Dear Deborah,
When I decided a couple months ago to (attempt to) make Goose a swimsuit, I ran it by your expert craft brain. Was I crazy? Could you recommend a good lyrca fabric store? etc.
Of course, your response made me laugh (as all your blogging/emails do) "well, if my mom could do it back in the 70s...you can too". That built my confidence. And though you recommended an awesome Tranny-Drag Costume shop in Atlanta for fabric, I knew there had to be a swimwear shop somewhere online. And then....one day I found it.....on some blog I can't even recall now....a link to:
SPANDEX WORLD
Yipee!
So I emailed you the link because:
A) who wouldn't like to live in a place called Spandex World?
B) in the back of my mind I hoped you were itching to make a swimsuit too.
And....you were!
And you asked if I wanted to join you in a Coast-to-Coast sew-along venture. You in Atlanta; Me in Los Angeles. Um, totally. For sure. It'll be nice to have a shoulder to cry on, as my seam ripper goes to town at 12am. But we'll hope for the best!
So here we are, ready to cut and ready to sew. But let's show off my Spandex World gems.
Since seafoam blue (if that's what it's called) is clearly a favorite color. So I'll be making something for Goose out of this combo:
And if I'm really pleased with myself, I'll make her a second suit out of this orangey/red number:
For me? Well, we'll see if we get to me. But I have this when the time comes:
And as you and others recommended, some ball point needles to make the sewing process a little easier (though now I'm wondering if I should have purchased "STRETCH" needles instead):
No concrete pictures/patterns/etc of what I'm doing. I have an image in my mind though. And as I usually do, I'll use her existing suit as the guideline and go from there.I'm pretty sure though that I'd LOVE to make any of these from the link you sent me.
And for some FABULOUS swimwear sewing tips, check out Creative Chicks and their swimsuit info here and here.
Let the sew-along begin! Anyone else care to join us?
Talk to you soon Deborah.
- dana
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20 comments:
I think this whole set of swimsuit posts we'll be seeing from you will inspire me to try a suit for myself next year! Goose will be adorable in her new suit!
I've never even thought about making my own swimsuit - but now I want to try!!
Have been thinking and planning ALL WEEKEND during our many, many birthday parties--can hardly wait to get started. Jubilee!
Woo-hoo! Your designs are always so darling, I can't wait to see. It sounds like you've got some great information sources, so you probably don't need this, but three tips I would give are: 1) yes, use a stretch needle, 2) do the seams with a three-thread serger stitch, with woolly nylon thread 3) if you don't have a coverlock stitch (like I don't), finish the openings with clear elastic stitched in with a double needle and wooly nylon in the bobbin.
I can't wait to follow along! I am not even close to brave enough to attempt a bathing suit - not to mention living in the Pacific NW, there is not much reason to wear one... But, I've always been curious.
Thanks for the links! I have the fabric and have drafted a pattern, but I haven't been doing much sewing this summer. I need to do this before we go camping, though! I'll play along!
i think you need to replace the word "care" with "DARE" {in the 2nd to last line}. ha ha haaa no way josè. count me out. but i will watch & admire from afar. :) can't WAIT TO SEE!
MAKE YOUR OWN SWIM SUITE?????? You are brave.
I sssooooo want to learn how to do this! I want a modest bathing suit for me and the girls and have been too intimidated to try...can't wait to see how yours turns out:)
cute fabric! wow, spandex world? awesommmmme. good luck! if anyone can do it, it's you.
How timely!!! I was going to make my own then found a DKNY suit that was $130 for $30 at TJMaxx. It's strapless and I want to add straps but how was the question. Now I know - thanks for the links!
Dear L.A. (Dana) and Atlanta (Deborah),
I am wondering if Boston (Heidi) can join the coast-to-coast. I’ve been toying with the idea of toddler swimwear for my 2 year old twins as well. I visited Spandex World (many thanks) and have samples on their way. This project will force me to learn to thread the hand me down serger sitting in the closet. I’ll keep you posted.
Love,
Boston
How timely… my bikinis are both 6+ years and I really have to replace them, but since I signed up for Wardrobe Refashion I can’t buy a new one. As I have so far NO idea how to go about refashioning an old swimsuit I will definitely check out the links you provided. Good luck with your project!
Heidi (and others),
YES! Please join us! The more, the merrier, the cuter, the wiser? we all hope to be.
There's no official organization here. Deborah and I are just going to write letters back and forth to each other and post info about our process along the way. You can post on your blog and link back to ours. In my next post, I'll link to yours (though I'm not sure if you have one?) along with Su, another fellow sewer who's ready to take the swimsuit challenge. If anyone else would like to join in, just let me know!
I love you blog!!!!!So many ideas!!!!
I have been ithcing to make a suit for months!! I've been searching different spandex shops and patterns online. I just couldn't buy without someone's opinion. I'm SO EXCITED that you posted this! I'm definetly in on the challenge. I can't wait to see what you come up with.
I am so proud of all you ladies!!
Thanks Dana for the plug. I'll have to check back and see how it is coming along. I, too, just found Pattern School and at first glance it looks really great. I'll have to go check it out more. I'd like to try a couple ideas I've seen around the pool and lake.
Okay, REALLY weird... I was also just talking about making swimsuits yesterday. I already have some fabric I bought a few years ago. But I still have to design my perfect swimsuit (I have a few patterns, for reference). I have lots of ideas, and they keep morphing from year to year.
Oh, and I recently bought those same needles.
So what are you going to do about elastic? I was looking for swimwear elastic at JoAnn a couple weeks ago and they didn't carry it. I didn't see it in their online store, either. I wonder if Spandex World sells that, too?
I cant wait to see your finished projects!! especially with that polka dot print... wayyy cute!
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