I made a swimsuit!
This is actually my second attempt, only the first one failed. I had used Vogue 9192 and it fit but was not flattering on me at all. Made me look flatter than a pre-teen! But it was good practice for the actual dynamics of sewing a swimsuit. So I decided to give it another try with more fabric from my Grandma’s Stash, before I use my nice swimsuit fabric that I had ordered from the Fabric Fairy.
I do have photos of me wearing it that I am proud of, but I figured I better play it safe online and just post the suit itself.
I used this fuchsia pink swimsuit fabric from my Grandma’s Stash, and nude swimwear lining fabric from Joann for the lining. I also used some performance power mesh from my Fabric Fairy order for the front panel of the bottoms. I had to be creative in cutting out the pink fabric, hence the center seam in the bodice band.
I cut and sewed a size 12, using the C-D cup on the top (because of my bra size), but I had to take in 3″ from each end of the strap for it to fit and the cups are a bit too big, so I’ll size way down and use the A-B cup size next time. And there will be a next time! Other than the cups on the top being just a bit big, everything else fits amazing and I feel like a rock star in it!
Because this pattern is old, I feel like the cut of the bottoms is a little dated. They aren’t quite the retro, high-waisted bikini bottoms, and they aren’t quite low-cut either. Somewhere in between. I had trouble with the waistband and how I wanted them to fit. I put in and took out the elastic, in various widths, several times. Finally, I added a fabric waistband with no elastic, and I was happy.
This is how they looked sewn according to the package directions.
This is the finished look with a fabric 1″ band added and no elastic in the waist.
I used woolly nylon thread in the bobbin and, I tell you, that stuff is a game-changer for me. I am going back and re-hemming all of my knit makes to date, using that thread in the bobbin. It finally makes the double needle hem look clean and stay stitched.
Now I can wear a Me Made swimsuit when I take the kids to the outdoor pool this summer!
