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 😉    )

 

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.

Turn right sides out.

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

The Double, Straight and Cross Strap Hack:

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).

 

 

Fringe Hack:

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

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!

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. 

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 :).

 

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.

 

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.

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

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

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

I love the little, simple detail!

 

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 🙂

 

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.  

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.