Swim Swim

A few years ago (was it last summer, or the summer before?) I started sewing a swimsuit.

It is a vintage sewing pattern: Simplicity 5696  Really it's a swim dress, and could easily be a tennis dress in different fabric. The suit is not super form fitting though it is fully lined. Fabric was found at Mill End in their flatfolds.

I got part way through, took a break and then this summer decided I needed to get it finished. What was left was shortening the shoulder straps, hemming it, and making the shorts. I bought a second pattern to make shorts that I thought I would like better. (See figure B). The shorts fit well with no alterations, I just added elastic at the waist and legs. I bought a strapless bra type of thing you can sew into a dress/swimsuit. This summer I decided instead to sew an old bra into the suit. I think it will work much better and be more comfortable.

Anyway, I'm very happy with the result, and I'm pretty sure I will be wearing the suit tomorrow on my vacation! I don't swim much, and I have not had a real swimsuit for like at least 6 years. (sad but true).

Overall, the fabric was not to hard to sew. The machine did not like it if I tried to use zigzag stitch, but straight stitch worked pretty well. It is sort of a heavy suit because it is fully lined and it is a dress, so there is a lot of fabric. Anyway, I am really pleased with it, and I would recommend these patterns to intermediate sewers who are interested in trying out something new.

I researched off and on for shapes I liked and I think that if I did another suit some day I might make the back not so high necked. Yes it does have a zipper. I know, right?!! Just makes me think of the vintage suits we tried on at my grandma's house when we were kids.

a few links:
Glamoursplash a cool blog about vintage swimwear, etc.
Popina buy vintage inspired swimwear in Portland.
Retronaut Vintage Jantzen ads  Jantzen is super cool, with its history in Portland, and there are lots of vintage suits for sale if you want to spend the money.
I also spent a while on Etsy looking at vintage suits, and also just looking at vintage photographs.
Etsy link 1, Etsy link 2, Etsy link 3

A project update.

I'm so close to being finished with a certain project that I'm excited about. I can't talk too much about it as it is a surprise. Let's just say that I'm learning more about altering clothes. It has been a fun project because I'm working on it with my friend, so we're trying to figure it out together. Anyway, I think I will be done soon. I spent a lot of today hand sewing on it.

I finally finished hemming and altering a shirt for Mike, which is great, but I have three more to work on. It is going sort of slowly, as I'm used to working on stuff for myself, and he is taller and bigger than me, and guys clothes definitely fit differently. The first shirt turned out pretty good, and I learned a lot, and I think the next ones will be better.

I started on a top project, but I'm already worried that it will look like a maternity top. ha. It's probably just not a good style for my body shape, and mainly, like most commercially made patterns, I'm making my size, but it's probably two sizes too big. here's some photos of other ones people have made. I think if I can just take it down several sizes it will look better, but right now I'm a little worried. Most of what I read about it is that other sewers altered it. Anyway, I am making a test one first to try to get the fit right, before I try different fabric.

Today I also printed out (Finally!) the Colette Sorbetto free pattern. I'm really excited about that one. It seems simple, but there are so many different options with fabric. I love seeing other people's designs, and I really really wish there was a ravelry-like site for sewing clothes.

So, I should get back to sewing... and when I finally finish something I will take some photos!

The distant future. The year 2000.

I saw this on a Facebook post by the Pendleton Woolen Mills. WOW!