Bathing Suits for Iplehouse KIDs & BIDs
*Please read before starting.....
The bathing suits in the photos were made using brightly coloured T-shirt fabric from toddler and girl's stretchy tops that I purchased at the secondhand discount store. I hate working with stretchy fabrics, and wasn't even going to try working with real swimsuit material. The first swimsuits were made in a rather labour-intensive way with a lot of hand basting. Later I came up with another way that was a lot easier, and faster. However the two methods do end up with slightly different results. I will be describing both techniques, so it's important to read through the entire tutorial before beginning, and then deciding which method you want to use.
Pattern
Click on image of pattern below, to download pattern pdf....
Instructions for First Method
1. Print pattern and cut out the piece(s). Note that the pattern pieces are TEMPLATES, and do not include any seam allowances.
2. Trace the pattern template onto the wrong side of your fabric. Cut out, making sure to add a seam allowance of 1/4"
3. Apply Fray Check around all the edges, and let dry. Then clip the curve of the top front edge, and the leg openings. Fold in the seam allowances to the wrong side, and hand baste with a simple running stitch....
2. Trace the pattern template onto the wrong side of your fabric. Cut out, making sure to add a seam allowance of 1/4"
3. Apply Fray Check around all the edges, and let dry. Then clip the curve of the top front edge, and the leg openings. Fold in the seam allowances to the wrong side, and hand baste with a simple running stitch....
4. Cut two lengths of thin ribbon approx. 5" long. Apply Fray Check to ends and let dry. Tack the ribbons into place...
5. Using a stretch stitch, or a zig-zag stitch, sew over all the basted seams...
6. Match up the side seams and sew them together. You need to match the sides so that the top and bottom edges are where the seams will be. Which means there will be points of fabric sticking out. Trim those off after sewing the seam, as shown. Then zig-zag the side edges.
7. Turn right side out, and you're done.
*Note - How well the bathing suit will fit depends on just how stretchy the T-shirt fabric is. Most of the ones I chose were not too stretchy, although the one black fabric with the horizontal stripes was much more stretchy. So I had to reduce some of the width, by turning the swimsuit inside out again, and sewing new side seams to make it a little narrower, to make up for the stretchier fabric.
*The pink heart swimsuit was made using the second technique, and is not the one in the photo at the top.
Instructions for Second Method
I wasn't completely happy with the look of the stretch-stitch and zig-zagged edges using the first method, and thought there might be another way, so gave it a try, using the same pink heart fabric I used in one of my first KID swimsuits.
!. Cut out pattern pieces, and note that they are just TEMPLATES and do not include any seam allowances. In this method there is a lining layer, so pin two layers of fabric with right sides together. Trace the template onto the wrong side of your fabric.
!. Cut out pattern pieces, and note that they are just TEMPLATES and do not include any seam allowances. In this method there is a lining layer, so pin two layers of fabric with right sides together. Trace the template onto the wrong side of your fabric.
2. Cut out, making sure to add seam allowances around all edges. Cut two 5" lengths of ribbon, and pin between layers on either side of upper front, indicated by small 'x' on template...
3. Using a straight stitch, sew back and front upper edges, and around leg openings. Clip all the curves.
4. Turn right side out, and pin edges.
5. Top-stitch along front and back top edges, and around leg openings....
6. Pin sides with right sides together. Sew seams. Clip off protruding fabric points at top and bottom edges, and clip curves...
7. Zig-zag seam edges. Turn right side out, and you're done.
Just for comparison sake, I took some photos of the very stretchy black stripe fabric bathing suit made using the first method, and the pink heart bathing suit made with the second method.
Personally, I find the black bathing suit hugs her hips better, since it's just one layer of fabric, so doesn't stick out as much.
The leg openings are also smaller, since it was a stretchier fabric and I had to take in the side seams some more.
The leg openings are also smaller, since it was a stretchier fabric and I had to take in the side seams some more.
The stretchier black fabric also covers her behind more...
So, the choice is your's for whatever technique you'd like to use.
Copyright © 2017 Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2017 Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved