SunnySewing: September 2019

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Sewing Swimsuits;The Story of 12 Swims Sewn- part 2

Continuing on with my 12 swims sewn; you can see part 1 here.

Kwik Sew 3238

My measurements at this time:

High bust: 37 Bust: 39

Waist: 31.5 Hip: 46

date started: 08/01/19 date finished: 08/02/19

size sewn: M bust, L waist, XL hip (sizing bust was in between M and L so I sized down, waist and hip were exact)

alterations: added 2” to the hem because it looked short. Added 1/4” to the sides of the tank bottom because it looked too tight.

Fabric: Purple swim panel $4.25/yard that I purchased in July 2016 from Hancock's going out of business sale; And Black Swim that I have no clue where or when I purchased.

Notes: The instructions on this pattern are fantastic and it sews up very nice. Even though I added to the hem the top was still very short. It also pulls up in center front so it feels weird. There isn’t enough support in the back to keep the CF in place. The bust darts are too pointy. I really liked this top and was a bit sad it didn’t work out.

Jalie 3022 and 3351 Mashup

My measurements at this time:

Waist: 31.5 Hip: 46

date started and finished: 08/01/19

size sewn: Z waist and BB Hip (sized up 3 waist sizes higher and exact hip)

alterations: I added 1” to the hem from the shorts line. I added 1/4” to each leg out and inseam.

Fabric: Black Swim that I have no clue where or when I purchased.

What I did was take the Z waist and briefs from pattern 3351 and attached it to the Z waist and BB hip from 3022. It fit perfectly without any other changes.

Thoughts: I love these! The 3022 are my favorite pants to wear ever and I made them as swim shorts for my mom waaay back in Jan 2016. So I figured it was time for me to make some for myself. They worked great in the pool.

Here is the suit I finally settled on for this summer. It worked well. I loved the shorts in the water especially. They stayed put the whole time.

I also made Miss K a new suit. I sewed her up a quick new rash guard because her other top wasn’t fitting anymore.

Jalie 3668 Valerie Rash guard

Her measurements: 34 bust, 27 waist, 39 hip. Size Sewn: T bust/waist to a W hip.

It fit great! She requested a longer hem next time.

Fabric: Purple swim from Hancock’s going out of business sale; Rainbow Tie-Dye Swimwear Knit from FabricMart. I purchased this in May 2015 for $4.80. I used the tie dye from her old swim top, just cut it up. (totally just realized I never posted her suit I sewed up in 2017 ).

Here is a picture of the old swim set, I don’t think I ever even got a full picture of it.

(picture from 2017)

I used this pattern to make her another set of swims this summer, too. (The blues do match, the top was just wet here).

This time with Blue Swim and Pixel mountains. Blue Swim was: Lake Blue Poly/Lycra from FabricMart. Purchased in May 2017 for $4.80 for 1.5 yards. The Pixels was 1 yard purchased
in May 2017 for $13 from SpandexWorld. Excellent quality swim knit.

I made the hem 1” longer. I fully line the front so I make the liner 1” shorter and use a 3/4” hem. This turned out to be a perfect suit for her and she used it all summer.

With the Blue rash guard I made her
Jalie 3351 Swim shorts in size V to match.

Adjustments: I took 1/2” off the waistband and facings. I did 1/2” hem and used the elastics for size V

Everything was perfect. K would like 1/2” off the top of the shorts rise next time too.

I attempted to make her Jalie 2563 as swim shorts first.

Size V. Also with the blue swim and pixel mountains. It turned out way too tight and she was not having it, so I went back to my tried-and-true swim pattern for her with the 3351 shorts.

Here is an picture of the elusive Miss K in her new swims.

We had a pretty good summer this year. I am sad to see it end.

Here are the previous suits I’ve made Miss K over the years: Jun 2014 Jalie 3023 and 3351, Feb 2015 Kwik Sew and Jalie, May 2015 florals, Jun 2015 Jalie 2805 and 3351, Aug 2016 Jalie 3351 and 2805, also Jalie 3247 and Suat Brazi for
her friend. As well as the ones I forgot to blog from last year (oops)

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Sewing Swimsuits;The Story of 12 Swims Sewn- part 1

We’ve had an above ground pool for a few years now. When we moved last fall we got rid of it and then summer rolled around and Miss K wanted a pool again. So we thought about it awhile and decided to get another pool. We kept our sand filter and salt pump so the only investment was the pool itself. I never really swam in our old pool; there were too many swim bugs and debris for me (germaphobe); also, it caused me too much anxiety to get into the pool because of the bugs and my fear of water. However, I forced myself to get past that this year and K and I actually swam in the new pool a lot! Because we were swimming almost everyday we needed new suits; my older Jalie suit – which I love – was becoming too tight for me. I don’t mind sewing swimwear as I find it fast and easy to sew. So I set off in a quest to find and sew a new suit, but didn’t have much luck at first, and ended up sewing 12 things. I will actually split this post into two posts because it just got to be too long with all the makes in one!

First up:

Jalie – Cora Leggings (3462)

My measurements at this time:

Waist: 32 Hip: 46

date started and finished: 07/13/19

size sewn: z in waist and CC in hip (sized up 3 waist sizes higher and 1 hip size higher)

alterations: none

Fabric: Royal Blue Swim that I have no clue where I got or when; and White/Navy Sketch Plaid Swim, purchased from Fashionfabricsclub May 2018 for $5.59 for the yard

Notes: the Z waist is waaaaay to small. The bands on the thighs are too tight; hemming without bands was also too tight. Need about 1/2” more in thighs

Resewn at straight size CC and added 1/8” to outer front and back leg hems at the bottom which equals 1/2” more room at hem.

Thoughts: I love the look of this pattern. I was very set on making these as my bottoms. However, they just didn’t feel right in the water. I am not even sure what it is about them that makes me not comfortable. I still love the style. Perhaps I’ll revisit them in the future. I do think the bands might have been better left on for in the water. But if I try that again I need to make them wider.

Then I moved on to the

Stitch Upon A Time – Water Faery Top

My measurements at this time:

High bust: 37 Bust: 39

Waist: 32 Hip: 46

date started and finished: 07/17/19

size sewn: Bust- Medium, Waist- Large, and Hip- XL (sizing exact on bust, 1 up on waist, and exact on hip)

alterations: added 3/4” to the hem, added powermesh to the bra part.

Fabric: Galaxy print swim for $4.80/yard (had 1.5 yards) and Red Swim for $4.40 for the yard. I purchased both from FabricMart May 2015

Notes: I sewed the twist tank style. I also found it much easier to use a zigzag stitch to attach elastics to bodice (on page 12) instead of serger.

Thoughts: I was drawn to the cool twist design on this top. However, the instructions for this pattern were horrible. It is very hard to see how to do the twisting top part and explanation is not well either. I spend a good part of an hour trying to figure just that step out.

The fit is terribly tight – like I couldn’t breathe tight. I almost got stuck in the suit just trying it on. I did not hem or finish it, deciding it was a toss at that point. If I ever do try to make it again (because I’m stubborn), I would size up 1 if not 2 sizes on everything and not put powermesh in the bra part; maybe adding soft foam cups instead.

Jalie 3351 Swim Shorts

I’ve previously made these a few times for K and also twice for me: Feb 2015 roses, and May 2015 stripes.

My measurements at this time:

Waist: 32 Hip: 46

date started: 07/16/19

date finished: 07/17/19

size sewn: Z waist and BB hip (sized up 3 waist sizes higher and exact hip)

alterations: I lengthened them by 1” with a 1/2” hem; I also removed the side pockets

Fabric: Galaxy print swim for $4.80/yard (had 1.5 yards) and Red Swim for $4.40 for the yard. I purchased both from FabricMart May 2015

Notes: These ended up being too big, too long, and the crotch rise was too long. So much for me adding length! Now don’t get me wrong, I love this pattern. I just need to find my right size again.

5 out of 4 – Xfactor tank

My measurements at this time:

High bust: 37 Bust: 39

Waist: 31.5 Hip: 46

date started and finished: 07/27/19

size sewn: M bust/waist to L hip; bra on C/D cup line. (sizing on pattern I was a M, S, XL so I sized up on waist and down on hip, bad idea!)

alterations: none

Fabric: Galaxy print swim for $4.80/yard (had 1.5 yards) and Red Swim for $4.40 for the yard. I purchased both from FabricMart May 2015

Notes: So I actually sewed this up twice. The first time I found the powermesh too tight in the bra. I needed 1.5” elastic under the bust and needed to raise the underbust line. The binding was attached weird and the whole fit of the tank was weird. The top was too long in the bust, the waist poofed up in center front and was too big. The hips were too tight. It squished my chest and was uncomfortable.

The second time I sewed the top (because I’m stubborn), I cut the bra on the A/B line. I lowered the front neckline by 2”. I added 1/2” to the hip on the sides of the front and back tapering to 0” at waist. I added swim elastic all around the top with a zigzag, then I flipped it inside and triple-zigzag stitched it. I did not use any binding. I used Purple swim panel $4.25/yard that I purchased in July 2016 from Hancock's going out of business sale; And Black Swim that I have no clue where or when I purchased.

Future changes: I would like the bottom front and back to be lined. The bottom needs just a slight bit more width at hips and the center front bottom needs more length.

Overall the second tank was acceptable to wear in the pool. I wore it a few times. It does tend to ride up in the front when swimming around so I think it needs to be a smidge tighter and have a front liner on the bottom.