Last year, I got a bit punchy after trying on swimsuits at the local retailers, so went to the overpriced department store. I knew they would sock it to me, but I just wanted a swimsuit that would fit! Is that so much to ask?
Apparently, the question is cheap, but the suit is not. I got myself a Ralph Lauren swimsuit that I loved and wasn’t ashamed to be in whilst paradin’ around poolside or lakeside.
I will not spend that much on another swimsuit. Instead…it was time to copy it, so I can have more than one swimsuit that fits.
Here is the all important inside of the original swimsuit.
It has swimcups, powermesh and lining. I tried to find some “non-pointy-I’m-not-friggin-Eighty” swimcups at Joann’s…or really anywhere local…no dice. I ordered them online from here, and their sizing was pretty good as long as you understand cup sizing vs. bra sizing (ex: I am a 34D, which is the same cup size as a 36C or 32DD…it’s the band and the width between the cups that differs).
There were several pattern pieces, but it wasn’t too difficult to construct.
I used my last bit of the cup fabric on this suit. I have made two swimsuits for Anya previously out of it. Then I had a black/white stripe that worked pretty well, too. Again, I took pictures during the creation, but I’m not going to do a tutorial on it. Hopefully, you can get the gist from the pictures.
Inside –
The powernet in the middle really helps to control the tum, and getting your correct cup size is a pretty good idea, too. It all went together much smoother than I expected…so I made more.
This next one did not turn out quite as well as the first swimsuit. The problem was the stretch ratio differences on the two swimsuits. The first one is made of thick, less stretchy fabric. The second one was made of thinner fabric with a lot more give to it. This meant that the swimsuit turned out to be too big. I had to resew some of the seams (a few times) to get it to have a decent fit.
I used some of this fabric on a suit for Anya, so we can be matchy matchy some time!
The next one I wanted to make a bit different, so no ruching in the middle. I just cut a plain middle, but with the insets at the side. The insets are supposed to be an optical illusion thing, where it makes your waist look slimmer. Not sure if it works, but I like the fit on this one.
I have a bunch more swimsuit material, so I may make more. Now that I have a pattern that fits, it is pretty nice to be able to sew up some suits that actually fit! I want to make a tankini with shorts next. Those look like pretty comfy swimsuits and they have more coverage on the bum.
For right now, I am good, though. I have a swimsuit for each day I am in Vegas with my girlfriends!
My God you never cease to amaze me! I wish you lived next door so i could run around with questions on stuff! These look amazing, although I would like to see a picture of you actually wearing one!!!!!! 🙂 This last year I finally had to replace my bathers (which I bought on my honeymoon 6 years ago!) and paid an arm and a leg but was pleased with what I got. if only I had the wherewithal to copy them!!!What on earth is powerstretch?? I may need a TONNE of that!
I can’t believe you made that many swimsuits. You are a rockstar.