so i made another one today and wrote this tute. i dont know how helpful it is i might make another tute for a different style when i make a swimsuit for my sister. so here it is:


1) gather your materials. some dance/swim fabric (usually a nylon/lycra blend), braided elastic that's suitable for swimwear, elastic thread, some newspaper/paper for cutting out a pattern, swimsuit hook, swimsuit padding. i didn't buy any lining fabric so i just used the same fabric as lining too.


2)create your pattern. take a swimsuit or underwear and trace to create a pattern. if you're using a swimsuit you'll probably have to stretch it out to get to the actual fabric size. if working alone, you feet are very useful for holding everything in place to do the tracing.


3) take the front bottom piece and trace it again on paper. on your body, measure from where the waistband begins to under your bust to get an approximate length and then draw out the additional portion in whatever style you want at approximately that length.


4) trace the pattern onto the fabric (i used a highlighter). then cut out adding about 1/2" allowance around the edges.


5) sew the crotch seam together of the outer fabric and lining. i used a straight stitch reinforced w/ zig-zag.


6) take both layers and pin them together so the seam is hidden.


7) the line you traced onto the fabric should still be visible. using zig-zag stitch and slightly pulling as you go, sew elastic just outside of that traced line. trim the excess fabric along the edges.


8) cutout the pieces for the top and repeat steps 6 and 7.


9) now put elastic thread in the bobbin (look up how to shirr if you don't know what to do). fold the elastic/edge over and top stitch over the edges.


10) create the strings by cutting ~1" strips and pulling them until they curl and tying knots at the end. fold the inner edge of the top piece over, encase the string and zig-zag stitch down. (i ran out of fabric here and had to go buy another 2" to make the strings..i used the string from another swimsuit as a place holder) try it on and figure out where the hook should be and sew that on.


11) cut a little hole in the lining of the top and stuff the padding in. **note: i also added boning on the side seams (where the front and back of the top connect) to help the top hold it's shape.


12) sew the sides of the bottom encasing the bottom strings. (sorry don't know how to explain this - just make sure the string can still slide through)


13) try both pieces on and stretch the center piece up until it fits well. attach the bottom piece to the top piece by folding it over and encasing the string and zig-zag stitching it down. (the back hook isn't sewn in yet in this picture because i forgot to buy one but it should be sewn in step 10)


voila! i think i might go back and un-stitch the top and put an o-ring in like w/ the first swimsuit. using just the string seems a bit insecure


here's a rough post it note sketch of how to make the black swimsuit:


going from top left --> bottom left --> top right --> bottom right:
1) a. draw a "triangle" top w/ the curved bottom (there are tuts for this if you look up diy bikini on google). then add a little extra on the sides for a little extra coverage.
b. cut out a strip that's about 3-4" wide.
c. make 4 strings (described in step 10 above)
2) a. after attaching the elastic and top stitching the edges (excluding the bottom curved edge) of the triangles [[steps 6,7,9]], baste along the bottom curved edge. pull one of the strands of thread to gather it and tie the thread in knots at the end to hold the gather in place.
b. fold the strip in half and sew it into a tube w/ straight stitch and reinforze w/ zig zag. then turn the tube inside out. (this piece will now be called the "band")
c. using a zig-zag stitch, top stitch the band over the triangle pieces at the top edge of the band.
3) attach the strings w/ a zig zag stitch. (the tops of the triangles should have a small opening so you can slip the string in between the lining and outer fabric) when you sew the strings to the band, slip the string into the ends of the tubes and then fold over so it's even.
4) attach the bottom piece to the top w/ a zig-zag top stitch. to make sure it was secure i top stitched it to the top of the band and bottom of the band.

hope that made sense! feel free to ask questions if you need clarification!

last week i decided to try sewing a swimsuit and i'm quite happy with the results!! i made another one this week too :] ((sorry for the funky cutout pictures. i felt like posting the actual picture was a little too scandalous  ))

here's the first one i made. i ran out of the navy fabric because i messed up cutting out the pieces but i found the bandeau top in target's clearance section for $3 so i just attached the two



here's the second one



i'm not sure which one i like better. i haven't actually gone swimming in them but i think they should hold up decently! let me know what you think..questions/comments/criticism/advice is welcome :]

**i added a tutorial..it's in reply #19. hope it's helpful!

since i should be studying for finals..i figured i'd go on craftster instead! haven't posted in a while so i thought i'd post some things i've made this past year or so..

first off my collection from a school fashion show. these are from may '08. the blouses were modifications of burda's JJ blouse. the skirts were my own design. dresses were my own design. the jacket was a trench coat pattern that i shortened and modified to look more like a moto jacket. shorts were based off a pair of shorts i own. and the pants were a woman's pants pattern modified to fit a guy. click for a larger image.



and here are a few random things i made and had on hand to take pictures of..all of them were my own design :]


the most comfortable cardigan in a gray lightweight jersey knit fabric.


made for a guy friend who wants more cardigans. it still needs buttons.


a top i pieced together with scraps of a cream jersey knit fabric.


skirt made from random fabric. it has an elastic waistband and pockets. i'm not a huge fan of the fabric, though.


a simple navy blue skirt w/ small front and back pleats and pockets. it definitely needs to be ironed but i like it :] i kind of messed up on the zipper but i don't think it's too noticeable..

thanks for looking :]

[scarf pattern is in reply #8]

after SEVERAL failed attempts to complete a project (i'm incredibly impatient) i put down my knitting needles and picked up a crochet hook. that was working out well until i saw a cabled scarf that i really wanted. so i decided to give knitting another chance, this time w/ super chunky yarn and big needles. after reading through a kajillion cable instructions i finally decided on one to follow which worked out quite well!

so here's my scarf. its wool-ease thick and quick in spice.


here's a closeup of the cables


it was so easy and i was so happy with the results i started one for a friend. here it is




i've also been dying to make knitty's calorimetry for a while but never felt motivated enough to do it. but i managed to get this done in 2 afternoons and i love it!! i cast on 110 stitches which turned out to be too many but i used two buttons instead of one to hold it together which worked out well!



closeup


you can click the pictures for a larger view. questions and comments are welcome!! thanks for looking =)

scarf pattern is in reply #8 

i haven't been crocheting for very long but here are some hats i've made that i'm really happy with 

giraffe hat!! this one is my absolute favorite! i wish i could wear it everyday. it was really easy to make it just took me a few tries to figure out the ears. it is double crocheted and has ear flaps and i single crocheted in brown around the rim.


this was the first hat i've made. i like it a lot but i think i like the giraffe one a lot more .



and lastly here's a wip. it's supposed to be a batgirl/batman hat. i'm not sure how much it actually looks like it though..i'm waiting on making the second ear thing cause i'm just not sure. plus i cant decide if i want it to be batman or batgirl..if it's batman i'm going to crochet some more around the nose area. anyways here it is.. what do you guys think?



so that's all for now! questions/comments welcome!

I haven't posted in a while so here are 3 things I've made.


I got this fabric for super cheap and figured it'd make a nice dress. There's something odd about it but it's getting too cold to wear a dress like this anyways.

You must all be sick of seeing hoodies but I'll post them anyways! They aren't as cool as some of the ones other people have posted but I still like them! You can click the images for a better view of the fabric.


This one's a colorful apple print thermal fabric! I made it about 2 weeks ago after I went to Joann's and saw their new thermal prints. I think I have a serious problem because right when I saw the fabric I immediately picked it up and got 2 yards of it without thinking.


This is one of my favorite hoodies that I've made. It's a greenish houndstooth print flannel. Unfortunately the zipper is gray because I couldn't find a matching green zipper.

Anyways, I hope I didn't bore you with the cruddy picture quality and strange faces. I haven't posted in a while and I was itching to make a post. Questions/criticism/comments are welcome!

[sorry for the lengthy post. thanks for looking. questions/comments/constructive criticism welcome]

these were my first attempts at crocheting. i have a TON of yarn from all those failed attempts at knitting. i think i'm addicted now even though i'm not too good at it, but at least it gives me something to do when i'm away from my sewing machine and i can finally use up all my yarn! so here they are..i'll put them in chronological order 

so the first thing i ever crocheted..


i used this pattern minus the picot stitches on the side because i didnt and still don't get how to do them. but i'm happy w/ the way it looks. i used lion brand wool-ease in gold. (fyi..i don't really know how to wear scarves cause i dont wear them  )


heres the second..


i believe it's just a bunch of shell stitches. i don't like the color combo much but i didnt want the entire scarf to be orange so switched to other colors.. it's an awkward length (7ft long). the yellowish yarn is also woolease and the rest is random acrylic yarn i got at goodwill for 50cents a skein


so after that scarf i realized those colors matched this owl eye mask pretty well, so i thought i'd try it out. i think next time i'll try raccoon eyes..

it isn't assembled yet cause i didnt have any white yarn to go around the eyes. since i don't have any use for an eye mask i think i'm going to extend it and make a stuffed owl. i'm still trying to decide what to use as the main color so what do you guys think?



and lastly my headphone sleeves! inspired by these




sorry for the lengthy post. thanks for looking. questions/comments/constructive criticism welcome 

i needed something to do to justify my ap summer reading procrastination, so i decided to attempt etching. so here are the pessimist and optimist glasses inspired by the pessimist's mug


the box i made by cropping a shoebox and covering with awesome dollar store printer paper. i don't really know why i made a box..


there they are


the optimist's glass (this glass is now half-full) click picture for larger image


the pessimist's glass (this glass is now half empty) click picture for larger image


so it's kind of hard to take pictures of glass..it's pretty sloppy etching but i'm quite satisfied with them. i don't really know what to do with them since i wasn't planning on using them. 


well that's all for now. questions/comments/suggestions are welcome!!

[--->]

thanks for all the wonderful comments and suggestions! i'm stilll not sure if i'll wear the first dress but now i'm pretty sure i'll wear the second! for those interseted here's the transformation of the dress

  --->
as you can see the skirt was pretty short to begin with. the lightweight fabric made it seem even shorter! then i bought the gold fabric which i think helped a LOT. but i wasnt happy with the skirt part of the actual dress so i cut it off and sewed a new one. and instead of  tying the bow in the back i tied it in the front which is much more functional when sitting in a chair!

i'm much happier with the final results!

I love what you've done with the second dress.  I have that same doll fabric, and have been intimidatied by both the silkiness and the wrinkles.  I think i have just go for it now and make something, seeing as your dress came out beautifully.

oh man i was SO intimidated by the fabric when i started!! at one point i was going to cry because the dress didnt look like anything and  it was just horrible to sew, but the results made it all worth it!! the fabric is pretty forgiving though, all the wrinkles and the pattern hide a lot of the little mistakes!

so here are two dresses i made recently. they might be worn to my cousins wedding in september but i'm not sure yet.


this one i was planning on wearing as my daytime dress but it seems a bit dark and too casual?


this dress i absolutely love. it's my evening dress but it seems a bit too formal. i love love love the green fabric! it has russian dolls printed on it. i added the gold underlayer (which is actually a separate skirt) because the green alone seemed a bit short but i'm happy with the way it looks now. i've been too lazy to hem it because the fabric is so horrible to sew!! i still need to add straps cause the fabric is so slick sometimes the dress chooses to just slip off 

so if you bothered to read my rants what do you think? should i wear both dresses?? i don't want to go from underdressed to overdressed.  and if you don't have an opinion about that, questions and comments about the dresses are welcome!