Swimwear

Top: Jalie 2805 - Size Q at shoulder/bust graded to S for the waist/hip.

Bottoms: Jalie 3351 – Size S at the waist, R everywhere else. 



Fabric: 1 yard Rainbow Tie-Dye Swimwear Knit from fabricmart.  I purchased this in May 2015 for $4.80.  It’s a great swim knit.  1 yard Aqua Swim Knit for contrast.  The top is also fully lined in front.  Purchased at the same time for $4.40.  Total for Swimsuit : $9.20



Miss K loves this suit.  She is super modest and didn’t want any type of store suit because they are too revealing. 



Miss K’s friend came to swim at our house a few times this summer and got a cute swim suit and bag to match. 



Bottoms are Jalie 3247 View E - Size R.  Then I put the swim briefs from 3351 (also a size R) inside them.  I did have to shorten the rise by 1” for them to fit right in the shorts. 



Top is the SUAT Brazi in XS

These were such a quick sew.  I think I made them in an hour.  Her favorite animal is a Zebra so I used my silhouette to put it on a bag for her with HTV.  I put her name on the bag too.  Fabric: scraps from my suit I made back in Feb 2015.  It is an Italian Swimwear print (nylon spandex) from Michael Levine, Inc. that I purchased in May 2014.  This stuff is super soft.  Top is fully lined, bottoms have the swim brief attached for the lining.

Rash Guard and Swim Bottoms–Jalie 2805 & 3351

I know, I know; I said I was done with swimsuits, but they are so addicting, and fast!
Miss K loves all her swim shorts but she keeps complaining about the tanks.  I got so tired of it that I picked her up a rash guard at goodwill a few weeks ago.  She loves it but it matches none of her bottoms and is sort of big on her.  The other day she wore it in our pool and I got an idea to use a Jalie pattern to make her a rash guard myself.  I mean, it’s really just a swim t-shirt.  (How crazy it was for me that I sewed this up yesterday and then seen Dawn’s blogpost this morning that she sewed up 3 with this same pattern!)


I traced out Jalie 2805 with her exact measurements because I wanted it snug.  “M” for the shoulders/bust and “O” at the waist/hip. 



I lined the front piece with the aqua so that nothing should show through but the strawberry ended up being thick enough.



I also made her more swim short bottoms (gosh I’ve made these like 6 times now? 7? I can’t even count) to match with Jalie 3351. Size “S” at waist to “O” at hip; they are a little loose on her but she will grow.  I omitted the side pockets and just retraced that part to be even with the bottom of the shorts. They sew much quicker without that pocket



Miss K loves this – YAY for mom!  I really need to let her make the decisions from here on out with what I sew for her.  She says the fit is great (except the armpit is a tiny bit tight).  I will definitely make this again for her.


Fabric for both:The strawberry is an Italian Swimwear Print - ML228125 - from Michael Levine, Inc.   I purchased it May 2014, 1 yard for $10. It cut and sewed like a dream and is a nice weight. The pastel aqua I just purchased from Fabricmart, 1 yard for $4.40.  It was very slippery to cut and sew – no fun.  It is also really lightweight and see-through when wet. Why are solid swim colors always more lightweight than the prints… Total for the outfit = $14.40



Summer Fun!

Jalie Swimsuits

To combat my lack of sewing mojo I jumped back in with swimsuits.  We have a 15' pool that we put up in the summer (my muscles and joints love it!) so I figured we would need more suits than just 1 each.  Plus, the local pool was rebuilt with a fun waterpark type theme and I know the kids will want to spend lots of time there this summer too.

Pattern:
Top: Jalie 3023
T for the shoulders, U for the bust/waist, and W for the hips.  These are one step up from my measurements.  This is the same I used in February for my other suit I made. The fit is still great even tough I've gained weight.
I added clear elastic to the top band. I didn't' have issue with it gaping on the other one but I haven't tested it in the water yet, but just to be safe that this one won't gape at all :-)

Shorts: Jalie 3351
V at the waist to a Z at the hip (one size up from my measurements also)
This time I was able to sew the brief correctly into the shorts so no seam is by the waist. Thanks Shirley for those awesome directions!!

Fabric: Pink/Navy Lycra stripe swim knit I picked up from fabricstalkers on facebook for only $3 for the yard.  I am smitten with this fabric!!  The white is White Activewear.  It has a soft brushed surface on the backside and wow. I wish I had more of this.  It is so soft. I used up my last scraps to finish this suit.

Insides, see! no seam!

Top insides include a nice shelf bra

I love these patterns - they are true winners.

I made another set up for K because her other ones ended up tight. So I made these bigger and they are a tad loose. LOL.  I'm done with suits for a bit now so she will just have to make due!

 Floral is "Italian Swimwear Print - Neon Multi" and is nylon/spandex.  .
Teal paired with floral is: "Teal Green Activewear" and is nylon/lycra. It is thin and really slippery, plus it is very stretchy. I would use it more for dance and not so much for swim; it was a pain to sew.  I used up the very last bits of both these fabrics.

I'm working on shorts right now: traced, muslin, adjusted, sewn, adjusted, wore. re-traced, re-adjusted... lol.  I'm getting there. ;-)

Here's a side by side of Feb to now to show my weight change. Small changes, but they do make a difference

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Jalie Swim Suit for ME!

And coming in at the 11th hour... my swimsuit!!!  This is my last entry into the PR active wear contest. I've been wanting to sew this suit for a year now and couldn't muster up the courage.  Sewing suits for a 9 yr old is one thing (she is such a rectangle) but sewing for me.... with all my weird measurements...That is a different story!

Turns out that I was afraid for nothing.  My suit goes together the same way as the ones I sew for Miss K.  And I'm super pleased with the results!!  It looks just how I wanted it too.  It has renewed my dwindling faith that I should sew.

Top: Jalie 3023
This is my second time making this top. I've made it for K one other time.
I sewed a T for the shoulders, U for the bust/waist, and W for the hips.  These are one step up from my measurements and the fit is darn near perfect!

Construction was a breeze.  I followed each step.  The straps are the worst part of this top.  The instructions are there but you need pictures to understand what is going on.  Last time I made this I printed off the picture tutorial by Meigan at "Get My Stitch On" and used it this time.  Much easier to sew.

I added the shelf bra without issue and used a thicker bit of elastic. The pattern calls for 3/4" but all I had was normal elastic and it was scratchy. So I grabbed the 1.25" sport elastic that is used for the tops of boxers.  It is soft on the skin side and worked great. I actually prefer the thicker elastic for support there, it is more comfortable.

Shorts: Jalie 3351
I have made these three times for K now but the first time for me.  Construction was easy since I've sewn them up a few times now.  I sewed a V at the waist to a Z at the hip (one size up from my measurements).  They are just a tad too big but I don't even care. I love them!  They are super comfortable.  The built in brief is nice too.

So don't be afraid to sew up something.  Take the chance, you may have great results!!

** It feels so weird to sew and wear a swim suit when it's -35°F outside!!**

Fabric: Italian Swimwear Print - Grey / Floral / Multi from Michael Levine, Inc. Purchased May of last year, 1.5 yards, $15.  I fell in love right away even though it's not my color.  It just has a vintage vibe to me and I love that. The white is White Activewear from fashionfabricsclub.  I purchased it at the same time. It has a soft brushed surface on the backside and wow. I wish I had more of this.  It is sooo soft. The negative is that it had roller marks and stains throughout the fabric, so I had to pick and choose my spots, plus it was the end of the roll.  But I love it!! 3/4 yard $5.21. 

Swimsuit total: $20.21. Can't beat that :)

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Swimsuits for K ~ Kwik Sew and Jalie

I'm trying to be ahead of the game this year :)  K has outgrown her last swimsuit and thus needed a new one.  She and I both loved her Jalie one but the band on top irritated her.  She didn't like the seam right at the bust.  I decided to try and modify a Kwik Sew 2725 leotard to make a plain tank, and pair it with the Jalie 3351 swim shorts. This is also my 2nd entry into the PR active wear contest.

Kwik Sew 2725
This pattern is for a leotard and you can make it plain or with contrast fabric.  When I first tried it on K it was 1" to long in the neckline and armhole. So I took 1" off at the shoulder seams and it was much better.  I used a size 10 in shoulders/bust for her and tapered to a 14 in waist.  I cropped it off as a tank instead of a one piece suit. I used clear elastic in the neckline and armholes.

The first top I made with flowers and teal contrast fabric, but K doesn't like the seams on the front. (that girl, I tell you!) Perhaps she will get used to it in time. I lined only the flowered front part with the teal swim knit.

The second top I made with leftovers of her old suit and an aqua swim knit for the back panel.  I also lined the front panel with a white swim knit.

Fabrics:
Floral is "Italian Swimwear Print - Neon Multi" and is nylon/spandex.  I picked it up last May from Michael Levine, Inc. LOVE THIS PRINT!! Perfect swim weight. 1 yard, $10.
Teal paired with floral is: "Teal Green Activewear" and is nylon/lycra. I purchased it last May from fashon fabrics club. It is thin and really slippery, plus it is very stretchy. I would use it more for dance and not so much for swim. 1 yard, $6.95

White floral is scraps from her first suit. This fabric was a clearance find at Hancock a long time ago.  It is nylon lycra and was $7.59 for the yard.  It is super soft and thick. I wish I could have yards of stuff this nice!
The aqua paired with it is "Aqua Blue Activewear" and is nylon/lycra.  I purchased it last May from fashion fabrics club.  It is a weird knit. Not slippery, but soft. I wouldn't expect it to be a swim knit. 1 yard, $6.95

Jalie 3351
For both bottoms I sewed a straight size Q and the fit was great.  I added the pockets to the side of both pairs.  I used clear elastic for the hidden brief legs. Not much more to say except that this pattern is awesome!


~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Jalie 3023 and 3351 ~ Swim Tank and Shorts

If everyone knew how easy it was to make a swimming suit.... Seriously. This was mostly easy and relatively fast.

This was my wearable muslin test for K and it turned out great.

Jalie 3023 Tank; 

Size L in shoulders and bodice to an N at the waist and hip.  I fully lined this puppy because it is white fabric. (well, underlined technically because I serged all edges together and treated lining and fabric as one).  I knew K would not want the shelf bra either so lining it eliminated that.

front

 back

I flew through the beginning steps and things were looking great. Then I got to the straps and I was so confused.  I read the directions a million times and the diagram was no help.  So I winged it but in the future, Meigan at Get My Stitch On has an excellent tutorial and shows each strap step in nice pictures. (Thanks to Joy for pointing me in that direction!)

inside

I had the skirt for that pattern all traced and then K told me she didn't want a skirt but shorts. Perfect timing because Jalie just released 3351 - a swimshort with brief pattern.

It came Friday? Saturday? I'm not sure but it came a few days ago.  I cut and sewed a size O - the size I use for K's Jalie undies.  This shorts pattern has cute criss-cross pockets on the sides.  I wasn't going to add them, but then decided I liked the feature.

side pocket!

Make sure you follow the directions.  I had to unpick stitches a few times because I went against the directions. The right side of the pocket faces up on top of the right side of the side panel. Also, when attaching the panel to the side of the shorts, there will be a longer piece hanging down on the main shorts - This is ok! It is for turning up and topstitching.

nice coverage

The only thing that disappointed me about the pattern directions is the last step. I thought I was missing a part.  It doesn't explain how to attach the briefs inside the shorts, with the waistband.  I used common sense and the picture they show - waistband inside with R side to R side of shorts (that are inside out) with briefs next. Whew, so it's a sandwich.  Next time I will baste the briefs to the shorts before I attempt to attach the waistband.

They fit great. I love them.  I will be making the top a tad bigger in width for K next go around.  We received 2 more swim fabric for her "real" suits - although this one is super cute and will get lots of wear too. This fabric was a clearance find at Hancock some time ago.  It just lists it as a nylon lycra and was $7.59 for the yard.  It is super soft and thick. The white bands are from a remnant at Mill End's closeout sale. It rolled so much I was pulling my hair out.  I also purchased some swimwear fabric for a suit for me :D  I can't wait to get it sewn.

love these pockets!

inside

Summer is finally here at our house. Yay for no school!  We had our town festival this weekend so we were busy. And this week is pretty packed - with camping ending the week out.  I look forward to some down time which should come next week. I have 4 or 5 new patterns arriving this week and I can't wait to get some ME sewing done!!

K at the festival

The kids are sumo wrestling as I type this... 

June Totals:
(stash is anything purchased before this year)
Stash used: 2.5 yards
Fabric Out: 3.25 yards
Fabric In: 24.25

Totals for the year to date:
Stash sew this year: 30.50 yards
Fabric out in 2014: 118.25 yards
Fabric in 2014: 129.75 yards

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~