swim suit Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Patterns for Pirates

Take the Plunge Swimsuit :: New Pattern Release!

June 15, 2017

Just about this time last year, we released our first ever swim patterns. The Siren Swim Top and Hello Sailor Bottoms have received a lot of love, but we still had a lot of requests for a one-piece suit. Your wishes are being fulfilled today, with the brand spankin’ new release of the Take the Plunge Swimsuit!

Take the Plunge will make you want to swim all summer long. We’ve done all we can to pack it full of options and to make it flattering for ALL body types, sizes XXS – Plus 3X.

This is an intermediate knit pattern, and fits in a traditional, body hugging, one-piece swimwear style. The suit is fully lined and includes directions to add bust support (swim cups / power mesh / under bust elastic). All of your seams are enclosed for that professional finish, and the edges are all finished with elastic so you will be completely secure in your suit while taking a dip in the pool.

The pattern features a cross-over front bodice that plunges a little lower for a sexy look, while still keeping you contained, covered, and secure. The waistband hits at and slightly above the natural waistline, to create an extra slimming silhouette, and is also great for color blocking. And the leg openings come up a little higher in the front for a longer, leaner look. There are three band-back options (high back with straight straps / low back with cross straps / halter back), two bottom types (plain / ruched) and an additional option for a skirted bottom in two lengths (peplum / full).

The retro vibe of the Take the Plunge Swimsuit will be a classic for years to come and can be paired with so many different fabric prints for unlimited looks!

**Want to learn more about how to measure yourself for this pattern? We’ve got you covered with an in-depth blog HERE.

And now let’s see some suits!

FRONT CROSS-OVER BODICE

HIGH BACK, with straight straps

LOW BACK, with cross straps

HALTER BACK

PLAIN BOTTOMS

RUCHED BOTTOMS

OPTIONAL SKIRTED BOTTOMS

Feeling inspired to go buy all the swim knits now and sew a million suits for yourself? Before you do, don’t forget to snag the Take the Plunge Swimsuit pattern HERE.

And don’t think we’d leave you with only the original pattern. We’ve explored the extra potential of Take the Plunge and have an entire set of pattern SWIM HACKS and even a DRESS + PEPLUM HACK.

Needing more inspiration? Head over to our Facebook Group Album, where are gorgeous testers of every shape and size have shared their versions! Happy Sewing, friends!

Heart Breaker Cami- Swim Top Hack

March 27, 2017

During testing we had a lot of ladies used swim knit as a swim top for their littles! I think the design looked like a great swim top!

So, I thought I would share the very simple mods I did to use the Heart Breaker Cami as a swim top for my Baby Girl! I recommend adding swim elastic around all the edges. This helps the suit stay put when wet. I used 3/8″ swim elastic so I didn’t have to change any measurements to the binding 🙂

*I know a lot of ladies will be asking if they can skip the elastic. Technically yes, you can sew it with just swim knit and it will stand up to the water. BUT, the elastic will make it a “real swim suit”. What does that mean exactly? The swim elastic is made to hold up to the water and chlorine and doesn’t stretch out when wet. The swim fabric does stretch out and get heavier when wet. For me personally, if I’m going to give the time to sew up a swim suit, I want it to be a nice, stay put, last all summer one! So, I absolutely take the time to put in the elastic 🙂 I don’t want it to grow and fall down on her while we’re swimming or constantly be slipping off her shoulders if I skip it.

Follow the tutorial for the first step of attaching binding. Then serge or stitch your swim elastic along the opposite edge of binding that has not been attached yet. You want the edge of the swim elastic to be even along the edge of the binding. For the front curved neckline you will want to put slight tension on the elastic as you’re attaching, you don’t need to stretch much- just a touch- so that it hugs to your little one’s body.

Finish the binding exactly per the tutorial. Repeat these steps for the rest of the binding- putting a small amount of tension on the elastic only around the curved areas (under arms). For the shoulder straps and X back binding pieces you do not need to stretch the elastic at all- use a 1:1 ratio.

I also added some swim elastic into the bottom hem to keep it from riding up. For the cropped version I slipped elastic into the band there at the bottom.

And now she’s ready for the summer! I can’t wait to see her in it (especially since I found these perfect accessories to go with it!)

Siren and Hello Sailor Hacks

April 25, 2016

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.

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