Swimsuit for Katerina

Katerina needed a new swimsuit. The pattern used is Jalie 2317, view A, size 10. I used 3/8" plain elastic. Even though the pool is chlorinated, she'll grow out of the suit long before the elastic becomes compromised.

Swimsuits and gymnastics

The children start swimming lessons this week and of course they have grown since summer. Joshua is okay in his board shorts but the girls needed new suits. The pattern used is Jalie 2317, View A. I made size 8 for Katerina and size 5 for Isabella.



The gymnastics leotard pattern is from Jalie 2792, View A. Isabella is in size 5. The shiny fabric is actually gold sparkle with leopard spots faintly underneath.

Swimsuit #2 for Katerina

This is the same pattern combination as Isabella's tankini, except I reversed the top colours.

I think I like both ways equally.



UPDATE: Here she is in her "model" pose.

Swimsuit #2 for Isabella

This swimsuit is a combination of two patterns. The blue part of the top is Kwik Sew 2422. The pink part of the top and the bottoms are Kwik Sew 3605.

I had a remnant left of the blue fabric from a gymnastics leotard I had made for Katerina a couple of years ago. There wasn't enough left for the whole swimsuit so I added the matching pink.

I'm not too keen on bikinis on children so I wanted to make her a tankini. Unfortunately, the Kwik Sew tankini pattern had a bra-style top, which, again, I'm not too fond of on children. Hence, the different combination of patterns.

Although I like the tankini, I think it would have looked better if I had reversed the pink and blue in the top.

A swimsuit for Katerina

This is the same pattern that I used for Isabella's swimsuit except size 7. Katerina is at school right now so she isn't available to model it.

I still used the swimsuit elastic but I changed the serger and coverstitcher settings. For the serger, I used a long stitch length, 4, and I kept the cutting width at 2.5. I also dropped the left needle so I only used the right needle plus the two loopers.

For the coverstitch, I used the middle and right needles, with the presser foot down half a turn. My tension settings were 4, 4, and 3. I also stitched with the right needle on the elastic and the middle needle on the fabric.

When doing the neckline for both the serger and coverstitch, I divided it into eighths. It was much easier to work with than with quarters. The fabric coverage over the elastic was much more consistent and there was less fabric slippage.

It worked out really well and I am pleased with the result.

UPDATE: Here is Katerina wearing her new swimsuit.

A swimsuit for Isabella

This swimsuit is made from the Jalie 2317 pattern, size 4. This is the first time I have made a swimsuit, so the learning curve is high. I used swimsuit elastic in the neckline and the armholes but I think it is too thick.

After sewing the elastic the first time, it rolled outwards. I ran it through the coverstitcher once more to tack it down a bit. It seemed to work, for now.

I think I will use regular elastic for the next one and lengthen the serger stitch so it won't be so thick.