the sleeves on when I made the dresses (more on that later). I now feel much more confident about sewing on knits/stretchy fabric and think I can use my newly made patterns over and over again for both swimsuits and dresses. I'll have to transfer the adjustments every time I need a new size but I think I have the general idea now.
I want to eventually make myself a new one too using these pattern adjustments. A modest swimdress is INFINITELY more comfortable to wear at the beach or pools - its great in and out of the water, no pulling/tugging/readjusting straps and suit parts to keep yourself covered, just wonderful. I'll never wear a regular tank suit again. Probably ever. Never if I can help it. :) Nothing at Hancock tripped my trigger so I'll be on the hunt for some cute swimsuit fabric for myself in the next year or so.
The swimsuits are actually the culmination of a week's worth of pattern adjusting and practicing, but that is for another post. Maybe tomorrow. For now, enjoy the cute suits!
Notes to self for later:
1. Used clear elastic on neckholes and armholes. Stitch on wrong side, double fold, and then topstitch with a multi-step zig zag. I tried various tension/stretching of both elastic and the suit fabric and never got a really smooth fold. Still have to work on that.
2. Regular 4 thread overlock is perfect for seams and hems. Stretch the hem just a tad while serging to help it lay flatter.
3. The neckline can be lowered a little. I lowered it on Grace's and I think I like that better.
3. When making mine later, don't forget to lengthen the torso a few inches when drafting the one piece pattern.
4. Try topstitching with twin needle - didn't get around to that. Or doing a 'lettuce edge' on the bottom hem. Or some contrasting piping under the bustline on mine.
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