The Bathing Suit Project

Part 3 - the end!!

Here is the second bathing suit. I chose to do the tankini this time and I really like how it turned out. 

Here is the third bathing suit and I did a bikini with the little skirt.

I used soft bra cups in the tops again for more shape and support. All set for my vacation!

Both pieces of fabric were ordered online from Fashion Fabric Club but luckily I did not have to pay duty on it crossing the border to Canada.

All in all a great pattern and I will certainly be making bathing suits again.

To see the whole process, please see Part 1 and Part 2 of this bathing suit project!!

For more details, please see my review at Pattern Review

Corset Making

Just the biasing binding to finish stitching down

It has been a while since I last posted. With our upcoming vacation, getting ready for Christmas and being extra busy at work as the office will be closed for two weeks, I either have time to sew or blog. Not both!! But now things are easing up a bit.

I did however treat myself to an early Christmas present at the beginning of December. I did a corset making course. I did it at the Bra Makers Supply store in Hamilton, Ontario, I have been there several times this year to get fabric and odds and ends for my adventures in bra making. I saw the corset course offered and decided that I wanted to do it.

There were only 3 of us on the course so we got personal attention from the very talented bra and corset designer herself, Beverly. We started on Saturday morning and ended on Sunday afternoon with a corset. All I had left to do was stitch down by bias binding when I got home.

Starting to cut out the pieces

Sewing part of the busk in place

It's starting to come together

We started off with a shopping trip so that Bev could show up what fabrics would work. I chose a purple home décor weight fabric with a suede look fabric for the bias binding. For the inside I chose a black twill.

Grommets set

Then it was back to the shop to measure ourselves and customize the pattern. The pattern is designed to bring your waist in by about 2 inches, I chose to make my corset take my waist in a little more than that!

I chose to insert a proper busk in front and at the back I set my own eyelets. 26 pieces of boning were used in this corset to hold the shape and pull me in. In terms of the actual sewing, it is mostly straight stitching (lots of channels for that boning!!).

I am not sure how often I am going to wear this but I had such fun making it.

The Bathing Suit Project

Part 2

We have a winner!! Using Kwik Sew 3696, and material of similar stretch to swim wear fabric, I have made my first bathing suit. It fits well and I will be able to wear it on the beach.

(With thanks to Tanit-isis for the wonderful idea a while ago of modelling undies on a pillow for the blog pics!!)

The only adjustments I made to the pattern was to stitch the  straps at the top in place,otherwise I felt the top could slip down (not what I want in public) and then added soft moulded bra cups (about $10 from Fabricland) between the outer fabric and the lining to give the top some more shape and support.

You can see the difference the moulded cup makes.
The right side had the cup in for this pic

Showing the moulded bra cup

I made view A and also did the little skirt to match.

Now the two pieces of swimwear fabric that I order from Fashion Fabrics Club have arrived and I plan to quickly whip up two more bathing suits fro my Christmas vacation.

Cowl Neck Scarf

I finished my cowl neck scarf the other day

It was actually a nice quick knit. If you are on Ravely, it is a free pattern. A Burberry inspired cowl neck scarf (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/burberry-inspired-cowl-neck-scarf).

I used the wool that I procured in Ireland in summer. I didn’t actually buy it, I asked my Aunt to but some for me as I didn’t want to give up a round of golf to go shopping at the local market!! She choose a beautiful teal color. (Thanks Trudy!)

I learnt two new techniques with this knit. The start calls for provisional casting on and at the end you use a Kitchener stitch to sew the first and last row together. It makes a lovely clean join at the end, ideal for a cowl like this.

Luckily for me the weather has cooled down in my part of the world, and I will be starting to wear scarves again any day now!

Now I need to get going with my Owl Sweater, I am at the boring part, just knitting. Looking forward to starting to make the owls!