My $15 Swimsuit, Part 3

Disclaimer: I am not an expert! This truly was my first suit and there were a ton of times were I wanted to throw it in the trash! But you have to take a step back and see the end result is worth the time to do it.

In yesterday's post, I listed many sites with more than enough information about suit making. So here are a few tips if you are a newbie like me.

Tip 1: Buy extra swimsuit fabric. I bought 2 yards and played in it. (My daughters did too, making doll clothes.) I wanted to see what would happened if I used ________ stitch and stretched it. How would it react to cutting? Did it fray? Could I see holes in the fabric after using my sewing machine needle?

(Get stretch needles!!!)

Tip 2: Keep trying it on! In the directions it would say, "Now try it on and test the fit." This is really form fitting and if you are not trying it on as you go, you might not be able to wear it in the end.

Tip 3: Don't give up!

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

Construction

Ok, here are some pictures to help you make the Alison Suit. I feel like I can't possible give you any new information but maybe these pictures will help.

Step 1 is cut the pattern out.

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

I did this the lazy way. I placed the lining together with the main fabric and serged it together.

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

Step 4: Is the bust insert. I liked the pictures shown in the pattern on how to gather the bust piece but that is the only instruction picture in the pattern. I did not make my suit with a lining or bra cups. I don't really like bra cups because they absorb so much water when you are swimming and as you are toweling off, you have to ring them out to get them dry. :)

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

After gathering the bust I attached it to the main front panel. Make sure the tab is placed in the center of the bust line.

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

I skipped step 6 because I did not make a lining. My lyrca, swimsuit fabric was very thick, so no need for a lining.

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

I found out the hard way less is more, when it comes to needles. Try not to use them much.

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

Sew the back band RST and turn it right side out.

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

Well that is the story of my $15 swimsuit. I hope if you were afraid of making your own swimsuit, like I was, this will help you feel better about trying it out! Once you make it right, you can make as many as you like!

Best wishes and tons of stitches!