Monday, June 17, 2013

Closet Case Files: Bombshell swimsuit - And is it ever!

ETA: You can get the Bombshell swimsuit right now as part of Perfect Pattern Parcel #3! Pick your own price for a fabulous bundle of patterns, and do some good for charity!
Hey SwimAlong crew! After making suit after suit for the girl child, I finally got brave and made one for me.
And what was I waiting for?? This suit is so much better than anything I could have bought in the stores. And it was just as easy as the ones I made for Myra.
I used the new Bombshell Swimsuit pattern from Closet Case Files, and boy is that name right on the money! I totally feel like a pinup in this thing! Which is pretty amazing for a 30-something mother of three, let me tell you. I warn you now - the photos got a little campy...
If you've seen the pattern, you can see I sewed view A. The suit has nice low cut leg openings, with a ruched overlay in front, making it a swim dress, sort of. The leg openings in front under the panel are more of a mid-cut opening, so they allow for a good range of movement, but the overlay gives the look of a lower cut front leg. There is a full lining, and the option to insert bra cups.
ETA:
Country Girl Couture asked about support in the suit, and I meant to tell you about it, so here it is! I added bra cups and a band of 3/8 inch elastic to support the girls. This won't be enough for say, swimming in a Triathlon, but it held the girls up while running in the sprinkler and jumping in the kiddie pool. In order to place the cups and elastic, I sewed the darts in the lining as the first step, then basted the lining pieces together and tried on the suit. Pin it to your bra, since it doesn't have any straps. I pinned the cups in place over the girls, then used a washable marker to draw a line under the bust. I zigzagged on the cups, then attached the elastic, making sure it just abutted the bottom edge of the cup. Once they are on, trim away the lining under the curve of the cup.
In the back, ooh, la la! Y'all, my tooshie has never had it so good! Full coverage leg openings are comfortable and cover the assets, while the ruching gives the appearance of lift and smooths over any -ahem- rough patches.
The instructions were really great. I loved that Heather included instructions for both regular sewing machine and serger. The only thing I did differently was to use my coverstitch to topstitch the elastic, rather than a zigzag stitch. If you have that option, I'd go for it. The suit looks seriously professional, but I think a zigzag would have been fine, too.
Although the ruching takes some time and precision to do, I think the completeness of the instructions more than makes up for the relative complexity and this would be a great suit for a beginner to swimwear sewing.
And lest you think I spend all day swanning about my backyard teasing cabana boys - here's what the suit really did today. And it was awesome. I haven't had a suit that fit me in a couple of years, so the kids were beyond thrilled that mom could play in the water and run through the sprinkler with them. If the truth be told, I was darn thrilled, too.

53 comments:

Sarahbelle said...

Oh, my!
Super wow!!!

You, and the suit are fa-a-a-a-a-a-bulous, dahling!

Little Hunting Creek said...

This is a gorgeous suit-you look marvelous! :)

House of Pinheiro said...

Looks amazing.. Love the choice of fabric...

Pam said...

Love, love, love this suit! The fabric and the design are great on you!

Lori said...

You look great, beautiful suit. Great job!

Linda L said...

Great job with the swimsuit. Suits you well--did I really say that! Really you got a great fit with this swimsuit.

Heather B said...

Bombshell, beat is right. I want to pick you up at a bar now. ;)

gwensews said...

Ooh, la la! That suit is fantastic on you. Great job!

Anonymous said...

I like you in yur swimsuit. You are very pretty. I want to know you better.

Anonymous said...

This looks awesome. The pattern must be amazing...every bombshell suit I have seen looks perfect!

Kyle said...

That's cute!

Anonymous said...

If you are hearing a whistle right now, that's me! You are one sexy momma in this suit! Great job! :-)

Pam said...

Fantastic suit - and you look so happy and comfortable in it! Great job - I'm gonna have to try this one!

Diana said...

You look great. Isn't it a great feeling when you make something that really fits!

Anonymous said...

BTW, was just curious if you felt....erm...supported in this suit? Or if you did anything special to help with that?

KID, MD said...

Excellent question! I wouldn't use it for competition swimming, but it supported me well for running around in the backyard with the kids. I put in swim cups and a band of 3/8 inch elastic under the bust.

Joy said...

Looks fabulous! It's nice to see another version of this made up.

Dharma said...

This pattern amazes me each time I see one completed. Your swimsuit looks fabulous! Great fabric choice.

Mikhaela Reid said...

Whoa girl! You are looking AMAZING in this suit. And thank you so much for the support notes, because that is the only thing that gave me doubt about this suit...

Anonymous said...

Love it!

Jill said...

Bombshell baby! All the way!!
Awesome!!

LLBB said...

smokin'!

Sew Leonie said...

It looks great, and you clearly feel super sexy in it! Love your fabric choice. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Wow! This looks great!

Swimwear is one of those things I want to tackle, too... Maybe next summer.

The Hojnackes said...

I thought I commented already, but I guess I didn't. I LOVE your bombshell!!! You look HOT!

pdiddly said...

brilliant bombshell

Helen/patientgardener said...

Fabulous - very 1950s glamour. I do like that you are almost hiding in the bushes!!

Coco said...

Rock on! Love your swimsuit!

Anonymous said...

So glamorous!

Unknown said...

That's what I call a bombshell! I love the fabric, you're looking fab!

Elizabeth Made This said...

You look fabulous!

Cindy said...

Gorgeous, Katie! I love the suit on you!

ladykatza said...

Oppa Gangham Style! Heeeey SEXAH LADY!

tanyamaile said...

It looks great!!!! I just bought this pattern yesterday and I'm so happy to see some more versions and hear some more about it before I delve in.

Rebecca Grace said...

I just found this pattern via the Pattern Review newsletter and reviews. It looks great on you, and it's EXACTLY the style I have been wanting. My only concern was whether it would give enough support for my DD boobage. Your pictures of how you added cups and elastic are encouraging... Do you think I could sew an actual bra into this swimsuit, like a strapless "t-shirt bra?" I think I need the support of underwires and an actual bra band that hooks inside the suit. In the past, halter styles really dig into the back of my neck from the cruel effects of weight, gravity, and the freak show or pregnancy and nursing... ;-)

KID, MD said...

I'm a 34 DD, and it worked for me, just for playing in the yard with the kids for a couple of hours. I did notice that the halter strap dug in a little, but it's pretty wide, so not uncomfortably. I do think you could install a real bra though, or even build your own underwire insert like this one - http://threedresses.org/2013/06/12/adding-support-to-your-swimsuit/
I'd layer the "bra" part in between the lining and front overlay. The way this suit is constructed, it would be really easy to do, I also think it would work to lengthen the straps and attach them to the back, rather than having them tie behind the neck. You might need a helper to pin them in place back there before you sew them on though. I can never reach my own back... :)

Helena said...

I love it so much! You look amazing and so does the suit. Thanks for the inspiration!

Cennetta said...

The swim suit is super cute. Love the photo shoot.

sweary sewer said...

HAWT!!!!!!!!!! and that fabric is pretty spectacular. i can't wait to make mine now. w00t!

Rebeckah Austin said...

Cute! I bought this suit at Walmart a couple years back and I love it. I shout get the pattern and make more!

Anonymous said...

Cool, thanks for the explanation! :-)

Helen said...

Amazing! You look just fantastic! Love the fabric choice too!

The Slapdash Sewist said...

Fabulous suit, and I love your photo shoot! You look fantastic in it.

Anonymous said...

You look just incredible in that suit! I really, really, really want to make one for myself now.

Lynneb said...

Absolutely adorable, gorgeous, fantastic, incredible and flattering suit on you, Katie! You make me want one of my own!!!!

Ash said...

You look fantastic!!! I'm doing the sewalong as well and was wondering what the end result would be like for bustier ladies - after reading through your comments I'm even more excited for the finished product! Lovely piece :)

joelle st-laurent said...

amazing! i love the fabric, too! thanks for sharing how you added some support, that will be helpful!

Jeri Sullivan said...

This turned out wonderfully. I am a day behind on the sewalong so tonight is my time to sew the ruching on the back pieces. I certainly hope mine turns out half as well as yours!

Anonymous said...

Looks fantastic. I love seeing this swimsuit in a print!

Unknown said...

wow looks great, i love making swimwear too! Matt

Anonymous said...

Ooooh, la la!! You totally did the bombshell justice. I love this swimsuit pattern and think it looks just great on you!!

Victoria said...

Va-Va-Va-Voom!!! You nailed it with this swimsuit! Great job:)

Unknown said...

Love the fabric! and the fit is so good. I love making swimwear too, so much fun!