Two years ago I had a dream, a dream in which I had a killer swim suit.
I wanted something that would keep the ~girls~ contained and cover up my belly, just a bit.
And I wanted pretty lace~
Decided I would use Butterick B4526, since it seemed versatile.
(spoiler alert, I'm going to use this pattern a lot this month)
To make the bottoms I used the patten for the one peice, and I traced it on my fabric to the waist line.
So about where that chopstick is.
I used a green knit spandex and some white lining fabric for the bottoms. Along with a black WOVEN lace
What was I thinking...
It still works, it's just hard to get on and off, but my origanal plan for the top would not work at all.
Sadly I didn't know this until I had already made the top...
I was able to put it on for a photo.
But it was so tight I couldn't get it on and off without dislocating my shoulders!
So I abandoned the top and focused my efforts on finishing those bottoms!
I used chlorine safe black braided elastic from Wallmart for the leg hole elastic
I basted it down with a zig-zag on my pencils lines, folded it in, and stiched it down proper.
And for the top Of the bottoms I sewed a chanel and put this fancy silicone elastic through the casing.
And I tied it in a very secure knot, because puncturing the silicone with a needle would weaken it; and then it might rip.
Once I had the bottoms constructed I took a minute to admire them, and then I addressed the issue of the missing top.
Since this isn't France, I was going to need one. And I had waisted so much fabric on the first draft that wouldn't fit. So I decided to scrap together a Seria.
I actualy had to peice it together with scraps of fabric green spandex, like a stretchy, conservative puzzle.
Thankfully I had a ton of the black lace. The fabric had previously been a demonic shawl that the Devilette dancers wore in Jesus Christ Superstar.
So I have yards of it laying around, which made peicing the lace easy.
I used black braided electric to finish all of the edges on this top peice as well.
And as far as editing the pattern goes, all I needed to do to turn it into a swimsuit was add about a foot to the wings of the pattern so I could tie it in the back. Rather that having a hook and eye closure.
I have to say, this swimming suit is a bit more reveling than what I thought I was ready for. But once I put it on for the first time I felt unstoppable!
