Pattern: Vintage McCall's 5535
Fabric: Girl Charlee nylon spandex knit
Cost: free (from our Meetup fabric swap!)
After dreaming of swimsuits for the past year, pinning some inspiration, and even procuring various swimsuit fabrics, I found that I had no desire to sew a swimsuit in the weeks before our tropical winter vacation. I made a dress, some dog coats, and even gifts for others, so you know I was procrastinating. Then, the evening before we left, I suddenly had the fervent need to make those suits! I pulled out my fabric, pulled out the ruined RTW one I wanted to copy, and cut away. I sewed and sewed, stayed up until 2am... and it was a disaster. Predictably.
First off, I traced the back pattern piece wrong on the bottoms and ended up needing to tack on some extra fabric at the sides. And then the liner was cut too short because I didn't even try it on as a sewed.
The major issue, however, is the top. It is from McCall's 5535, a vintage pattern from 1977. It is marketed as a Carefree Pattern, "a new idea from the McCall Pattern Company to make perfect fit easier than ever!" My guess is that it is "easier than ever" because the pattern contains an essentially shapeless jumper and giant ruched swimsuit top. While the idea of the top is cool - it can be worn several different ways - in practice it is terribly "home ec." The fabric slides all over the straps because you never secure them together, it constantly needs to be adjusted, and never quite feels like it is on tight enough. Thank god I didn't wear it in any serious surf!
The good news is this is the same Girl Charlee Fabric that was reported to run once it got wet. Luckily, no runny die for me! However, it did start to fade a bit from the parts I over worked while sewing, so I still wouldn't recommend it. But besides the color issue, this really is a great fabric - nice and thick. I will definitely be shopping for more nylon spandex knit if I can, as the swimsuit fabric available for sewists is often a lot thinner than the kind in RTW swimsuits.
Oh well. I still have some of this fabric I can experiment with, and lots of other fabrics and ideas, too. Next time will hopefully be much more successful.
I am still al bit puffy from getting my wisdom teeth out last Saturday, so for now I will leave you with some highlights from our trip - whales! (Luckily we did not get hit by any.)
Fabric: Girl Charlee nylon spandex knit
Cost: free (from our Meetup fabric swap!)
After dreaming of swimsuits for the past year, pinning some inspiration, and even procuring various swimsuit fabrics, I found that I had no desire to sew a swimsuit in the weeks before our tropical winter vacation. I made a dress, some dog coats, and even gifts for others, so you know I was procrastinating. Then, the evening before we left, I suddenly had the fervent need to make those suits! I pulled out my fabric, pulled out the ruined RTW one I wanted to copy, and cut away. I sewed and sewed, stayed up until 2am... and it was a disaster. Predictably.
First off, I traced the back pattern piece wrong on the bottoms and ended up needing to tack on some extra fabric at the sides. And then the liner was cut too short because I didn't even try it on as a sewed.
The major issue, however, is the top. It is from McCall's 5535, a vintage pattern from 1977. It is marketed as a Carefree Pattern, "a new idea from the McCall Pattern Company to make perfect fit easier than ever!" My guess is that it is "easier than ever" because the pattern contains an essentially shapeless jumper and giant ruched swimsuit top. While the idea of the top is cool - it can be worn several different ways - in practice it is terribly "home ec." The fabric slides all over the straps because you never secure them together, it constantly needs to be adjusted, and never quite feels like it is on tight enough. Thank god I didn't wear it in any serious surf!
The good news is this is the same Girl Charlee Fabric that was reported to run once it got wet. Luckily, no runny die for me! However, it did start to fade a bit from the parts I over worked while sewing, so I still wouldn't recommend it. But besides the color issue, this really is a great fabric - nice and thick. I will definitely be shopping for more nylon spandex knit if I can, as the swimsuit fabric available for sewists is often a lot thinner than the kind in RTW swimsuits.
I am still al bit puffy from getting my wisdom teeth out last Saturday, so for now I will leave you with some highlights from our trip - whales! (Luckily we did not get hit by any.)
