Swim break!

I almost never sew anything for myself.  I really needed a swimsuit before we leave for vacation so I decided to take a break from stocking my Etsy shop and put this together today.

I used this tutorial for the bikini top but I suspected the style would not be flattering for my body shape and I planned to adjust it (read: boobless girl wants definition).  I planned to cinch the center front rather than just shirr it.  I was not crazy about the bikini bottom with this tutorial so I made my own pattern for that.

The bikini top was taller than I expected.  I had anticipated that it would be a bit too tall when I compared the pattern to bikini tops I usually wear, and had cut 1/2" off the bottom before I began sewing.  I ended up taking another 1/2" or so up from the bottom hem under the boobs after I put the top together.  I also discovered that my fabric was not substantial enough to give me the coverage I wanted in cold temps (heehee) so I added some bra cups purchased at Hobby Lobby.  These babies were more enhancement than I wanted but they were all that Hobby Lobby had to choose from.  Hellooooooo, ta-tas!

Um, did I just post a picture of myself in a bikini on the internets?  It must be cold down south.

For the bikini bottom, I traced a bikini that fit me well that had side ties.  I LOVE the concept of side ties since my weight tends to fluctuate.  It is so easy to get a great fit without having to go so tiny as a string bikini or buy granny bottoms.  I do think the side ties are too long and if I do this again I'll shorten them 1-2".  It's not bothersome enough for me to mess with it now, though.

What I liked about the tutorial:

1. It was free.
2. You really could make a pattern that fit YOU, not a range of sizes.
3. It was free.  Oh, did I already mention that?

What I didn't like:

1. The fit, mostly.  I think this top would be better suited to a larger-chested woman.  For someone like me without many curves, the bikini top in the tutorial looks more like a cropped tank top and is not flattering.  That doesn't really have anything to do with the tutorial itself - it is just a personal style preference.
2. The straps.  I ended up making wider straps because the thin ones weren't supportive enough.  The wider straps were also easier to turn inside-out and had a bigger area to stitch to the bodice, making me feel a little less like a strap might pop free at any given moment.

I'm pretty proud of myself for actually finishing a project for myself in less than 5 years.  Go me!  Now I'd better post this before I lose my nerve.