OT making swimwear

may I suggest you pop over to alt.sewing? that's another friendly group of people who know all the ins and outs of sewing - if you do a search on swimwear you will find that there have been some posts on the subject in the past 6 months :-)

There's also rec.crafts.textiles.sewing. I haven't visited there in a long time. So much usually going on here that it's nearly impossible to keep up. Kwik-Sew probably has a good pattern for you. Be very focused when you select everything including elastic and lining. You'll want to know how they behave when wet. Polly

We have a store in Calgary that specializes in outdoor type fabrics. Everything from swimwear to heavy winter parka, hiking gear, ski wear, etc. They carry all the necessary notions and trims also. Maybe you could check out a major center close to you and see if they have such a store. I know the one in Calgary does mail order as years ago, when I was 6 hours away but made a lot of clothing, I used to order from them. Now I am only an hour away, but don't sew clothing much anymore. I don't know how expensive shipping would be to the UK, but if you want the contact info for this place I can find it for you. I do know that if you intend to use the swimsuit in a clorinated pool that you should be looking for chloring resistant fabric and elastic.

Marilyn in Alberta, Canada

Believe it or not, I actually know the answer to these questions. And I have a serger - want to come for a visit?

Yes it's probably easy to make a pattern from the existing top. Not so easy for bottoms. Kwik-Sew and several other companies have nice swim suit patterns, in multi-sizes, esp. useful if you're like me, and two different sizes top and bottom.

Joann's does indeed carry swimsuit fabric, and although I've not tried, I'm sure you could purchase it on line as well. The lining is probably nylon tricot, cut on the bias. You can however, just use two layers of swimsuit fabric. Both these fabrics, Lycra & tricot, are not only stretchy, but slippery, too. I'm quite certain you can manage it, but pay close attention to which direction you cut the fabric for your garment, pin well, and sew a little slower than you would on cotton. Get a needle (or 3) made espcially for sewing extra-stretchy fabrics. I like the Schmetz ones at size 75/11. I use the 3-step zigzag, set fairly short & narrow, or I use one of the machine's built in stretch stitches. Depends on fabric, whether I'm doing seams or topstitching. Some one else mentioned elastic - the clear type is a good choice, as water does not affect it, and it's more resistant to chlorine that the fabric kinds. I'd use a 100% poly thread, or nylon, as cotton thread would get eaten by the chlorine in no time. I think the thread you are seeing in your ready made suit is probably wooly nylon, which I've used in my serger, but I've never tried to sew on the machine with it. Perhaps in the bobbin, with a nylon invisible in the needle might work, but it also might make a mess, I just don't know. Feel free to email me with more questions if you have some.

I make my own swim suits because I do water aerobics and the chlorine in the pool is hard on them; I can save a lot of money by making my own. I use a Kwik-Sew pattern . I would recommend that you try to find a pattern that is reasonably close to the suit you have and then modify that a bit if necessary rather than trying to take the pattern from the suit you have. The problem with using your old suit as the pattern is that it has no doubt stretched out of shape and is no longer its orginal shape. Kwik-sew 3239 looks like it may be similar to what you have; I use Kwik-sew 2962.

There is regular swim suit lining, but I usually use swimsuit fabric. I sometimes buy a plain beige or other light solid color for the lining. Cut your suit with the most stretch going around the body. A polyester thread is probably best. Use a plain zigzag or any of your machines stretch stitches. Be sure you use chlorine resistant elastic; I like the clear elastic. You can get swimsuit fabric at JoAnn's or Hancock's; I often buy it at the Mill End store near me.

Julia in MN

Anne Rogers wrote:

I make my own suits for the pool. You do need swim wear fabric. It is chlorine resistant, and has stretch in both length and width. There should be patterns in Simplicity/McCalls, etc for what you want. You really probably do want to get a pattern, because chances are good that the suit you have is stretched out of shape by now. Grain line is very important and so is the direction of greatest stretch. I like using the clear elastic, since you can sew through it without damage. (I use clear elastic in a lot of things. Before you use it be sure to stretch it out a couple of times. After that it has 100% recovery. ) The thread used in commercial suits is woolly nylon, difficult to use in a regular machine, great in the serger. Use any of the 100% poly threads and you will be fine. Even though using a serger has many advantages, as long as you use a stretch stitch it will be fine. But you may want to baste with a longish straight stitch to check fit first. You do not want to have to take out stretch stitches. It isn't at all difficult to make a suit, of any kind. BTW the type of top you mention can also be found in the "active wear" section, with patterns for jogging/bicycling cloths. Sort of an elongated "sport bra".

JoAnn's does indeed sell both swim wear fabric and swimsuit lining fabric. It is expensive per yard, but a yard is probably all you need, and depending on size my even net you a couple of bottoms plus a top or something. Do not prewash the fabric, you want it to shrink some after sewing.

To keep your suits lasting longer try these hints: Rinse suit thoroughly with clear water after every use. Launder with soap occasionally but never put in the dryer. Roll in a large towel, then lay flat to dry if possible.

Good luck and have fun with it.

Pati, > a sewing rather than quilting question, but I expect you ladies will have > some ideas!

thanks for all the excellent answers, I'll have a scout about and see how much a pattern would cost, I reckon I could make a decent pattern by combining my own measurement with the suit itself (the top is surprisingly tight considering the bottoms fit and I'd consider myself bigger down below than up top!).

Saving money is a big reason for doing this, I work out in the water weekly and intend on doing so for a long time to come, with the tiny amount of fabric they use, even expensive fabric is going to work out this way (I did once get a swimsuit for less than 5 dollars though, but I prefer 2 pieces).

I've seen some pages online about making bras, I can't decide if that is something every sewer has to try once, or if it's something to run a mile from!

Anne

Aha!! Why didn't you say so? Drive on down to my house, and have a pattern & lycra rootle. I have both on hand.

I used to make swim suits in the 70's, and got all the necessary supplies from Stretch & Sew . I don't know what they have now, but they used to sell the patterns, fabric, elastic and linings. You can contact them at