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 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)