Bathers

A fancy cosi for my (big) little swimmer

June 25, 2014


Isabella began swimming lessons this year.  I hoped to begin her earlier but didn't know how I would manage tto keep two toddlers happy poolside.  My Mum now graciously minds Juliette and Emily while Issie and I head off to swimming lessons after school.  Juliette swims on a separate day while Emily paddles in the baby pool:) I have already made Issie a suit using my cosi pattern (which you can see on the pattern cover), but it is not made from lycra and although it is suitable for the water, the fabric is thick and takes ages to dry at the moment mid winter.  I needed to make Issie one from lycra and I have been waiting to use this beautiful fabric since buying it two years ago.


I adjusted my pattern (View C) a little as I wanted to incorporate some of this pretty gold bias binding that I received from Rachel - who has now become a good friend and writes one of my favourite blogs - stitched together. Rachel sent me a very generous package as part of the mailbox surprise series (hosted by Marta and Marte) earlier in the year which included silver and gold bias binding. I found the lycra at The Fabric Store in Melbourne - it is an offcut of a Tigerlily swimsuit fabric (an Australian swimwear brand). I love it.  I altered my pattern by simply omitting the elastic around the top of the suit and sewing it in two parts - the bias binding across the top horizontal line and then binding the suit top with the swimsuit fabric and extending this to create straps.  I stretched the swimsuit fabric binding slightly as I sewed. it.  Since the bias binding is under no strain it does not need to stretch.  I also added it to the outer hem of the leg frills.  Bling!


I used my sewing machine entirely for this suit and it took me about an hour and half from start to finish (including a broken double stretch needle - ouch, that costs!).  The leg elastic was sewn down with zig zag instead of the double top stitch. I sewed up a size five for Issie and it has a little room in it which I expected since her and Juliette have the same chest size.  This way it will hopefully fit all through summer (until I need to make another one!!)

  
Watch me go Mum! Isabella looked very fancy turning up to her swimming lesson this evening!

If you are wondering whether you can tackle making a swimsuit, they really are not as hard as they look!! If you have sewn with stretch before, I am sure you can do it!! You can buy my pattern here.  And I can't wait to see many more cosis coming up very soon as part of my July tour:)) Details of all my lovely partipants coming soon!






Bathers

Cosi two piece and an EARLY CALL FOR PATTERN TESTERS

April 18, 2014


Here is a two piece view of my upcoming pattern: the cosi swimsuit.  You can see the other two pairs I have made and my pattern cover here. 

Below are the line drawings of each of the views for this pattern.  Each view can be either made halter neck or with adjustable crossed straps.  The leg frills can be added to any view (except View D). Pattern is sized 6 mo - 10 years.  It can be made fully lined or with just a lined gusset.


Some of these photos are not great as I snapped them inside late this afternoon, but I wanted to get this post published today so that I could put out an early call for pattern testers before people got busy with their easter weekend!  This pair needs to be altered a little - notably, lowering the waistline a little (although they will still be high waisted compared with standard briefs/bikinis).


I don't remember where I bought this fabric - it has been in my 'stretch stash' for a while.  It is lycra.


My pattern will not be ready for testing until some time next weekend, however, since great swimsuit fabric can sometimes be difficult to find, I thought I would select my testers this weekend so that they could go ahead and get their fabric organised before the pattern is ready to be tested.  I will invite selected testers to a facebook group where I will let you know the supplies you will need and also give you some tips of good online suppliers of swimwear fabric.


If you would like to test, please only sign up if the following applies to you:

  • My child fits in standard sized clothing for age (ie. is three and size 3 ready to wear clothing fits very well)
  • I can sew the swimsuit and give feedback (including photos of suit being worn) within a week of being provided with pattern.

 If you would like to test, please sign up HERE.  I will notify testers by email in the next two days. TESTER CALL NOW CLOSED THANK YOU!!


Thank you and let me know in the comments if you have any questions!!

Bathers

An unexpected day at the beach

April 06, 2014


April in Victoria is usually not a beachy month.  Mid autumn, we are usually swapping cotton sheets for flannelette.  But we have had lovely weather lately where I live and last week we had two days well above 30 degrees.  I sometimes have ulterior motives for outings...taking photographs!  I wasn't going to let an opportunity to photograph my girls at the beach in their new bathers in warm weather go to waste!  So here are some happy snaps of our afternoon...

 
 

You  might notice that Juliette's bathers look a little different.  I noticed the stretch lace trim that I originally put on the suit (here) was rubbing on her legs.  I unpicked all of it and replaced the trim with a gathered frill around the legs.  I like it better this way and clothing being uncomfortable is not on.


And here is little Emily...she is not wearing a homemade bikini (hand me down third child), but she was certainly having a ball!



Thankfully, I got a decent photo of both girls (front on) that will be my pattern cover...yay!!!  I have my blog tour sorted and am hoping this pattern will be ready for release on May 5th!


Bathers

Swimsuit number 2

March 25, 2014


I finished view two of my (work in progress - early stages) swimsuit pattern today.  


This one is also a one piece - with no central seams, featuring adjustable crossed back straps and a peplum frill. I was inspired by this pin my friend Mie from Sewing like mad pinned last week.  I was already planning on making the swimsuit without central seams and ruching and with the adjustable straps but the frill just got me excited!! The peplum frill will be an option to add to all one suit views (of which there will be three - ruched centre pane (like this one) l, flat centre panel, no panel - seen here). 



I was also excited to see if I could locate this bird print that I found at my local spotlight a few weeks ago.  I had noticed it on the clearance table but had no project in mind for it.  But since deciding to  work on this pattern, I thought the bird print would look great.  If you love this print as much as I do, keep an eye on my blog and facebook page as I will be giving away a metre along with my pattern when it is ready for release.


The strap construction had me taking my bra off to examine how the loops were configured! Perhaps I will include that tip in my finished pattern!

I will leave you with Isabella and her best blue steel impersonation!!


I hope you like this version!  On to the ruched two piece next - this time for Emily.  I am also very excited to show you a new dress design I came up with over the weekend!!


Bathers

A swimsuit....a pattern in the works???

March 17, 2014


If you have been following sewpony for a while, you might have seen a few versions of a dress and tunic pattern that I was working on last year.  I have stagnated on this pattern, and although I would love to finish it, I just need to put it aside for now as I have made several versions already and need a break from it so that I can be excited about it again.  I might look at it again towards the end of the year.  

So, that said, I had a brainwave the other night that the sewing world needs more swimwear sewing patterns for kids.  I have made a few pairs of bathers (Aussie word for 'bathing suit') for my girls and they were a very satisfying sew.  I was sure I had seen a pair on pinterest somewhere that I had pinned of a rouged/gathered centre panel but after searching and searching, I could not find the image that inspired these bathers...perhaps I dreamt it instaed?  Anyway...here is a hopeful pattern in the works.  A one piece and two piece pair of bathers.


My first prototype features:
one piece
halter tie neck
gathered centre front panel
fitted body
low cut leg line
elasticised lace trim
fully lined


Here is a close up of the gathering - I love the effect.  I might make it a bit more gathered for the actual pattern. Do you also notice my tres awesome wallpaper?  Orla Kiely - Linear stem in stone.  I LOVE it.  My sister helped me put it in last weekend. 


I am not sure if the trim should just be around the legs?  Anyway, people can decide where they would like to put it.

The two piece variation would look as though the one piece was chopped in half - it will have an elasticised hem under the chest and high waisted briefs with an elastic casing.  I used rubber elastic around the top and legs but think regular elastic would have been fine.  The rubber elastic is twice the price. I will probably not have the neck ties as long, but I am not sure...


So it might seem a bit strange that I am drafting a bathing suit pattern when we are in autumn here in Australia, but my girls have just started swimming lessons and will be donning their bathers weekly this year, so these babies won't go to waste!

I have a HUGE list of things to sew over the next five weeks but I am really excited to work on this pattern. I would love to release it in May in time for the Northern Hemisphere summer.  I am also working on another dress pattern...but with three kids - two at home, school drop offs, pick ups, swimming, painting the house, playgroup, coffee dates, hanging out with my Mum and other busy things, I need more hours in the day!

I would love to hear what you think of my first version...any suggestions?  Have you sewn bathers before? Would you buy a PDF bathers pattern?  Thanks and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these vintage inspired bathers/swimsuit/bathing suit!!

Bathers

Roots: Sewing your heritage

January 31, 2014


I am excited today to be the last guest in the lovely sewing series called - Roots: Sewing your heritage, hosted by the lovely Heidi of Elegance and Elephants.  Heidi has invited bloggers from around the world to create something inspired by their cultural/family heritage.  You can read the introductory post here.  I am the Aussie counterpart!

Here is my wonderful and lucky country, Australia!!!


Australia has been inhabited by Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years.  Europeans first settled in Australia in 1788.  The 'First Fleet' captained by Captain Cook arrived and Eurpoeans began colonising the country.  Therefore, our documented history is quite short.  There is no real 'national dress' that is associated with being Australian.  Most Aussies would own a pair of 'thongs' or 'flip flops' (you will see Isabella wearing these on her feet).  After being invited by Heidi, I started brainstorming ideas that might capture the essence of my heritage...  

I am Australian, born and bred.  The previous three generations of my family tree (parents, grandparents and great grandparents ) were all also born in Australia.  So, a very 'Aussie' look was what I was after.  I did toy with trying to create something inspired by Australia's convict history, I could also create something inspired by Australia's Aboriginal culture.  But since I do not have any direct family ties to Aboriginal culture so for me, sewing my roots came down to sewing something inspired by my childhood and the landscape of Australia.  With this in mind,  I decided to create something based on the Australian coastline.  Australia is a one huge, amazing island.  The majority of the population are scattered around the coastline.

Australia has some amazing beaches.  I have visited much of the coastline throughout my life - both as a teenager and also an adult.  We boast the Great Barrier Reef, Broome, Byron Bay, Ningaloo Reef, The twelve apostles, Wilson's Promontary and countless other famous Australian landmarks that are located along the vast coastline.  You can read another great Roots story inspired by the rugged coast at Renee's blog (her history is also more informative than mine!!).

I grew up in the coastal town of Warrnambool, situated three and half hours south west of Victoria's capital, Melbourne.  I have lived in Melbourne since I was eighteen years of age, but four weeks ago, we moved back to Warrambool!  I have moved back to the place of my roots and we are now creating a life where our children can establish their roots.  An exciting time.  Warrnambool has a lovely beach and also many rivers.  Isabella is mad about the beach.  She steps into another world once her feet hit the sand and she happily plays in the sand, waves and shallow waters with the biggest smile on her face!  These photos were taken, of all days, on Australia day on Sunday!  Down at the river mouth ten minutes from our house.


So, it's finally time to tell you about what I made.  I purchased a cotton lycra brown vine print a few months ago.  I have a photo of myself at the same age in very similar print bikini so it fit on two levels to make bathers for this series.  I loosely based the bathers on the pattern in Summer 2009 edition of Ottobre.  I adapted the straps making them wide and joining together at the back.


I also wanted to make Issie a beach shirt.  I love letting her play on the beach, but with the hot Australian sun,  a shirt is a necessity.  I was inspired by the colours of the Australian flag to make the shirt.  I picked up a blue and white striped cotton seersucker and drafted a simple loose fitting shirt.  I used red biased binding around the neckline.  Isabella loves her little straw hat I bought her for Christmas and it suited the theme!


This is the face Isabella usually sports when playing at the beach...


She didn't look so out of place dancing around with the Australian flag on January 26th!


I feel very lucky to live in such a lucky country - Australia.  I can't imagine living anywhere else and am so glad to be raising our girls in such a fortunate and beautiful place.


I hope you have enjoyed my post.  Thanks so much for having me Heidi  - it has been lovely and we are sure to get lots of wear this summer from our Roots inspired sewing!!

You catch up and read all the past posts in this series over at Elegance and Elephants.

Bathers

Project Run & Play//Week 3: Mad for Plaid

September 24, 2013


So last week I said I was not going to sew along with Week 3 of Project Run & Play...well, I changed my mind!! This was not what I would have sewn up if I were still in the competition.  As I said in this post, I was going to make Isabella a muted plaid fitted duffle coat with a fur trimmed hood.  A bit like this one.  Underneath she would have worn a blue velveteen Debbie tunic with plaid collar and trim and a matching plaid skirt.  But...it's spring her and today was 25 degrees!!  So, I will be making up my original idea next year, and for  now, a plaid swimsuit and hat was a good idea for my little Emily! 


When I first started brainstorming ideas for this week a month or so ago, vintage style plaid bathers with swimming caps for my girls was one of my ideas.  But plaid lycra?  Hard to find!! I did find an awesome range at an online shop in the UK but they were going to charge 30 pounds to send 1 metre of fabric!! I was not that committed to the cause, so I put the plaid bathers idea to rest.  Last week I happened upon this plaid/houndstooth spandex at The Fabric Store, and then I decided I would make up the bathers anyway, since Emily does not have a pair.

 
These bathers were unpicked in varying places about three times, but luckily you can't tell!  I originally wanted a ruffle along the top, but it went all wobbly when I top stitched, so unpick, unpick, unpick, and I went for a plain white band instead.  I added little plaid bows with buttons at the straps for fun.  I used the bathers pattern from Ottobre magazine - Summer 2009.  I shortened the body a little for Emily.


Ow.....how cute is this tummy???


The back is crossed (the two lumps you can see on Emily's back are not budding fairy wings, they are the straps that I hadn't cut down yet - I was in a hurry!)


The hat is from the same Ottobre magazine as the bathers.  The fabric is thrifted (and happens to be from the Aunt Grace collection - circa 1995).
I have used this pattern before, but I am not overly happy with the shape I achieved in the crown.  Ottobre patterns require seam allowances to be added - something you shouldn't do roughly when drawing out a hat pattern...Emily doesn't mind though! 
So I am happy to have some bathers and a hat for little Emily for our warmer months ahead!! 
 
For more plaid goodness, have a look here!