Inspired by my love of The Little Mermaid <3
I LOVE vintage swimsuits and I found the perfect one on modcloth.com. However, that swimsuit was very over priced. I made this for around $18, but the fabric was on sale ($10/yard!), compared to $90.
****Make sure you get a ballpoint needle when working with spandex! It will save you many tears!! And use a zigzag stitch.******
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Firstly, Gather Your Materials!
I used about a yard of spandex, taking into account the amount of ruching I would do.
You will definitely need a ballpoint needle for this.
I suppose you need newspaper or some large bit of paper for the pattern.
Don't approach without patience, or it will take you many days like it did me, lol.
Now you need your measurements for the pattern. You need your bust, overbust? (whatever that is called), waist, and hip measurements. These measurements will all be chopped in half for the next step.
The only measurement not used in half would be the length (where you want the bust to start down to your crotch).
For the back piece, I marked a center line with the measurement from where I wanted the bust to start and to my crotch. From there, mark out your bust line, making sure it's even on both sides of the center line. Do the same for your waist and hip measurements.
Draw how you want your booty bit to be cut, and finish by making a line across using your overbust measurement (in half!).
For the front piece, I ruched it QUITE a bit (which was the bane of my sewing existence! XD but worth it :P). So, to ensure having enough fabric, I measured the length of my torso, below my bust and to my hips, and multiplied that by 3. I kept the curve of my waist, but didn't make it too extreme. You basically want to keep the shape the same as the back piece, but I drew out a heartshaped neckline, and drew the legholes out to be a bit higher.
Now you want to ruche the front piece! I will assume now that you know how to ruche, because I do not know how to explain, for I am terrible at it! I will tell you however, that you want to ruche so much that the front piece is now as long as the back piece. I recommend doing a topstich over the ruching.
Now, You should attach the front and back pieces together. Simple? That's what I thought.
At this point you should hem the neckline and legholes. Again, simple as simple gets.
Now, you have a choice to make- leave it strapless OR add the halter strap that I did. To add the halter strap, take your measuring tape with the suit on, and measure from one side to the other, I hope this makes sense?
So now take that measurement and make a shape like <-------- that. use your measurement for the long bit, and make the wide ends about 5 inches, this includes seam allowance. So cut that out, & hem it. Or what I did was cut out two and attach those good sides together, and flip it inside out. Then I did a topstich over that. Now sew that onto your suit, and you have a lovely vintage inspired swimsuit. :)
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Kim.
06 Apr 06:28
Oh, wow.
That looks really good.
Lady Lolita
07 Apr 16:12
Really cute!
rsky
08 Apr 11:09
thanks for all the comments, guys! :)
Abigaïl
10 Apr 15:41
wow, looks good on you :)
ashl33
10 Apr 20:38
daaaaaang! super adorable.
you did a great job.
def little mermaid.
<3
Starchild in VT(not pictured)
11 Apr 13:42
I love it! Where did you get the pattern?
Nicole L.
22 Apr 12:06
AMAZING!!!
Stephy
28 Apr 00:32
Awesome job.
frankencat
07 May 20:04
I love love love this! Super cute!
rsky
11 May 22:00
Again, thanks for all the comments!
Starchild, I used a pattern I made for this leotard I wore a while back.
It was quite difficult, XD
I May Be Rude But I'm The Truth
27 Jun 01:08
SO you really hand-sewed this! Thats amzing. You make me guilty that i have been putting off sewing becuase my sewing machine doesnt work.
Roxanne M.
20 Jul 01:39
omg i love the litte mermaid too!!! love vintage ~~ really good job!:D can you post a how to??
rsky
21 Jul 01:39
Thank again for all the comments, guys! And I'll probably post a how to sometime before fall term starts up again. And I used my machine for this, but I made the pattern myself :P
peppermint stripe//
24 Jul 17:14
stunning!
peppermint stripe//
24 Jul 17:14
stunning!
rsky
13 Aug 04:15
I really hope my instructions make sense, XD enjoy everyone!
harrylaa
30 Aug 17:10
WOW! Ive never seen such a nice swimsuit!
bonnie M
31 Aug 17:16
Very traditional, Very little mermaid!! :D i love it. It just looks fab... Cool idea.
SummerScoobySnacks
24 Oct 16:18
this is awesome. i can never find bathing suits i like, so im overly excited that you put a tutorial of this up. one question, is the material you used like, water acceptable? lol i mean like is it the same as the swimsuit fabric you would find store made swimsuits out of?