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New Pattern Releases :: Sunflower Swim Top + Busy Bee Swim Bottoms!

June 27, 2020

To help your summer go swimmingly well (ba-dum-ching!) we are bringing you a brand new set of swimwear tops and bottoms!  And we couldn’t be more excited about sharing them with you all.  In both adult and youth sizes, we are happy to introduce you to the Sunflower Swim Top and the Busy Bee Swim Bottoms!  For both of these patterns, the youth sizes range from 3m – 14.  And the adult sizes are for the full, newer size chart, extending from XXS – Plus 5X!  If you haven’t sewn with us in a while, please make sure to check the size charts, as there were slight adjustments made to accommodate the new size range for adults.

Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s start first by telling you all about the Sunflower Swim Top, shall we?


The Sunflower Swim Top is a great beginner swim top to try out if you’re wanting to start sewing swim for adults! The open back is very forgiving in fit since you can tie it a bit tighter or looser to get your perfect preferred fit. You can pick your bust coverage with a higher straight neckline or the lower scoop neckline. The full back is a very quick and easy sew that you can sew up for a simple and quick top. The flattering fit ends right at your smallest point to show off your natural waistline. But if you want a little more coverage you can add the optional ruffle. The top is fully lined and has the optional shelf bra. You can also add innerlining and removable cups to the shelf bra for even more support.

Options include: high straight neckline, scoop neckline, full back, open back, shelf bra, removable cups, and ruffle.

Enjoy several videos throughout the tutorial like complete sew ups of 2 different tops which cover all the options.

SUNFLOWER SWIM TOP | SUNFLOWER SWIM TOP – YOUTH | SUNFLOWER SWIM TOP – BUNDLE




The Busy Bee Swim Bottoms will have your swimsuit drawer full in no time with a variety of looks! You can mix and match with your tops easily, depending on your mood or where and who you’re going swimming with!  In case you’re feeling like you want more coverage, you can grab the high rise and brief options.  But in the event that you’re feeling like baring it all for less obtrusive tan lanes…go for the cheeky and low rise. Or you can pick between those two with a mid-rise, which hits just below the belly button.  Mix in some ruching at the side seams for a fun detail. These bottoms are very simple and quick to make with the waistline and leglines hemmed under with swim elastic. You can also choose to partially line or fully line.

Options include: low rise, mid rise, high rise, cheeky booty cutline (adult only), brief booty cutline, ruched side seams, partially lined or fully lined.

Enjoy several videos throughout the tutorial like adding/removing length, complete sew ups of ruched, plain, partially and fully lined bottoms.

BUSY BEE SWIM BOTTOMS | BUSY BEE SWIM BOTTOMS – YOUTH | BUSY BEE SWIM BOTTOMS – BUNDLE


**Want to learn more about how to measure yourself for this pattern?  We’ve got you covered with an in-depth blog HERE.  And in case you’re new to Patterns for Pirates and PDF patterns in general, we have a great blog full of new-user tips HERE to help you get started!  As with all of our current releases and updates, the pdfs now include our layers feature and can be found in Letter, A4 and A0 sizes.  And for even more helpful fun, we have a *free* printable that you can use to help record your measurements as you take them.

Let’s take a quick look at the different options and features!

SUNFLOWER BACK FINISHES

SUNFLOWER TOP HEMS

SUNFLOWER NECKLINES

BUSY BEE RISES

BUSY BEE LEG LINES (ADULT ONLY)

What are you waiting for?  Head on over and grab yourself a copy of these swim separates!  The Sunflower Swim Top and Busy Bee Swim Bottoms will be on sale (no code needed) through 11:59pm CST, July 5, 2020.

Don’t see the perfect bundle for the patterns you’d like to buy? Don’t forget you can always make your own bundle!

SUNFLOWER SWIM TOP | SUNFLOWER SWIM TOP – YOUTH | SUNFLOWER SWIM TOP – BUNDLE
BUSY BEE SWIM BOTTOMS | BUSY BEE SWIM BOTTOMS – YOUTH | BUSY BEE SWIM BOTTOMS – BUNDLE

Maybe hoping for a little more inspiration before you make the purchase?  Head over to our Facebook group where you can see tester albums full of amazing images!

Sunflower Swim Album | Busy Bee Swim Album | Sunflower Swim Youth Album | Busy Bee Youth Album

If you’re looking for even more options, we show you a few more ways you can use this pattern in our Sunflower Swim Top Easy Hacks Blog Post!

Filed Under: Pattern Release Leave a Comment

Siren and Hello Sailor Hacks

April 25, 2016

swim hacks

We couldn’t help ourselves to a few hacks to the new Siren Swim Top and Hello Sailor Swim Bottoms during testing!  We loved them so much we decided to share a few of our favorite quick and easy mods.

The Double Strap Hack: (My favorite! I couldn’t stop using this one 😉    )

IMG_1473IMG_1412 P4P PDF Patterns Siren Swim Top double crossover strap

This one is super simple and quick! You have 4 straps per cutting instructions.  Instead of sewing them right sides together to create 2 straps, we sewed each strap folded in half width-wise down the long edge.

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Turn right sides out.

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And place both side by side on the top pick ups.

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The Double, Straight and Cross Strap Hack:

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Then we had even more fun doing one set of straight straps and one set of criss-cross straps… cute right?!?!? Just baste and double check you have them all placed correctly before finalizing the stitching! I slipped swim elastic inside this navy/white top straps for more support.  It also keeps the straps in place and hold their shape (not get folded or wrinkled up).

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Fringe Hack:

The only change during construction is that I did not sew the flounce into the side seam.

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Once the top was compete I began in the center and used my rotary blade and clear quiting ruler to cut 1/4″ strips up to the seam line.  I continued all across the top, keeping my slits straight. I wont lie though, it was REALLY late and I was tired… I threw the ruler aside and went at it all crazy!

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I went back with scissors and clipped all the way up through the pick ups (I couldn’t get my roatary up that far without cutting through the main top pieces. IMG_6764 IMG_6767

It was crazy windy on our picture day with my cousin (isn’t she the cutest?!?!) so we only caught a few where the fringe wasn’t wildly blowing around! You could do the slits as small as your patience allows for and you could also tug them a bit to let the knit curl to hide some imperfections too! It’s a fun, flirty mod! I hope you don’t mind the other watermark on her pictures, my amazing sister took these photos and edited for me :).

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Double Flounce Hack:

Creating the double flounce is as simple as cutting 2 of the front and back flounce pieces.  I just kind of eyeballed  how much shorter I wanted the top layer flounce but ended up cutting about 1.5″ off the front and 1″ off the back. Depending on your size, you could also use a smaller size length as a guide.   Be sure to keep the side seams the same length on both the front and back flounce of the layer you cut.  For construction, I basted the two layers together to help keep them together as it is a little trickier to stitch 5 layers of fabric.

P4P Siren Swim Top Double Flounce Hack

 

HELLO SAILOR BOTTOMS

Piping Detail Hack:

This adds a bit of visual interest to those paneled options! Just cut strips at least as long as your seam where your front center and front side panels meet. The width is a personal preference, but you will need double what you’d like your finished width, plus double the seam allowance (3/4″).  I choose 1/4″ finished width for mine, so I cut a strip 1 1/4″ wide.

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Fold strip width-wise and place right sides together matching raw edges along seam where front center and side panel meet.

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Then place side panel on top and stitch with normal 3/8″ seam allowance. (You will be stitching through 4 layers of fabric)

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I choose to top-stitch mine down along the folded edge.

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I love the little, simple detail!

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Separate Skirt Cover Up Hack:

I created a separate skirt for my cousin to use as a cover up! I just cut 1 extra waistband than the pattern calls for and sewed it to the skirt just like the waistband (folded with right sides together along the top raw edge.)

Now she can slip on the skirt when she’s walking around and take it off when she’s ready to really go swimming 🙂

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One-Piece Hack:

For some, a two piece suit is not their style, so we hacked the Siren Swim Top and Hello Sailor to create an on trend one piece. You will construct your top and bottom as in the tutorial but will not attach your bottom band of the top or the waistband of the bottoms.  I chose to keep the bottom band of the top for extra support, but you can omit if you choose.  We will be connecting the top and bottom with a connector piece so you do not need the waistband of the bottoms.  Try on your top and bottom.  p4p pdf patterns siren swim top hello sailor one piece hack

To determine the length of the connector piece, measure the distance between the raw edge of your top and the top edge of your bottoms at center front and center back.  You may need to find someone to help you with the back ;). Add double the seam allowance (0.75″)  My gap was about 3″ so the length of my connector piece was 3.75″.  I used the waistband measurement for the width of the band as I wanted it to be held tight there.   Note: if your hip is much wider than your under-bust and waist, it will be difficult to pull up over your hips so you may need to shimmy it on!

 

Connecting the top and bottom is the same construction as the bottom band and waistband but you will be using the connector piece instead.  Stitch short ends of the connector piece and bottom band.  On the bottom band only, fold with wrong sides together.

p4p pdf patterns siren swim top hello sailor one piece hack

 

Matching raw edges and wrong side facing up, slip bottom band over connector piece.  You should have 3 layers of fabric.  Mark in 1/4s and with right sides together, match raw edges of the connector piece to the Siren Top.  Stitch.  Flip open and press seam down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p4p PDF patterns Siren Top and Hello Sailor One Piece Hack

 

Turn your Hello Sailor bottoms inside out. Matching raw edges of the connector piece, with right sides together, slip your Siren Top inside the bottom. Be sure to match the front of your top with the front of your bottoms. Stitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P4P PDF patterns Siren Swim Top Hello Sailor One Piece Hack P4P PDF patterns Siren Swim Top Hello Sailor One Piece Hack

 

Filed Under: Pattern Hacks 12 Comments

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