A perfect swim outfit: Jalie 3668 Valerie & Jalie 3462 Cora

Every summer Miss K is bored and to combat this we purchased a pool many years ago.  This year my skin is having a weird reaction from the sun (due to medication) and now I’m also having a reaction to sunscreens. I can't use regular sunscreens and now my zinc ones are bugging me.

This doesn’t matter to 14 year old Miss K, she still wants to go in the pool and she only has me to go in with her since Mr. Sunny works a lot and her brother Mr. T is now 18 and working a ton to save for college.  So I set out to make a rash guard and leggings in an effort to minimize how much skin shows to the sun or needs sunscreen.

Pattern: Jalie 3668 Valerie Rash Guard

Date Sewn: 06/08/20

My measurements at the time: 38.5 bust, 32 waist, 45.5 hip

Size used: W for the bust, Y for the waist, and AA for the hip

Alterations: only the grading between sizes

Instructions: typical Jalie instructions. I had no issues. The drawings are very clear in what needs to be sewn and the written instructions are too. This is a fast sew since it is essentially a raglan tee.

Fabric: Purple swim panel $4.25/yard that I purchased in July 2016 from Hancock’s going out of business sale – I’ve almost used all of this up; And Black Swim that I have no clue where or when I purchased.

What I want to change for next time: The sleeves are long. I need to take about an inch off because they bunch up at my wrist and that feels weird when I swim.  The top is short!  I need to add at least an inch if not 1.5 inches next time. When I made this pattern for Miss K last year she pointed out that it was short and wanted it longer; I should have remembered that when making mine.  I need to also move up one size in the bust/shoulder because it likes to ride up my shoulders there. You can see that I need a bit of a swayback adjustment in the back, too.

Thoughts: I really do love this top despite needing more adjustments.  It covers my arms and chest fully so no sun burning or sunscreen needed there. I love how fast it sewed up. I printed the copy shop file, traced it, cut out the fabric and sewed this up in 2 hrs - just in time to hit the pool that day.  It works good in the water. There is no added bra top under this so I wear a sports bra with it now. I need to make a swim bra top to wear underneath.

Pattern: Jalie 3462 Cora Leggings

Date Sewn: 05/25/20

My Measurements at the time: 32 waist, 46 hip

Size Used: straight CC, I sewed up View A

Alterations: added 1/8” to sides of calf for my large calves. I added 1/2" to back inner leg piece for full thigh and then I also added 1/2” to crotch gusset to match.  I added 3/8" to the front of the back piece for thighs - this sounds so weird but makes sense when you lay out those color blocked pieces.  I added 1/4” from crotch to knee on inner front piece edge and 3/4” from hip to knee on outer front piece edge.  I added 1/8” from knee to calf on all pieces too.  Basically my alterations are for large calves and thighs.

Instructions:  These leggings are a bit complex putting together. They aren’t hard, there are just a bit of steps because of all the color blocking.  I have to sew slow and very carefully when putting the butt part in because you are sewing into the curves there.  Otherwise these are easy enough.

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.

Thoughts and changes for next time: At first the front seam bothered me – it twists around the front of the leg from calf to ankle. But now after wearing them many times, I’m used to it.  I do need 1/2” to 3/4” more room at the back rise due to my rear - you can see in the back view above that my waistband dips down at center back.

I think these are awesome. I love the design. I love the fit. They feel amazing in the water.  They fully cover my legs so no sunscreen needed there.  I made Cora's last year but in the shorts version and I wasn’t very happy with them.  I have to say the pants version really steals the show.  There is no inner swim brief in these because this is a leggings pattern, not a swim pattern.  But I just wear swim briefs under them.  I can’t wait to make this pattern up again! It is a real winner!!

Thanks for reading!

Kristin

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.

I actually really like this top and it only took a ton of sewing to get here, lol.  Look for part #2 to post tomorrow!