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Here is a project that was a long time coming.
Last summer, I was looking through vintage bathing suite photos and liked this Janzen one so much I thought I would make it for myself. A very lofty ambition being that I had never sewn a bathing suite, shirred fabric, or even, at that time, sewn with jersey stretch fabric before. Biting off more than I could chew? Naaaaaaaaaah....
Now, after I'm done, Gertie has shown some wonderful research into the construction of these amazing pieces. I obviously didn't do my own homework properly before I began.
I started with the free Alison pattern on Burda. This had to be considerably altered for the under layer and back, and then I just self-drafted a pattern for the intricate front.
I will say it right now: this garment is not up the the standards which I hold myself. I do really consider this one a failure, but I'm trying to let myself off a little easy on account of it being so many new techniques for me. I will learn my lessons from this and try again.
Lessons:
[] This was too ambitious for my first try
[] I tried to achieve this vintage look without going full-out on the intense inner structure that these pieces had when they were made. It needed all of that for it to look right.
[] I tried to start making it on my first machine, which just chewed up alot of the fabric.
[] I did not yet know about using different machine needles for jersey fabric. Very important.
I also did not think about the fact that if I wanted to show evidence of this swimwear, I have no option but to model it. A challenge of this blog for me is to tolerate taking photos of myself in the garments I make as I don't even have a dress form to hang them on. That is just intensified for swimwear. Ultra-intimidating.
Here is a project that was a long time coming.
Now, after I'm done, Gertie has shown some wonderful research into the construction of these amazing pieces. I obviously didn't do my own homework properly before I began.
I started with the free Alison pattern on Burda. This had to be considerably altered for the under layer and back, and then I just self-drafted a pattern for the intricate front.
I will say it right now: this garment is not up the the standards which I hold myself. I do really consider this one a failure, but I'm trying to let myself off a little easy on account of it being so many new techniques for me. I will learn my lessons from this and try again.
Lessons:
[] This was too ambitious for my first try
[] I tried to achieve this vintage look without going full-out on the intense inner structure that these pieces had when they were made. It needed all of that for it to look right.
[] I tried to start making it on my first machine, which just chewed up alot of the fabric.
[] I did not yet know about using different machine needles for jersey fabric. Very important.
I also did not think about the fact that if I wanted to show evidence of this swimwear, I have no option but to model it. A challenge of this blog for me is to tolerate taking photos of myself in the garments I make as I don't even have a dress form to hang them on. That is just intensified for swimwear. Ultra-intimidating.
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Wow, very brave to tackle such a challenging project. I think the end result looks fantastic for a first effort. And you learned heaps, which is great!
ReplyDeleteThis bathing suit is phenomenal! The design , spot on and details perfect. Did you think about doing a pattern ? Yes, it's that good and it would sell. LOVELY.
ReplyDelete