First I would like to welcome everyone stopping over from Katie’s blog! I hope that the techniques I wrote about are useful in your own swimsuit construction! If you have any questions on them let me know. Alright, now down to business. It took me a bit to be comfortable sharing photos of myself in a swimsuit with the whole internet. Here is my review.
Butterick 4526
Pattern Description: Lined one piece or two piece swimsuit has neckline variations, front darts, low back and panty shield. Wrap laps in front and ties at back neck. I made the lined one piece.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes it did.
Were the instructions easy to follow? I am not really sure, I didn’t look at them.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like that ease with which it went together without having to read the directions. I like that the suit provides full coverage in the bust and crotch areas. I won’t have to worry about anything hanging out that should not be. I am not a big fan of the darts. Something about darts on a swimsuit is just off putting for me.
Fabric Used: I used 1 yard of gingham printed spandex for the shell, 1 yard black tricot for the lining and scrap bits of purple tricot for the built in bra and crotch shield.
Notions Used: 1/4″ braided elastic for neck binding and 3/8″ elastic for arm and leg holes.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn’t follow the directions because I wanted to use my own elastic techniques. For around the neck opening I added bound elastic and the leg and arm holes I did turned and stitched elastic. To read about the techniques I used go to my guest post here.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I don’t know if I will sew this suit again. There are a couple of other swimsuit patterns I want to try and I am not sure I need more than 5 swimsuits. I do live in Indiana, not a beach area. I would recommend this pattern to others though. It is a great beginning knit sewing project.
Conclusion: I surprising like this suit more than I thought I would. I originally made it just to demonstrate elastic techniques for my guest post. But now it has grown on me.
Well done on the swimsuit! I tried that pattern, but it was my first swimsuit, and I was pretty new to sewing and I made a total dogs dinner out of it. I’m glad that you got a really lovely swimsuit out of it!
You should give it a try again! Don’t follow the instructions this time. Use the elastic techniques I shared. It should work out much better.
Awesome gingham suit!! Love it. So, hey, where do you go swimming?
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