Swimsuits – Page 2 – SewSophieLynn

Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics Day Two- Boy Swimwear PDF Comparison

It’s Day Two and I’m feeling so uplifted already. Yesterday’s posts were so enlightening and relatable. I loved the creativity and it’s so heartwarming knowing that we’re all in this crazy situation together. Sending you all lots of love from my little corner of the internet.

For today’s post I’m doing my own ‘comparison’ post of four different boy swimsuit patterns. The comparison is in quotes because these are not all sewn straight per the pattern. I shortened two of the patterns and did a different waistband elastic on one as well. These were personal preference but shouldn’t affect the overall fit of each suit. I sewed up the Sew A Little Seam Linden Shorts with the liner-added, 5 out of 4 Boys Kids Swim Trunks, Peek A Boo Patterns School’s Out Shorts, and the new Lowland Kids Swim Briefs. For reference his waist and hip measurements are 23.5″ and 26.5″ and he’s 52 inches tall.

He picked all of these fabrics. My kids are lucky to get to see the previews and they all end up with lists of their favorite prints. This guy was adamant that he get Sharks, Surfboards, Pirates, and Checkers (to match big brother of course!). I’m always happy to sew up as much swim as possible!

This is the Linden Shorts. This is a size 8 cut at the skirt ruffle hemline and I used the full elastic waistband and added the swimsuit liner from the add-on pack. I used 1-inch elastic in the waistband although it calls for 1.5″ (I highly recommend sticking with the 1.5″). The fit on these is good. The rise is a little shorter than the others so if your little one tend to need more room I would recommend adding a bit of height to the rise. I like that these are a little slimmer through the leg too.

These are the 5 out of 4 Kids Swim Trunks. This is a straight size 8 shorter length with inseam pockets. His biggest complaint with these is that the hole for the pocket opening is so small he can’t fit his hand in. I’m also not a big fan of the 2″ elastic waistband, I think it’s a bit too wide for his size and he complained about it too but that’s an easy thing to switch out next time. Overall, the fit of these is good. The rise is better on him than the Linden’s and with those little tweaks this will be a great pattern for his body.

These are the Peek-A-Boo School’s Out Shorts. For these I sewed a size 7 and cut them at the 6 mos. knee length line (it’s about an inch longer than the short cut line). I sewed up the Lowland Kids Swim Boardies last year for him and just love this style. He said the Boardies were too short so I wanted to give the PAB pattern a try again (he had this pair from two years ago). These might be my favorite! I think this style in the Surfboard print is just perfection! They sew up super quick (no hemming, yay!) and I love the look of the bias trim. He did complain that the elastic around the thighs of the liner was too tight but that’s something I can fix in the future as well.

The Lowland Kids Swim Briefs are different from the other patterns in that it uses regular stretch swim fabric. I’ve always loved the Sew Like My Mom Palm Euros and this pattern is a great alternative as he gets older and has a strong opinion on what he wears (no tight suits for him!). The pattern comes with a regular (slim) option and a wider option for sizes 6/7-9/10. This is a 7/8 in the wider option. I did a pocket band instead of binding and skipped the drawstring holes in the waistband. I love this pattern but did really struggle with the waistband- like unpicking it a million times and setting it in time out so I could pour me a stiff drink (Coke on the rocks with a little Coconut creamer for good measure). It was a lot of slippery layers and it was tricky to stretch the elastic to fit but not impossible and it does leave a nice clean finish at the waist. He declared this suit his favorite and definitely the most comfortable. The soft swim fabric I’m sure is so much softer against the skin than board short fabric and that’s a huge plus for this kid that lives in sweatpants everyday.

Are you sewing for boys? Is there any other patterns we should test out? I’m pretty sure we found some keepers with this group and I’m sure he’ll be asking for more come summer time.

Today’s other bloggers are sure to inspire you. Head over to the Raspberry Creek blog for the latest post and don’t forget to hit up IG for today’s giveaway!

Raspberry Creek Fabrics

Hosted by: Sew Sophie Lynn and Paisley Roots

Sincerely, Shantelle Merritts Makes Sew Mary Mac

Phat Quarters Sewing Sew Haute Blog My Sew Bliss Kainara Stitches

Made By Kates Sewing and Things Desert Blooms Sweet Mama

Margarita on the Ross Auschick Sews Hazelnut Handmade Call Ajaire

It’s Liesel House of Curves Stitching and Making Replicate then Deviate

A HUGE thank you to all our pattern sponsors!!!

Simple Life Pattern Company Love Notions Hey June Handmade New Horizons Designs

Sew A Little Seam Jilly Atlanta Ensemble Patterns Petit A Petit & Family

Striped Swallow Designs Jennuine Designs Jalie Ellie & Mac Sew Like My Mom Lowland Kids Phat Quarters

Greenstyle Creations Chalk & Notch Made For Mermaids Lil Luxe Collection Violette Field Threads Patterns For Pirates

Rebecca Page Shwin Designs Sinclair Patterns Call Ajaire Boo Designs Tadah Patterns

And again! Remember for this week you can use the code: SWIMTOUR for 15% off swim fabrics only over at Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics Day One- Coordinating Suits for the Family

It’s time for one of my favorite blog tours- the Raspberry Creek Fabrics Suit Up for Summer tour! My love of sewing swimsuits runs deep and I live for this week to sew and share my love with you all.

Stay tuned to the end of this post for all the details of this week long tour including all the amazing bloggers joining in, a tour-exclusive fabric discount and giveaway info!

Karly of Paisley Roots and I have been prepping for this tour for months. We’ve been excited to share the amazing suits that our tour bloggers have been working on. With the events of the last few weeks, we hesitated to move forward with the tour but after a collective vote we all agreed that the world needs a little sunshine right now.

I don’t know about you but the act of sewing swimsuits for me is an act of faith. I usually start in February or March to ensure that my family is set once the warm weather hits. Sewing swimwear when it’s snowing and temperatures are freezing is showing a hope and faith that sunny summer days are coming soon. It helps me beat that winter gloom just imagining my family together at the swimming pool or lounging on the beach. This year that faith is even stronger as we’re living with such an uncertain future. I know that there will be pool days and laughter ahead. The sun will shine bright and I won’t take for granted when my extended family gathers for a swim at Grammy’s pool. I’ll savor the play dates at the splash pad and splashing on the trampoline with the sprinklers. I have hope and know that we will all be so grateful for each and every day of normalcy.

This week, I’ll be bringing you a post everyday that will hopefully inspire you to get sewing and look towards your own sunny days ahead. Today I’m sharing some fun family coordinating suits. I’ll share more details on each suit later this week but for now want to get your mind going with all of the cute fabric combinations available at RCF.

I love that each RCF fabric release has coordinating collections within it. It helps take the guesswork out of matching prints. It’s also fun to find your own group of prints and basics that work perfectly together since all of the RCF designers use our CLUB basics for the colors of their prints. I’m loving all of the black and white prints this year and was happy that my kids each picked some as their favorites. My teenage son picked the Black and White Checker Print for his suit and I was thrilled when the other three chose prints that went so well with it. For his suit I used the board short base but for little brother’s I used the stretch swim base. Big sister is wearing Coral Palm Leaves paired with Black and White Micro Stripes. Little Sis fell hard for the Blossom Pink and Sage Palm Trees that match perfectly with the Blossom Pink Solid. I love that these all look great together but aren’t too over-the-top as a whole.

I came up with a few more combinations that would work for the whole family. This set includes: Tonal Teal Grey Multi Stripe, Grey Gingham basic, Navy and Lilac Sea Creatures, Deep Lilac Swim Solid, and Charcoal Grey Board Short.

These Bananas are just about the cutest thing ever! Paired with Black Gingham, Black and White Leopard Print, and fun vivid solids like Lipstick Pink and Bright Yellow, this group just makes me so happy!

For a more low-key family look, I did another pink and black combo. These Cactus look great on any gender and any age. I love them with the Black and White Checker print but they also coordinate well with the Handrawn Dots or Coral Gingham (can you tell I’m a big fan of ALL the ginghams!). Throw in a classic solid black board short and this combination is to die for!

Ready for all the tour details?!

Join us all week long on Instagram for fun giveaways from some of our tour sponsors.

You can also shop and save 15% on swim fabrics with code SWIMTOUR.

Follow along this week with this talented group of bloggers. You can head to the RCF blog for previews of each days tour participants.

Raspberry Creek Fabrics

Hosted by: Sew Sophie Lynn and Paisley Roots

Sincerely, Shantelle Merritts Makes Sew Mary Mac

Phat Quarters Sewing Sew Haute Blog My Sew Bliss Kainara Stitches

Made By Kates Sewing and Things Desert Blooms Sweet Mama

Margarita on the Ross Auschick Sews Hazelnut Handmade Call Ajaire

It’s Liesel House of Curves Stitching and Making Replicate then Deviate

A HUGE thank you to all our pattern sponsors!!!

Simple Life Pattern Company Love Notions Hey June Handmade New Horizons Designs

Sew A Little Seam Jilly Atlanta Ensemble Patterns Petit A Petit & Family

Striped Swallow Designs Jennuine Designs Jalie Ellie & Mac Sew Like My Mom Lowland Kids Phat Quarters Greenstyle Creations Chalk & Notch Made For Mermaids Lil Luxe Collection Violette Field Threads Patterns For Pirates Rebecca Page Shwin Designs Sinclair Patterns

Call Ajaire Boo Designs Tadah Patterns

Thanks for joining in our fun and we really hope this week brings you a little joy and hope for amazing days to come!

Suit Up For Summer Day 5

Can you believe we made it to the last day of the Suit Up For Summer Blog Tour?! Not gonna lie, I’m going to sleep well tonight! I’ve so enjoyed sewing swimwear and the sensational seamstresses on the tour have continued to impress me day after day. My jaw hits the floor with each new suit I’ve seen. It’s been a week of incredible ingenuity and I’ve found so many prints and patterns to add to my sewing queue.

Make sure you read to the end of the post to take advantage of the great discounts and to follow the links to all the other stops on the tour. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and settle in for some awesome inspiration.

Today I’m sharing a trio of suits and their matching cover-ups. This fabric combo right here has been taunting me in my dreams ever since I laid eyes on them. I saved them to sew up very last as my incentive to get everything else done! All that blush pink makes my heart burst!

For the swimsuit I used the Blush Floral swim knit paired with Mauve Polka Dot Mesh.

This fabric combo is so sweet and precious. I used the Lainey Swimsuit from Made for Mermaids. I knew I wanted a little ruffle for the mesh and the Lainey includes a ruffle option. I used the double ruffle hack on the M4M blog to really highlight that pretty mesh.

I adore this pattern and I think she’s gotten one every year since it released. I think that’s a tradition I can get behind. I love the bum coverage and that one shoulder look is just so adorbs!

If you are new to sewing swimsuits I highly recommend the Made for Mermaids patterns for great step by step instructions (Boo! Designs is another pattern company that is fantastic for swimwear beginners). The construction of the suits is pretty ingenious to give you hidden seams whether you do a full or partial lining. For this suit I fully lined the bottoms and just lined the front of the top. This fabric is surprisingly thick and opaque for having so much white background. In general, Raspberry Creek Fabrics base is a little thicker than what you might be used to and I never worry about it being sheer.

I used another Made for Mermaids pattern to create this perfect cover-up. The Spencer Robe is a great unisex pattern that can be used for so many things. In this gorgeous french terry it makes the ideal thing to throw on before or after a swim. It’s not too thick but is still nice and cozy.

Made for Mermaids is celebrating a huge milestone in their Facebook Group with a discount code through tonight March 15th at midnight CST. Now’s your chance to grab these patterns for a steal!

This girl has been wanting a real one-piece swimsuit forever! I always have to gear up for lots of size blending and a couple of muslins to get something that will fit her lean long torso. The Mairin Swimsuit from Sew A Little Seam was such a good pattern to work with and we’re loving this classic suit. Paired with some Swim and Surf Shorts from Gracious Threads it’s a look that we both are crazy about.

I think you can never go wrong with gingham and I’m thrilled that Raspberry Creek is offering it in red this year. This navy floral board short fabric was one of our most loved prints this collection. Together they make the most adorable pairing!

I love that she can wear this outfit from the pool to the picnic afterwards. Board shorts are my go-to swim cover-up and I’ll happily ~~brainwash~~ convert this little miss to them too 😉

This little man got one more suit too! The Palm Euros from Sew Like My Mom are just about the cutest thing on little boys. I used this stripe for a preppy look that we both can get behind. I sized up one size for him to give him a bit more wiggle room. These are jammers length shortened a couple of inches.

Lowland Kids released this cute Racerback Hoodie this week and I knew it’d be a great top to throw on with his suits. In a cozy heathered french terry, it will be just warm enough after swimming.

You can also grab a code to get the hoodie for just $4 in the Lowland Kids Facebook Group that is good through midnight tonight as well.

These suits were some of my favorites ever! I love the vibrant cute fabrics and I’m glad I turned to some tried and true patterns for them. As I was sewing swimwear all week I took a few notes on things I couldn’t live without.

You can find my swim fabric tips here but these are all my favorite tools to have handy. When it comes to cutting slinky swim knit pattern weights, a rotary cutter, and a cutting mat are your best friends. When trying to keep your seams lined up, you can never have enough clips. Glue sticks are also super helpful for bindings, hems, or even stripe matching seams. I use sharp pins when attaching elastic though so that I can guarantee the elastic won’t pull the clips off. Swimwear elastic is key! Most patterns will call for it and the stretch and width of the elastic are all vital. When sewing on my regular machine, I like to use Eloflex stretch thread in my bobbin. It gives your seams a little more stretch and stability than a regular thread will.

For hems, I swear by Heat n Bond Soft Stretch. It will hold your hem in place and makes it super easy to fold the slippery fabric up into place. When actually hemming a stretch twin needle has always worked well for me. I will use a zig zag stitch for elastic but love a good double stitch hem on a rashguard or tankini top.

Phew! Did you make it to the end?! Thanks so much for joining us this week. It’s been a privilege to work with so many fantastic designers and so many creative and gifted bloggers.

Make sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour today!

Hosted By: Sew Sophie Lynn & Paisley Roots

Monday: Merritts Makes / The Petite Sewist / 5 Out of 4

Tuesday: Kainara Stitches / Sincerely Shantelle / We Sew Got This / Lily Shine Creates

Wednesday: Mabey She Made It / Little Fish Apparel / Pear Berry Lane / Heather Handmade

Thursday: Made By Kates / Margarita on the Ross / That’s Sew Kari / Auschick Sews

Friday: Its Liesel / Amber Lauren Boutique / Violette Field Threads / Confetti Unicorn

For this week, March 11-15, 2019, our readers can enjoy 20% off SWIM ONLY from these sponsors!

Wardrobe By Me code: Raspberry Creek

Simple Life Pattern Company code: SLPCO-RCSWIM

Violette Field Threads code: RCSwim

Titchy Threads code: SUITUP19

5oo4 code: RCFSWIM

and 15% off SWIM ONLY from Jalie code: SWIMTOUR15OFF

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors!

Boo Designs / Sew A Little Seam / Titchy Threads / Simple Life Pattern Co. / Jalie

Little Lizard King / Made for Mermaids / Love Notions / Striped Swallow Designs

Patterns for Priates / Violette Field Threads / Wardrobe By Me / 5oo4 / Sew Like My Mom

Suit Up For Summer Day Four

Today I’m sharing a couple of women’s suits for ya’! I’ve been loving all the brave beautiful women in their handmade suits this week and now it’s my turn.

It’s amazing to have gorgeous handmade suits in your closet but posting those suits for all to see is a little intimidating and oh so vulnerable! With great fabrics, stellar patterns, and a little bit of power mesh it was a little easier to bring out the inner swimsuit model in me, lol!

I used a couple of my favorite swimsuit patterns and did a little pattern hacking as well to get two suits I can’t wait to wear this summer.

(Can we get a huge shout out to mother nature for giving us a day with temps in the high 50’s?!! Never mind it was a blizzard the next day because that taste of spring was just what I needed!)

I have a whole Pinterest Board full of adorable swimwear inspiration for the whole family. I’m loving all the wide vertical stripes I keep seeing and wanted to recreate this Gap swimsuit. This vertical stripe swim print was just perfect for it.

I used the Mairin Swimsuit from Sew A Little Seam. I wanted a basic one piece suit with no bells and whistles. The Mairin is so full of options that it felt a little strange to go with such a basic option. I’ve decided my swim collection is full of ‘adult beach vacation’ suits and not enough ‘family pool time’ suits, if you know what I mean. I was in need of a suit I could throw on and not worry about coverage. This suit totally fits the bill.

I used the mid cut lines for everything from the scoop neck to the back to the leg rise creating a modest suit that I feel so comfortable in. I added bra cups and an elastic shelf bra to the lining. I also added a layer of power mesh between the lining and outer swim fabric as well (I cut it from just under the elastic bra line to just above the leg opening).

Paired with board shorts from our last Suit Up Tour, I’m ready for a day of swimming with the kiddos. I used the Gracious Threads Swim and Surf Shorts and I wear them constantly! I love a little extra coverage and I turn to this pattern again and again.

This next swimsuit is a little less kid friendly but definetely hubby approved. I have been dying to hack the Patterns For Pirates Wiggle Dress into a swim top since it’s release. This citrus print was just begging for a little something special and the off the shoulder look was perfect! Paired with the Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms it’s a look that’s both classy and a little sophisticated. I love feeling covered but a little flirty at the same time 😉

Modifying the Wiggle for swimwear was a pretty easy task. I used the size I fell into and cut it at the crop top line plus an inch for the hem. In the future I think I’ll add more length so I can wear it a little higher on my shoulders and still cover my tummy. I added a lining with soft bra cups to the front bodice. Otherwise I constructed the top per the pattern instructions and it worked brilliantly. I’m the worst pattern hacker and I’m so glad this turned out to be a no-brainer!

I have a feeling these simple black bottoms will go into the rotation with so many of my other swim tops. I love the fit and coverage!

I’m so thrilled to have these suits to turn to once pool season arrives. These fabrics were such a treat to work with and I’m loving the huge variety I have to pick from. I’ve got my eye on so many more prints I think my own swim collection will be growing this summer.

Today’s bloggers joining me on the tour have killed it with their own looks. Make sure you check them out and don’t forget to take advantage of the incredible discounts from our awesome sponsors!

Make sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour today!

Hosted By: Sew Sophie Lynn & Paisley Roots

Monday: Merritts Makes / The Petite Sewist / 5 Out of 4

Tuesday: Kainara Stitches / Sincerely Shantelle / We Sew Got This / Lily Shine Creates

Wednesday: Mabey She Made It / Little Fish Apparel / Pear Berry Lane / Heather Handmade

Thursday: Made By Kates / Margarita on the Ross / That’s Sew Kari / Auschick Sews

Friday: Its Liesel / Amber Lauren Boutique / Violette Field Threads / Confetti Unicorn

For this week, March 11-15, 2019, our readers can enjoy 20% off SWIM ONLY from these sponsors!

Wardrobe By Me code: Raspberry Creek

Simple Life Pattern Company code: SLPCO-RCSWIM

Violette Field Threads code: RCSwim

Titchy Threads code: SUITUP19

5oo4 code: RCFSWIM

and 15% off SWIM ONLY from Jalie code: SWIMTOUR15OFF

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors!

Boo Designs / Sew A Little Seam / Titchy Threads / Simple Life Pattern Co. / Jalie

Little Lizard King / Made for Mermaids / Love Notions / Striped Swallow Designs

Patterns for Priates / Violette Field Threads / Wardrobe By Me / 5oo4 / Sew Like My Mom

Suit Up For Summer Day Three

Day three of the Suit Up For Summer Tour is here! I’ve got a little blog miracle happening today- you get to see a rarity around these parts. My oldest is joining in the fun!

He’s headed to the sun for spring break this year so he was happy to get a new swimsuit. I love this classic Leaf Outline boardshort print. It’s a print that works great for everyone and looks fantastic with a little pop of color.

I used the 5 out of 4 Men’s Swim Trunks with a couple easy modifications. He wears a mens medium in ready-to-wear and fell right into the size medium for these too. I always think that’s helpful especially when sewing for others. I added grommets to the outside so we could see the functioning drawstring. I also shortened the length per his request. The pattern is a fairly quick sew and the tutorial was very straightforward. I needed a sewing win and these delivered!

These fit just like he was hoping. I’ve gotten to the point with him that I don’t dare buy him clothes anymore since he’s extremely picky. To get his approval on this suit is a MAJOR mom win! (Cue the confetti cannons!)

These trunks will work so great for him. They can go from the pool to the hamburger joint no problemo!

That’s five kiddos in mama-made swimsuits! We better hit the pool stat! I’m so grateful for RCF that I could get fabrics that speak to each of their personalities and tastes. I love that they can coordinate without being too matchy matchy (they would die of embarrassment at this point!).

Have you been speechless at the amazing suits this week? I can’t get over the incredibly cute looks each and every day. Today is no exception!

Make sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour today!

Hosted By: Sew Sophie Lynn & Paisley Roots

Monday: Merritts Makes / The Petite Sewist / 5 Out of 4

Tuesday: Kainara Stitches / Sincerely Shantelle / We Sew Got This / Lily Shine Creates

Wednesday: Mabey She Made It / Little Fish Apparel / Pear Berry Lane / Heather Handmade

Thursday: Made By Kates / Margarita on the Ross / That’s Sew Kari / Auschick Sews

Friday: Its Liesel / Amber Lauren Boutique / Violette Field Threads / Confetti Unicorn

For this week, March 11-15, 2019, our readers can enjoy 20% off SWIM ONLY from these sponsors!

Wardrobe By Me code: Raspberry Creek

Simple Life Pattern Company code: SLPCO-RCSWIM

Violette Field Threads code: RCSwim

Titchy Threads code: SUITUP19

5oo4 code: RCFSWIM

and 15% off SWIM ONLY from Jalie code: SWIMTOUR15OFF

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors!

Boo Designs / Sew A Little Seam / Titchy Threads / Simple Life Pattern Co. / Jalie

Little Lizard King / Made for Mermaids / Love Notions / Striped Swallow Designs

Patterns for Priates / Violette Field Threads / Wardrobe By Me / 5oo4 / Sew Like My Mom

Day Two Suit Up For Summer

We’re here on Day Two of the Raspberry Creek Fabrics Suit Up For Summer Tour. After yesterday’s fantastic posts I now have a list of swimsuit patterns to try out for myself! So much cuteness!

Today I’m sharing a couple of girls swimsuits but first let me tell you a little story full of high hopes, dashed dreams, seam rippers and caffeine. There once was a mom who dreamed of making swimsuits for her little princesses because they struggled fitting into just any old swimsuit. She knew custom swim gowns were in order and knew she could call on her years of experience to make their wishes a reality. Fast forward to many long afternoons and unpicked seams later and their mom was hoping for a visit from the sewing fairy godmother. Back in reality we find the heroine left with mediocre fruits of her hours of labor.

Guys, I’m here to tell you not everything that comes off your sewing machine will be a prize winner. And even though I’m supposed to be here to share my infinite sewing wisdom with ya’ll, sometimes things just don’t go as planned.

This cute girly LOVES rashguard suits. She fell in love with this geometric print and I knew it’d be perfect for the look she wanted. I used our favorite girls raglan pattern, the Camden Raglan, from Hey June Handmade. It’s our go-to for jersey tees and I used it for last years suit as well.. I sewed it up in a flash and all looked great until she tried it on. The neck was way too wide for a true rashguard look, the vinyl was too low, and I had kept the length I usually add to her tees so it was a good two inches too long. So off went the neckband and I seam ripped the whole front off and recut it to bring the vinyl up. I then sewed on a new, wider neckband that was a touch shorter to bring in the shoulders as well. The final top is fantastic and I’m glad I took the time to get the look right.

I used a file found in Cricut Design Space for the graphic and Cricut SportFlex Iron-On for the perfect summer time look. I used SportFlex Iron-On last year for some rashguards and it held up so well to hours in the pool and lots of washing. It’s a great product if you’re looking to customize your swim or workout wear.

We did a pair of boyshort bottoms using the Rissa Hipster Boy Shorts from Plucky Butterfly. I love the cut of these and think they look darling on her. They come together quick and the pattern is so full of options from undies to skirted swim bottoms.

As soon as I saw these stripes I knew I wanted to revisit the Azur Swimsuit from Titchy Threads. I had sewed this pattern once before but never finished it due to fit issues and my own errors. Surely I could conquer it now with more experience, right?! I’ve mentioned earlier that my girls don’t fall into standard size measurements. I need to blend sizes and add length to most everything I make. This swimsuit proved to be a challenge to get right.

I adore the cool retro style. It’s fully reversible which makes playing with fabric combos so fun.

All errors with this suit are purely my own issues. It’s a fantastic pattern and the instructions are well written. Sometimes I think I’ve been doing this long enough I can wing my way through projects. This time I read over the tutorial multiple times before beginning but only referred to it here and there while actually sewing (tell me I’m not the only one who does this?!). I forgot to leave an opening in the leg hole and ended up turning my whole suit through the tiny neck straps, talk about a tight squeeze! Once I’d made the turn there was no going back 😉 The elastic could be tighter across the sides and I really should have used the optional back strap. I may eventually seam rip it and adjust things to get a better fit but have decided to leave it for now. This sporty style suits my oldest much better so I may try to make the adjustments for her instead (bonus when both girls have almost identical measurements except for height!).

You win some, you lose some. I’m grateful for these little misses that keep me on my toes and definitely keep me humble. Sometimes things turn out exactly like you envision them and sometimes you chalk them up to learning experiences. There is no growth in comfort and failure breeds wisdom- not necessarily what we would choose to experience but helpful to think about as we go through our own little challenges.

In the end I couldn’t give up my dream of coordinating sibling looks. I love these fabrics together. I love that the fabric designers use the same colors so that many of the prints throughout the whole collection play so well together. This teal and pink combo just screams summer to me.

Make sure you’re keeping up with all the stops on the tour. I can’t believe the talent that I get to be a part of!

Make sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour today!

Hosted By: Sew Sophie Lynn & Paisley Roots

Monday: Merritts Makes / The Petite Sewist / 5 Out of 4

Tuesday: Kainara Stitches / Sincerely Shantelle / We Sew Got This / Lily Shine Creates

Wednesday: Mabey She Made It / Little Fish Apparel / Pear Berry Lane / Heather Handmade

Thursday: Made By Kates / Margarita on the Ross / That’s Sew Kari / Auschick Sews

Friday: Its Liesel / Amber Lauren Boutique / Violette Field Threads / Confetti Unicorn

For this week, March 11-15, 2019, our readers can enjoy 20% off SWIM ONLY from these sponsors!

Wardrobe By Me code: Raspberry Creek

Simple Life Pattern Company code: SLPCO-RCSWIM

Violette Field Threads code: RCSwim

Titchy Threads code: SUITUP19

5oo4 code: RCFSWIM

and 15% off SWIM ONLY from Jalie code: SWIMTOUR15OFF

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors!

Boo Designs / Sew A Little Seam / Titchy Threads / Simple Life Pattern Co. / Jalie

Little Lizard King / Made for Mermaids / Love Notions / Striped Swallow Designs

Patterns for Priates / Violette Field Threads / Wardrobe By Me / 5oo4 / Sew Like My Mom

Suit Up For Summer With Raspberry Creek Fabrics

We’re kicking off a fun and exciting blog tour today! I’m so excited to be cohosting the Suit Up for Summer With Raspberry Creek Fabrics Swim Tour with Karly of Paisley Roots. Karly and I hosted the Suit Up for Summer Tour a couple of summers ago and I’m thrilled to be sewing up swim again! This time we’re so happy to be featuring Raspberry Creek Fabrics newest swim collection. There are so many prints to choose from and you can grab them on sale through Wednesday, March 13th.

I’ll be bringing you posts all week, highlighting different aspects of swimwear sewing each day. Today I’m happy to showcase sewing for the boys in your life. These two kids were thrilled to have new coordinating suits just in time for our spring break.

Charlie loves the color teal and picked out this classic gingham board short fabric. The Raspberry Creek Fabrics Facebook group has gone nuts for the new Swim Boardies pattern from Lowland Kids and I jumped at the chance to sew it up. I love when pattern releases and fabric releases seem so serendipitous!

I sewed up a size 6/7 according to his measurements and love the fit. They’re short and really show off his cute little legs. He just turned 7 and I know he’s about to grow out of the ‘little kid’ stage but I’m happy to milk it as long as possible!

This guy is just on the brink of out growing boys patterns. I was planning on using my go to boys swim pattern, the Linden Shorts and Add-on Pack, but realized his recent growth spurt put him just out of size range (hooray for him, sad for me!). I turned to my trusty Love Notions Patterns and the Kayak Boardshorts. He fit perfectly into the size 14, hallelujah!

I did a little pattern hacking to get the look he was after. I cut them mid-thigh per his request- not too short and not too long. The Kayak’s call for a knit waistband but I used the board short fabric and just cut it to fit the waist of the shorts, adding grommets and a drawstring to the waistband. I also added a swim liner, using the 5 out of 4 Men’s Swim Trunks liner. Sewn up in Striped Flamingo Board Short it’s the perfect swimsuit to keep him looking cool and on trend.

I hope you’re excited for a week of incredible swimsuit inspiration! You’ll see kids suits, women’s wear, learn new tips and tricks, and just be awestruck by the amazing bloggers joining the tour.

Make sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour today!

Hosted By: Sew Sophie Lynn & Paisley Roots

Monday: Merritts Makes / The Petite Sewist / 5 Out of 4

Tuesday: Kainara Stitches / Sincerely Shantelle / We Sew Got This / Lily Shine Creates

Wednesday: Mabey She Made It / Little Fish Apparel / Pear Berry Lane / Heather Handmade

Thursday: Made By Kates / Margarita on the Ross / That’s Sew Kari / Auschick Sews

Friday: Its Liesel / Amber Lauren Boutique / Violette Field Threads / Confetti Unicorn

For this week, March 11-15, 2019, our readers can enjoy 20% off SWIM ONLY from these sponsors!

Wardrobe By Me code: Raspberry Creek

Simple Life Pattern Company code: SLPCO-RCSWIM

Violette Field Threads code: RCSwim

Titchy Threads code: SUITUP19

5oo4 code: RCFSWIM

and 15% off SWIM ONLY from Jalie code: SWIMTOUR15OFF

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors!

Boo Designs / Sew A Little Seam / Titchy Threads / Simple Life Pattern Co. / Jalie

Little Lizard King / Made for Mermaids / Love Notions / Striped Swallow Designs

Patterns for Priates / Violette Field Threads / Wardrobe By Me / 5oo4 / Sew Like My Mom

Made For Mermaids Mama Camila

I’ve been sewing swimsuits for my kiddos this summer and I’m finally sharing one for ME! Let’s be honest though, I’d much rather be posting pics of my kids than of me, especially in swimwear, yikes! This swimsuit has been in my head since last summer and I’m so excited to have it done, it just has to be shared with the world!

The Mama Camila suit is one of my favorites (I also have a healthy obsession with the girls version as well). I wore last year’s Camila so much throughout the year that I knew another one would be a welcome addition.

When I snagged this lemon print from CaliFabrics last year I knew I selfishly wanted it for myself. I loved it so much when it arrived that I had to order more just in case my girls needed a suit or two too. I love that CaliFabrics gets designer ends so their selection is always great quality. For better or worse, their selection is constantly changing so check back often and make sure to grab your favorite prints before they disappear.

Let’s talk about this pattern. I love how incredibly versatile it is. The main bodice is a simple one piece with elastic ruching through the tummy area. There are options to sew the flounce like this or over the arms. I like to do the off shoulder view because you can still slip it off your shoulders and wear it like this easily. You can do shoulder ties, a halter tie, or skip the ties altogether. This is my first time doing the double ties and I love them! If you choose to skip the ties the top of the suit feels super secure with the elastic.

When I’m chasing kiddos at the pool, I tend to tuck the ruffle under my arms. It’s a little more freeing, lol!

Off the shoulders feel so chic though! This is my vacation with the hubby look. Cute but a little sexy too 😉

I like to add all the inner options to my suits. This one has foam cups, a shelf bra, power mesh and a full lining. The pattern walks you through adding everything to get a suit that’s flattering and supportive. I love being able to make something that makes me feel as comfortable as possible strutting around the pool.

Are you new to sewing swim? Looking for swim tips? I’m over on the CaliFabrics Blog too sharing some of the things I’ve learned throughout the years. Swimsuits are so much fun to sew and I look forward to sewing a new batch each season. This Camila is at the top of my list of favorites for sure!

Swimsuit Sewing 2018

I’ve been holding out on you guys! I can’t believe I haven’t shared all the swim goodness that’s been happening at our house. I’d like to thank Raspberry Creek Fabrics for giving me the push I needed to sew a million swimsuits this year- ok, maybe not a million but we’ve been busy for sure.

This little man has gotten three swimsuits so far this year. You know me, once I start it’s hard for me to stop sewing swim. It’s so quick and rewarding and they get worn constantly. This suit is a Jolly Roger Raglan turned rashguard. I was dying to try the new Cricut Sportflex vinyl on swim knit and I’m happy to say it’s held up so well. The rash guards in this post have been to the pool multiple times and washed in the machine as well and the vinyl looks brand new. I’m happy to have a fun, easy, quality way to personalize our swimsuits.

The shorts are the Peek-a-Boo Patterns School’s Out Shorts. I used the girl cut line and love the length on him. It’s very retro and just like the big boys are wearing.

This suit is made with the Linden Shorts pattern and add-on pack from Sew A Little Seam. This palm print from Raspberry Creek’s newest swim line was one of my favorites and I just knew this little guy needed a suit from it.

Is this just not the picture of a happy kid, living the dream summer life?!

His last suit, so far, is the Sew Like My Mom Palm Euro suit. I love the fit of this pattern and that it’s a little looser around the front area, if you know what I mean. I think it’s cute and not too snug and so easy to play in.

This sweet tween just keeps shooting up and growing out of her suits. I’m currently making her a 7/8 width and a 12 length which makes store bought suits something we just can’t do. She’s loving this darling red suit we just made and she’s rocking these two as well.

This is the Made for Mermaids Calypso suit (I can’t sing the praises of the M4M Mermaid Shores suits enough!). I love this fabric combo and this particular suit really comes together so quick. Those flutters don’t need to be hemmed or gathered- hallelujah! The RCF swim is nice and thick and not nearly as slippery as some of the other swim I’ve encountered. It makes sewing through all those layers pretty painless. I just make sure to clip more than with normal knits and my serger is my bff when it comes to swim knit.

Can we talk about that booty coverage for a minute?! That’s one of my favorite things about all the Mermaid Shores patterns. I hate seeing my kids with wedgies the whole time their swimming and these bottoms just stay where they’re supposed to. Those M4M girls know what this mama likes!

Her other suit is a combo of my sons’ looks too. I just had to try the Palm Euro pattern on her. She loves boy short bottoms and I think this pattern was so perfect for her! I love the little extra length they have over normal girl patterns. This top is our trusty Camden Raglan from Hey June. The only alteration I did to make it a rash guard was to do a self lining on the front, essentially it’s just two layers of the white swim knit. It worked lovely and isn’t a bit see through. I used my Cricut again for her graphic and love this cute little set.

I’ve got a couple more suits lined up before summer’s end. I really love being able to sew suits to not only fit their personalities and personal style but also fit their unique body types. This is the main reason I sew for these kiddos and one of those things that brings my pure joy!

Sew Americana Tour 2018

The Sew Americana Tour by Katy from Wild and Wanderful is always a favorite of ours. It’s just the perfect kickoff to all our summer fun and we love capturing these cute girl cousins together. It’s also a great reminder, even in these troubling times, of just how lucky we are to live in this country.

It’s been fun to see how much these girls have grown. We loved our first year of dresses and last year we did easy to wear playtime looks. A palate of red, white, and blue is just so classic and lends itself to so many different interpretations. We’ll never grow tired of it!

We were so lucky to get to pick from some amazing Sly Fox Fabrics for this post. I’m always up for sewing swimsuits and these swim knits were the perfect place to start. Those polka dots just screamed to be made into a cute retro swimsuit and my red loving daughter needed a sophisticated solid suit that feels more 70’S swimwear model and less Baywatch, if you know what I mean. These fabrics were just what I had in mind.

We combined these fabrics with a couple from Raspberry Creek Fabrics- the navy gingham and navy solid. My sister sewed up these two darling suits and I love how they coordinate with my girls.

Can I talk about this look for a minute?!! When did my little girl get so old?! She’s always had a bit more mature taste in everything from clothes to books to how she spends her free time (crafting or organizing things usually). This suit is such a great reflection of that while still being modest and girly.

The Camila Swimsuit from Made for Mermaids has solidified it’s spot at the top of my swimsuit pattern list. It’s quick, easy to alter for her slim frame, and so cute on! I love the coverage on the bottom and the different options with the flounce (either over the shoulder or under the shoulder like on the gingham suit). I am dying to make me another version too!

This little cutie is rocking her Camila as well. With the flounce under her arms she’s ready to play! There are multiple strap options too so she can swim to her heart’s content.

I knew I had to do the new Catalina Swimsuit from Violette Fields Threads with this fabric. It’s just such a sweet throwback look and too perfect for this tour. I love, love the ruffles and that front tie!

I’ve got to be honest and say I struggled with this suit. I think to get a properly fitting suit you need lots of measurements in the pattern especially trunk measurements and that’s missing from this pattern. I graded the pattern according to her measurements and matching the pattern then added an extra inch in the trunk just to be safe (I was thinking I could do a side gather similar to the Camila if it ended up too long). It actually turned out too short and she’s constantly pulling it up in the front. I also think it’s hard to sew the straps in place before it can be tried on and they turned out a little too long exacerbating the low neck problem. I think part of sewing our own swimsuits is getting a better fit than you can buy and that just isn’t the case with this one. It really did turn out darling though and I know she’ll still get plenty of wear out of it.

Now this little miss has stolen our hearts and is rocking a Mairin Swimsuit from Sew A Little Seam. This is the halter neck boyshort option with leg ruffles- a combo I need to try for myself!

Isn’t it just sweet and classic? The options with the Mairin are endless and a little daunting at first. A quick look on Instagram and you’ll be wanting to sew ALL the variations and may be like me- paralyzed with fear of picking the wrong one! This has convinced me that there is no wrong one. Must. Sew. All. The. Mairins.

Thanks so much for stopping by our little stop on the tour. Make sure you check out all the other fantastic bloggers this year. There is always so much inspiration and I love all the stories everyone shares.