Posts

Tankini back hack – the peek-a-boo back

My sister lives in her pool in the summer. And when they go on vacation, she is in a pool or at the beach, not just every day, but several times a day. That means she needs a LOT of swimsuits. She likes tankinis - the two piece construction…

The Itsy-Bitsy Teeny-Weeny Bikini Challenge

We challenge you this month to sew your version of this iconic swimwear that first made a splash, back in the late 50s and early 60's. To give you an idea of evolution of swimwear, here's a great video on the history of swimwear (be aware…

Totally Twisted Swimwear Challenge Entries

You'd expect our summer challenge to include swimwear, but our challenge had a bit of a twist. We challenged you to make any kind of swimwear using fabric that is twisted, ruched or otherwise manipulated. How did you do this month? Let's look…

Totally Twisted Swimwear Challenge

You'd expect our summer challenge to include swimwear, but think of this challenge as Swimwear with a Twist. That means your swimwear entry has to have a fabric twist, gathers, or ruching. Anything twisted or using manipulated fabric. If you…

A Bra Back for your Swimsuit

If the pattern you’ve chosen does not have a back fastening, you can add a supportive bra back for your swimsuit very easily. This bra-back keeps the suit on your shoulders while swimming, which makes it an ideal addition to the suit of competitive…

An Easy Cover-up

Picture yourself at the beach in your lovely new swimsuit...but you would like to walk along the beach to take in the sunset. Do you take your walk in your swimsuit, bikini or monokini? Or do you go back to the hotel room to change? Here's the…

A Big Book of Swimwear for all!

I've been wanting to write a much more in-depth book on swimwear since I wrote Make & Fit Swimwear some years ago. There wasn't any book on the market that went into the fitting, design and construction of all types of swimwear, including tankinis,…

Spring Splash

Are you thinking about your next great design for our Ultimate Bra-makers Challenge? We are too! In February, we challenged you to work with red stretch satin - a fabric many of you had never sewn before. Your entries were amazing! This month…
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How to Insert Bra Cups into Swimwear

Do you know what stops most sewers from making their own swimwear? In a word, it's the cups. You might be able to muddle through inserting one pair of cups in one swimsuit, but what if you want to make that swimsuit over and over again. If you…
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Can We Make a Seamless Swim Bra?

Can We Make a Seamless Swim Bra? The summer is here! And what better way to celebrate summer than with a custom swimsuit you make for yourself? I have no doubts that your hand made suit can rival the suits you buy in the shops. The question…

Big Boobs and Soft Belly

Big Boobs and Soft Belly Swimsuit season is fast approaching. In our part of Canada, the Victoria Day weekend is considered by many to be the first for swimming (yes, the water is still cold!) No matter when you start swimming - it's time to…

Free Floating Bras

Two days of making swimwear started today at the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference. The students were told that there were several ways of supporting the bust in a swimsuit; shelf bras, pre-formed cups and  free-floating bras. let's look at…
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Swim Week and Master Swim – Digital Fashion Show

We just finished up Swim Week and Master Swim class here in Hamilton. That means it's time for the Digital fashion Show! What a great bunch of swimsuit makers we had this time! In Swim Week, they started with the basics, a tank or princess…
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A little Sunshine through the Snow

We here in the North are knee-deep in our "favourite" winter pastime, which is of course shoveling snow. This winter, Mother nature seems to be particularly vexing, as she is dumping snow every second or third day. Enough, already! Are you…
three sisters bikini pattern PB-3009 from Bra-Makers Supply line drawing shown
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My Three Sisters Bikini Pattern

My Three Sisters It's been a hectic 2 months here at the Enchanted Castle, with the recent launch of my Craftsy Swimwear class, plus I have had a special request to make a bikini pattern. We've have been working very hard to test these…

Swim Week – Ready for the Beach

The ladies in Swim Week, my 5 day swimwear class were busy finishing up their suits today. That means they will soon be ready for the beach! One lady decided to add coloured piping to the princess seams. But no fabric could be found until....we…
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Swim Masters Digital Fashion Show

Today's the day for the Swim Masters digital fashion show. The Swim Masters class is a 5 day class for students who already know how to make swimwear, so it truly is a class in which you can master swimwear. I often hear "why does it take  5…
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Once Upon a Time – Vintage Gold Swimsuit

Once Upon a Time -  Vintage Gold Swimsuit Today we had a real treat in the Swim Masters Class. One of my students brought in a vintage gold swimsuit for us to see and examine. Little did she know, that peering into vintage apparel is a passion…

Field trip to Ann’s

Swim Masters has started off well with a field trip to Ann's Fabrics on the second day after all the swim theory on the first day. To say they were impressed with the selection and the prices is a BIT of an under statement! Here are the things…