Sew Swimwear - Supermom Swimsuit

I jumped at the chance to join the Lulu and Celeste Sprouting Jube Jube Productions Swimsuit Edition Blog Tour. (Wow, That's a mouthful!!!) I sewed up this amazing floral stripe swimsuit using a swim strikeoff from Black Rabbit Fabrics back in March (AKA very much still winter in Edmonton) but have yet to blog all about it. As of today there's even some of this swim knit left on the BRF website! Black Rabbit Fabrics is also currently celebrating 3000 members in their facebook group. Enter the 3000 member giveaway here.

When I saw this gorgeous floral stripe strikeoff, I just knew it had to be turned in to my very first Agility Tank. I actually won the Agility Tank pattern from 5 out of 4 Patterns (affl. link) awhile back but with my very tight testing schedule had not made one yet. I brought my strikeoff with me to my local gem sewing store Marshall Fabrics to look through their solids to find one that matched. They didn't have just the right blue to match with the stripe so I decided on a bright neon coral colour instead.

The Agility Tank Pattern went together beautifully. I used the strappy back version with the lower arm cut for the overlay. I also did the drawstring around the bottom which I love because I can make it tighter for when i'm in the water so the overlay doesn't float up. I have had alot of questions about sewing with swim knit and how tough it is. I probably wouldn't suggest this pattern in swim knit for a total beginner but it is definitely doable for someone who is comfortable with sewing knit binding and who has sewn with swim knit before. If you're used to sewing with cotton lycra, you will probably find swim knits to be quite slippery. It does take some getting used to but the end result of a few practice suits is totally worth it!

For my swim bottoms, I decided to make them reversible. I used the free Celeste Panties from Ohhh Lulu as a base pattern with a few modifications. I had to add seam allowance to both legs as they are finished with stretch lace in the original free pattern. For the full construction of these bottoms I was able to follow along with the instructions on the Ultimate Bikini Bottoms from 5 out of 4 Patterns. I highly recommend that pattern as a starting point for bikini bottoms especially if you want to learn how to make them reversible. I didn't use a swim liner with these bottoms since I had 2 layers of swim knit. In the future, if I have a lighter print and a darker solid, I would probably add a layer of lining in between so that solid doesn't show through quite as much.

 What do you think? Which way do they look best? Which way would you wear the bottoms? Please feel free to leave me some comments to let me know your thoughts!

Cheers! Michelle
PS As always check me out on instagram for more pics

Monday, June 26

Sprouting JubeJube - Call Ajaire - Kutti Couture - Tales of A Tester - Bellevi

Tuesday, June 27

Sprouting JubeJube - FABulous Home Sewn - Sew and Tell Project - Tales From A Southern Mom - My Heart Will Sew On

Wednesday, June 28

Lulu & Celeste - Adventures With Bubba and Bug - Momma You Can Make It - Marvelous Auntie M - Phat Quarters

Thursday, June 29

Lulu & Celeste - Filles à Maman & Jalie - Crazy Crafty Haute Mama - MeMade - 5 out of 4 Patterns - RikiPrints Custom Knit Fabrics

Friday, June 30

Lulu & Celeste - Little Heart Threads - Ronda B. Handmade - Bellevi - sewingbyti

Enter friday's Contest:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two ways to enter: Enter the Grand Prize Rafflecopter, and/or post a swimwear item you’ve sewn on Instagram. Readers can enter more than once on Instagram but must use a different photo/different sewn swim item per entry. (Ie. multiple photos of the same outfit only count as one entry). Items allowed: swimsuits and swim coverups for the entire family (women, men, children). To enter on IG: Post your photo and use the hashtag #TheSwimsuitEditionTour and tag @luluandceleste and @debzaleski in your post. Items can only have been sewn since the beginning of June 2017. Closes July 2nd 11:59pm EDT.

 Prize: Phat Quarters $25(USD) gift card + Boo Designs $100(AUD) gift card + Sewing by Ti -$20(USD) gift card + Made by Jack's Mum - swim pdf pattern bundle

a Rafflecopter giveaway