My children are part fish (or mermaid they would say!) and with school swimming lessons coming up in term four and school holiday intensives as well, there will be lots of swimming in our future.
As always, the bathers from last year either no longer fit or have faded/fallen apart due to repeated exposure to chlorine. So last night I realised I had better make a start, on six new sets of bathers.
I've used this pattern a number of times before - I think I first saw it on Beccasauras's blog and since then I know Lara has made a number of pair.
I measured the girls and actually CUT THE PATTERN (yes you read right Lara!) in the Large and made up these green ones but after a fitting this morning I decided the older two girls would be better going up a size, so I popped into Spotlight and grabbed another copy of the pattern to cut at the XL size.
In the past I only used this pattern for the bottoms but this time I made the top and the boy-leg shorts. The top has a little gathering in the bust and so I didn't think it would look great on a 3 or 4 year old, but it is perfect now and all the girls want one.
Because of the white dots being a little see-through I decided to line the shorts and I also lined the bust section of the top.
To do the shorts I just baste the pieces together on the edges and treated it all like one piece when constructing.
I got all the fabric from Rathdowne Fabrics and Remnants who really have the most amazing array of swimwear lycra and when they have a weekly special you can pick it up at 30 - 40% off. This piece was quite large and was labelled at $8 (so I probably paid about $5) and there is enough for one more pair.
Excellent value.
I used my overlocker for the seams and my machine on a long zig zag for the hems and elastic.
The other thing I used, and would highly recommend, is this little gadget.
It's called the 'Turn It All' and it is brilliant for turning out little thin straps and ties such as the neck ties for these bathers.
I got mine online from The Haby Goddess and can't recommend it highly enough - I use it all the time.
One pair down five to go... wish me luck!
3 comments:
So cute! I have been tempted to try my hand at bathers but never knew where to buy fabric or what to use for lining. You have done a beautiful job! You'll be an expert by the time you've finished pair no.6.
I love the green polka dot fabric! It makes a cute swimsuit.:)
That Kwik Sew pattern is one of my most used. I made bathers for all 3 of my girls over the last few years. The little boy shorts are the best!
Whey look great and at $5 a pattern at the moment I've also cut into one:)
What is the lining fabric Karen?
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