Sunflower Swim top SAL – day 7

June 30, 2021

What a splashing fabulous week! Thank you so much for joining me in the Sunflower Swim Top sew along. We loved seeing you get ready for a P4P summer. It is time to announce the two winners, so without further ado….

Congratulations Melissa Powell! As our first winner, Melissa will receive a $20 Patterns for Pirates gift card and a $50 Oh So Pretty Custom Fabrics one. I can’t wait to see those smiling faces sporting some OSP/P4P creations!

Jenny Sherman Richards is our second prize winner. She won a $20 gift card to Made for Mermaids and a $25 Oh So Pretty Custom Fabrics one.

A big THANK YOU to Oh So Pretty Custom Fabrics, our Sew Along sponsor, who also provided the swim fabrics for the videos.

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 1 | Cut fabric

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 2 | Shelf bra

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 3 | Straps and side seams

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 4 | Attach lining

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 5 | Neckline and elastics

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 6 | Add ruffle/hem and finish swim top

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 7 | Winners announcement

Sunflower Swim top SAL – day 6

June 26, 2021

Hello, pirates! We have made it to the last day of our sew along. Today we add the optional ruffle, hem the bottom and finish the back loops.

If you are not adding the ruffle, sew the elastic along the bottom (just like we did yesterday) with an stretch stitch. Fold 3/8” and hem. If you are adding the ruffle, start by gathering the strip of swim. For the closed back style, the ruffle will be one loop, for the open back it will a straight piece.

Remember to stitch the ruffle 3/4” away from the ends of the swim top bottom. You will add the elastic after you sew the ruffle on. If you opted for the closed back you have finished. For the open back, you need to fold each of the loops 3/4” towards the lining and stitch down. Thread the straps through the loops and tie knots at the end.

That’s it! You finished your beautiful swim tops! I whipped up a pair of coordinating Busy Bee swim bottoms to go with my Sunflower top. I absolutely love my Minnie Mouse inspired swimsuit.

Here is the last sew along video. Once you finish your Sunflower post a picture of your completed swim top in then comments of day 6 sew along album. Feel free to share your creations all over Facebook but don’t skip adding it to the day 6 check in photo, that’s where the the P4P team will pick the winners. We will announce them here on the blog on Tuesday.

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 1 | Cut fabric

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 2 | Shelf bra

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 3 | Straps and side seams

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 4 | Attach lining

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 5 | Neckline and elastics

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 6 | Add ruffle/hem and finish swim top

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 7 | Winners announcement

Sunflower Swim top SAL – day 5

June 25, 2021

Welcome to day 5 of our Sunflower Swim Top sew along. I reserved today to adding all elastics to the neckline, armcyce and back curves. Another easy day but a very important one. Do not skip sewing elastic in the seams of your swimsuits!

If you are sewing the closed back style, you will have a two elastics to sew, one in the neckline and another one in the armscye and along the top of the back. If you are creating the open back top you should have 1 elastic for then neckline, 2 form the armscye and 4 for the back C curves.

You should stitch the swim elastic along the wrong side of the main print with a stretch stitch on your sewing machine or your serger. Remember to disengage the serger blade! The elastic and edges it goes on should be then same length, no stretching needed.

In today’s video I show you how I add the elastic to the open back Sunflower top. Once you finish your steps, snap a picture of your progress and add it to the comments of day 5 photo of the sew along album. Tomorrow we add the optional ruffle and finish then swim top. See you back here!

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 1 | Cut fabric

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 2 | Shelf bra

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 3 | Straps and side seams

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 4 | Attach lining

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 5 | Neckline and elastics

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 6 | Add ruffle/hem and finish swim top

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 7 | Winners announcement

Sunflower Swim top SAL – day 4

June 24, 2021

Ahoy, matey! Welcome to the mid day of our Sunflower sew along. Today is the fastest sewing day so it makes a good opportunity to catch up on past days, start a second swim top or join us if you still haven’t started.

First off we need to baste or pin in place the front straps. If you are sewing the halter top, you’ll pin the straps 1.25″ away from each side. If you did the scoop neckline (like me) then you are centering the straps in the pick ups. Once the front straps are basted in place, stitch the back side too. You are only sewing in the back straps for the closed back style.

Place your lining and your main right sides together making sure that the straps are out of the way. Stitch along the top ONLY for now. For the closed back option, you are all done. If you are creating the open back then you will also need to stitch around the 4 “C” curves at the back.

You can see in day 4 video below how I attach the lining to my scoop neck, open back Sunflower swim top. Once you finish today’s steps, post a picture of your progress in the comments of day 4 photo of the Sunflower Sew Along album. See you back here tomorrow!

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 1 | Cut fabric

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 2 | Shelf bra

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 3 | Straps and side seams

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 4 | Attach lining

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 5 | Neckline and elastics

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 6 | Add ruffle/hem and finish swim top

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 7 | Winners announcement

Sunflower Swim top SAL – day 3

June 23, 2021

Hello, pirates! On day 3 we create the straps and sew the side seams. The Sunflower Swim top includes a full back and an open back option. The covered back straps are much shorter than the open back ones.

One of the most important tips I have for you for today is to not skip the elastic in the straps, regardless of which style swim top you chose. The straps are pretty much holding the rest of the suit in place. That, and the fact that swim fabric tends to “relax” in the water makes the straps elastic mandatory.

You can serge the elastic to the wrong side of the straps as Judy has in her videos or you can zig zag it on, as I did. Optionally, you can top stitch the straps along the center. Just make sure you use a stretch stitch or a chain stitch for that.

Last steps for today are sewing the side seams of the main and then of the lining. If you opted fro the open back style, your main and lining will be a flat piece. For the closed back style, once you sew the side seams you will have two “loops”.

In today’s video you can see how I create the open back straps and sew the side seams. Keep in mind that if you are doing the closed back option, the Sunflower pattern does include videos for that option as well. Once you finish today’s steps, post a picture of your progress in the comments of day 3 photo of this Sew Along album.

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 1 | Cut fabric

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 2 | Shelf bra

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 3 | Straps and side seams

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 4 | Attach lining

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 5 | Neckline and elastics

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 6 | Add ruffle/hem and finish swim top

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 7 | Winners announcement

Sunflower Swim top SAL – day 2

June 22, 2021

Good morning and welcome to day 2 of our Sunflower Swim top SEW ALONG. Today we create the shelf bra, with or without the removable cups layer. If you are adding the cup pockets you will have 4 pieces for the front (one main, one lining, one inner lining and one shelf bra). If you are making the youth Sunflower you will not have the cups option so your front will have 3 layers (main, lining and shelf bra).

This swim top can be sewn entirely with your sewing machine. If you own a serger and a coverstitch machine, some steps can be done with them. In my years of me-made swimsuit sewing and wearing I have found that swimwear created with the sewing machine tends to last longer than serged one. So my personal goal for this sew along is to utilize a zig zag and a triple stretch stitch 100% off the time. If you know me, you know that I am a huge serger/coverstitch fan so this is a big step 😉.

Tip: if you do not have 3/4″ swim elastic for today’s steps, you can use 1″ knit elastic in a pinch. Do keep in mind that swim elastic is treated to withstand chlorine water, while knit elastic is not,

You can see in today’s video how I added the shelf bra to the lining, including the cup pockets. Once you complete all steps, snap a photo of your front lining and posted in the comments of Day 1 photo of this sew along album. You can find the album in the M4M & P4P sew along group on Facebook.

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 1 | Cut fabric

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 2 | Shelf bra

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 3 | Straps and side seams

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 4 | Attach lining

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 5 | Neckline and elastics

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 6 | Add ruffle/hem and finish swim top

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 7 | Winners announcement

Sunflower Swim top SAL – day 1

June 21, 2021

Welcome to the Sunflower Swim Top Sew Along!

Day One of the sew along is for purchasing the pattern and cutting the fabric. If you did not buy the patterns yet, stop by the Sew Along Facebook Group to find an exclusive coupon code. You can grab the adult Sunflower Top here. If you plan to sew for a little one, the Youth Sunflower Swim Top or the Bundle is what you need. If you are still undecided which style to make, our Round Up blog will give you an overview of all options included, plus a look at the Busy Bee swim bottoms. You can also use the Easy Hacks blog for added options. As a matter of fact, I will be making my SAL top inspired by Dana’s hack.

Now that we have the patterns it’s time to select which method of using them you would like to do. Both the Youth and the Adult come in A4 and Letter format to print at home, A0 format to print at a copy shop AND a projector file. If you use the projector file you will not have to print anything!! That’s definitely my favorite way! You can see in today’s video how I use the file to cut the fabric. We also have an excellent P4P University that will give you the basics of using a projector instead of printing the pattern. I highly recommend reading it and watching the included video.

Let’s start by taking the measurements needed for the best fit. P4P has an amazing blog that gives you tips for accurately taking your measurements. You can read all about it here. If your measurements put you in a different size for chest and waist be sure to check out our P4P University blog and grade to achieve the perfect fit. P4P’s newest patterns come with videos throughout the tutorial, just click the link in the pattern to access them.

For my Sunflower Swim Top I am using these cute Minnie Mouse inspired Oh So Pretty swim knits. Oh So Pretty Custom Fabric is this sew along’s sponsor as well so our lucky winner will be receiving gift card to treat themself to their custom prints (must be a member in the OSP Facebook group to qualify). They stock solid swim fabric in retail as well.

Judy made this very in depth video about various swim fabric, notions and how to accurately take your measurements to create the perfect custom swim suit. I highly encourage you to watch it:

TIP: write on your elastic where it will go (eg neckline elastic , armscye elastic, etc)

You can see day 1 video below. Once you cut all the fabric and elastics take a picture and post it in the comments of day 1 photo. This sew along album will be in the M4M & P4P Sew Along Facebook group.

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 1 | Cut fabric

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 2 | Shelf bra

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 3 | Straps and side seams

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 4 | Attach lining

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 5 | Neckline and elastics

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 6 | Add ruffle/hem and finish swim top

Sunflower Swim Top SAL day 7 | Winners announcement

Minute Maillot SAL – day 7 (winners announcement)

July 15, 2019

Absolutely beautiful job this week, friends! We have see and admired so many gorgeous Minute Maillot swim suits that made our decision a very difficult one to make. Without keeping you waiting any longer…

Congratulations Karolina Linden!

Karolina won a $20 store credit to Patterns for Pirates and a $25 Gift Card from Boho Fabrics.

As always, we have two winners:

Great job, Megan Marie!

Megan will receive a $20 store credit to Made for Mermaids and a $25 Gift Card from Boho Fabrics.

A huge thank you to Emily from Boho Fabrics who sponsored the Minute Maillot SAL and also provided the fabric I used for my swim suit.

Colleen will be letting you all know the pattern we will be sewing together in August soon.

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 1

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 2

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 3

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 4

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 5

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 6

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 7

Minute Maillot SAL – day 6 ( finish arms, legs and neckline)

July 13, 2019

We made it to the last day of the Sew Along!! You’ve all been doing amazing this past week. All we have left to do (for both the youth and adult Minute Maillot) is to finish the arms, legs and neckline opening. This consists of three steps, sewing the elastic in a loop, attaching the elastic to the opening and hemming.

Tip: Write on each elastic where you will be adding it, eg: arm. This way you make sure you don’t accidentally add an arm elastic to the leg opening.

I highly recommend sewing the elastic with a wide zig zag stitch to minimize bulk. If you prefer using your serger for this step, you can. It’s just not my first choice. When hemming I love using a wide coverstitch with wooly or bulky nylon in the looper. If that is not an option, a zig zag stitch on your sewing machine will work just as well.

You did it!! All you have to do now is post a picture of your finished Minute Maillot swim suit (modeled or not) in the comments of the day 6 photo of this sew along’s album. Reminder, only photos posted in the comments of DAY 6 photo will qualify for the prize. You are most definitely welcome to share on the wall as well (the SAL group and P4P group). Good luck!

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 1

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 2

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 3

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 4

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 5

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 6

Minute Maillot SAL | Day 7

Minute Maillot SAL – day 5 (sew side and crotch seams)

July 12, 2019

Almost there! Today the project will take swim suit shape when we stitch the side seams and the bottom seam. woohoo! 🙂 Grab your lining and main swim and let’s get started!

If you are making the partially lined version then your lining side seams are already sewn from day 3. For the fully lined option you will lay the lining and main fabric similar to the way you did the shoulder seams yesterday. ALWAYS triple check with the pattern instruction before stitching the side and crotch seam to make sure all layers are placed correctly.

Ruffles

If you added ruffles to your little one’s Minute Maillot today you are adding them to the swim suite. I recommend using a disappearing pen like the Frixion to mark the placement of the ruffles.

Tip: use a Wash away Wonder Tape to keep your ruffles in place when while sewing them on with a zig zag stitch. It will not gum up your needles and as soon as the suit hits the water it will disappear.

Here is day 5’s video. Take a look and once you finish sewing the side and crotch seam, snap a picture of your progress and post it in the comments of day 5 photo of the MM sew along album.