finished baithing suit with Pattern! Two different Tops

[sweetcavitee]

This is my first post.
I just finished my own version of the polka dot bikini from Stitch n' Bitch Nation.
I altered the bottoms to be more like shorts and less like briefs. I also changed the top to a triangle top, but then didn't like it so I made a sports bra-type top.

I just thought I would share.

The sports bra-type top is more supportive than the triangle one, but it's not the most supportive thing. Luckily I have a small top, so it doesn't matter. I tried the suit in the water (in the shower) and it does get pretty heavy, although it didn't sag or anything while I was wearing it. But if you pull on it while it's wet, it will get stretched out.

Polka Dot Boy Short Bikini pattern:

Yarn: Cascade Fixation
   Main Color – 3 skeins
   Contrasting color – 1 skein
Needles: #3 straight needles
Gauge: 24 sts = 4 in. in st st

Directions:
BOY SHORTS:
With MC, CO 82 (88, 94) sts.
Rows 1 – 3 work in 1x1 rib
Row 4 – P
Rows 5 – 17 work from chart (12 rows)
Work in st st for 3 (3 ½, 4) inches, ending with RS facing
Next row: K 52 (55, 59) beg with a k st, work in 1x1 rib to end.
Next row: Work in 1x1 rib for 30 (33,35) sts, K 22 (22, 24), rib to end.
Rep last row once
Next row: BO 33 (36, 38), rib 2 sts, K18 (18, 20), rib to end
Next row: BO 33 (36, 38), rib 2 sts, p to end
Work in St st for the next 3 ½ (3 ½, 4)” (P the beginning 3 and end 3 sts of each row
until *) End RS
Inc 1 st on each edge, 3 sts in from edge of next 10 rows *
Next row: CO 33 (36, 38) sts
1x1 Rib 36, K to last 2 st, P, K
CO 33 (36, 38) sts
1x1 Rib 36 (39, 41), K 24 (24, 34), 1x1 rib to end.
1x1 rib 36 (39, 41), K 24 (24, 34), 1x1 rib to end.
1x1 Rib 36 (39, 41), K 24 (24, 34), K to end.
Work in St st for 3 (3 ½, 4) inches, ending with RS facing.
Work in chart for 12.
Work in 1x1 rib for 3 rows.
BO.

TOP (triangle pattern):
With MC CO 90 (98,106) sts.
Knit in st st for 1 (1, 1.5) inches
Work from chart for 5 rows (knit the first and last stitch of every row in MC)
While you work the remaining rows, keep working the pattern of the chart.
Next Row (RS facing): K 45(49, 53), place rem sts on a holder

Left Side:
Next row: K3, p2tog tbl, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Next row: K4 (6,8) work from chart, K3 (5,7)
Row 1, 3, 15, 17, 19, 29, 31, 37 and 39: K3, p to last 3sts, K3
Row 2, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22: K to last 5 sts, ssk, K3
Row 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 26 and 34: K all sts
Row 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 21: K3, p2tog tbl, p to last 3 sts. K3
Row 23, 25, 27, 33 and 35: K3, p2tog tbl, p to last 5 sts, p2tog, K3
Row 28, 30, 32, 36, 38 and 40: K3, k 2tog, K to last 5 sts, ssk, K3
Row 41: K3, p2tog tble, p to last 5 sts, p2tog. K3

Medium and Large sizes only:
Next row: K3, K2tog, K to last 5 sts, ssk, K3.
Next Row: K3, p2togtbl, p to last 5 sts, p2tog, K3

Large only:
Rep last 2 rows once

All sizes:
Next row: K2, k2tog, ssk, k2 (6 sts remain)

Strap:
Work in garter st on rem 6 sts for 16” (or more if you want longer neck straps) BO.

Right Side:
Next Row: K3 k2tog, k to end
Next Row: K4 (6,8) p to last 3 (5,7), K
Row 1, 3, 15, 17, 19, 29, 31, 37 and 39: K
Row 2, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22: K3, p to last 5 sts. P2tog, K3
Row 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 26 and 34: K3, p to last three, K3
Row 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 21: K3, k2tog, K to end.
Row 23, 25, 27, 33 and 35: K3 k2tog, k to last 5, ssk, K3
Row 28, 30, 32, 36, 38 and 40: K3, p2tog tbl, p to last 5 sts, p2tog, K3
Row 41: K3, k2tog, k to last 5, ssk, K3

Medium and Large only:
Next row: K3, p2tog tbl, p to last 5 sts, p2tog, K3.
Next row: K3, k2tog, k to last 5 sts, ssk, K3

Large only:
Rep last 2 rows once.

All sizes:
Next row: K2, p2tog, p2tog, K2 (6 sts remain)

Work strap, BO

To create bottom band,
CO 6 stitches. Knit every row until the band is long enough to wrap around the torso and tie comfortably in the back. When finished, seam the band unto the bottom of the triangles, making sure there is an even amount on either side. Stretch the band taught while seaming so it remains tight to the body once finished.


SPORTS BRA TOP
(Note: you must use 24” circular needles for sports bra top)

CO 138 (152) sts.
Work 14 rounds in K1 P1 rib
Work 4 rounds in st st.
Next Round: K 29 (31) PM, K3, PM

M1 into 2 sts after first marker (+ 2 sts) and in 2 sts before the second marker (+2 sts). You should be increasing 4 sts total.
K1 round.
Repeat those two rounds 3 more times. (adding 4 sts each round)
After these rounds, you should have 154 (168) sts

Making the opening in the back:
K93, BO 49 (53) K 16 (this may seem lopsided, but it won’t matter)
Knit to end.

You are now knitting back and forth on the circular needles, working in st st, so make sure you K one row and P one row.
Row 1: purl
Row 2: BO 10 sts, K to last 10, BO 10
Row 3: BO 4 sts, purl to end
Row 4: BO 4 sts, K to end
Row 5: BO 1 st, P to end
Row 6: BO 1 st, K to end
Row 7: BO 1 st, P to end
Row 8: Bo 1 st, K to end.
Row 9: Purl
Starting here, slip Kst Kwise and Pst Pwise for first st in every row.
Row 10: Slip 1, K1, K2tog, K to last 4 sts, S1, K1, PSSO, K2
Row 11: S1, P to end.
Row 12: S1, K1, K2tog, K to last 4 st, S1, K1, PSSO, K2          69 (79) sts
Row 13: P34, BO 11, P34
(work each side separately)
Right side (Left side)
14: S1, K1, K2tog, K to last 4, S1, K1, PSSO, K2   (S1, P1, P2tog, P to last 4, P2tog, P2)
15: BO 3 sts, P to end (BO 3 sts, K to end)
16: S1, K1, K2tog, K to last 4, S1, K1, PSSO, K2 (S1, P1, P2tog, P to last 4, P2tog, P2)
17: BO 2 sts, p to end  (BO 2 sts, K to end)
18: S1, K to end  (S1 P to end)
19: BO 1 st, P to end  (BO 1 st, K to end)
20: S1, K to end   (S1, P to end)
21: BO 1 st, P to end  (BO 1 st, K to end)
22: S1, K1, K2tog, K to end.  (S1, P1, P2tog, P to end)
23:  BO 1 st, P to end   (BO 1 st, K to end)
Work in st st until strap measures 5” at which point, stop making polka dots and continue until strap reaches to touch the back of your neck. You will be seaming the two sides together to make a halter strap, so make sure it is a comfortable distance for your body.


Credits: This patternis based on the stitch n bitch nation one, so if you want the chart for the polka dots, its in there. The sports bra top is based (loosely) on a top from Rebecca magazine No. 29 pattern #20. Those directions were SOOOO confusing, so I say it's loosely based on that pattern, because Im not sure what I did is what they intended to happen.


Still working on those pics............. I think my real hang up is that the shots of the suit on my table do it no justice, but I don't want to put pics of me in a bathing suit all over the web..... well at least not until I have a tan (ok, that will never happen)!


The bathing suit is suitable for the water, but probably not like swimming laps or anything. I'm thinking the beach, since I live on the Long Island Sound, and no one here is brave enough to actually go in there!


let me know what you think.

[spurtiic]

you can click to the right side -->  over there "picture hosting" and register to post photos on that. upload a photo, then insert the link it gives to you [ img ]urltophoto [ img ] and hit enter. 

it's pretty simple.

or if you already uploaded a photo somewhere else, right click once on the photo, choose properties and copy/paste the url into your empty box (like this).  then highlight what you just pasted and click above (when you're typing the new post) the little icon that looks like a picture frame.  that'll link it so the image appears.

i hope that made sense.

[sweetcavitee]

I'm official! I finally know how to post pictures!
Thanks to everyone who messaged me to help with the process!



This one is the triangle top



This one is the sports bra top


Excuse the pale skin, I'm Irish!

[roxybadoxy]

they look awesome! you did a wonderful job!!

[alicesonmarie]

i love it! i have been really wanting to knit a bathing suit this year but it seems like all the patterns have no support what so ever. did you line the tops at all?

[sweetcavitee]

No i didn't, although a friend of mine who is making the pattern thinks she might insert cups into the triangle top. The yarn I used has elastic and the polka dots fair isle technique kinda makes like another layer. Also, I used size 2 needles, so its a tight knit. I was thinking about lining, but I don't really think I'll end up doing it.

The tops aren't very supportive. They are ok, but I wouldn't suggest running in this bathing suit.