Have you wanted to make your own swimwear but feel you don’t have the sewing skills necessary to tackle such a project? Have you avoided working with stretch fabrics, elastics, and bra cups because they are “too challenging”? Then, the Big Book of Swimwear was written just for you! Author Beverly Johnson will take you step-by-step through the process of making swimwear. You can have it all—the best of the ready-to-wear features, but custom-fitted to your unique body. Beverly will take you step-by-step from the very beginning through to designing your own suits.
Got fitting issues? No problem! Beverly has devoted an entire chapter to modifying your pattern for a long or short torso, wide hips, small or large bust—even a panniculus! (If you don’t know what that is, check out Chapter 5). You’ll see how to do bust cup adjustments on tank and princess line suits. Add a back fastening—even if your pattern doesn’t have one.
You’ll then see how to lay out and cut the fabric and lining, and add a bra back for the ultimate in bust support. Learn how to draft and insert multiple types of bras to insert into your swimsuit, from the simplest of shelf bras to a full-support built-in bra. You will soon see it’s not difficult to make the fabric and elastics behave in your machine. You won’t have to struggle with making elastic straps anymore. Beverly’s professional sewing methods will make sewing swimwear a breeze.
Once you have mastered the basics, let your inner designer take over. Do you want colour blocking, ruffles, unique straps, or a Brazilian scrunch? These and many more designer details are in Chapters 8 and 9. There’s even a chapter on tankinis, bikinis, and other two-piece suits.
Everything is explained in glorious detail and well-illustrated throughout with over 800 drawings and photographs. Look through the photo gallery for some of the more complex techniques. What are you waiting for? The beach awaits!
To visually see some of the tips and techniques explained in this book, consider enrolling in the online class taught by Beverly through Craftsy. Her class, Sewing Swimsuits: The Supportive One-Piece, is chock full of tips, tricks, and ideas for making supportive swimwear. With Craftsy, once you purchase the class, it is yours forever with unlimited access, or you can try their very affordable subscription service.
Introduction ………………………………………….…….………1
1. Types of Swimwear…………………………………….….….. 4
One piece
Two-piece
Top Variations
Bottom Variations
Bust Support
Back Variations
2. Swimwear Design………………………………………..…..22
Flattering One-piece Style Lines
Flattering Two-piece Style Lines
3. Swimwear Materials……………………………….…….…..28
Fabrics
Swimsuit Linings
Fabrics for a Built-in Bra
Bra Cups
Elastics
Hardware
Ornamental Hardware
Underwires
Separators
Continuous Wires
4. Swimwear Patterns…………………………………….…….50
Using Patterns for Ready-to-wear
Measuring the Body for a Swimsuit
Ease Allowances for Commercial patterns
Measuring for Foam Cups
Using a Multi-size Pattern
5. Pattern Adjustments …………………………………..…….58
Pattern Alterations for Fit
Altering Patterns for Body Length
Altering for Length
Altering the Width
Bust Cup Alterations
Checking the Pattern for Accuracy
Drafting an Interior Bra Shelf
Drafting for a Back Fastening
Drafting a Separate Bra Back
Drafting for a Built-in Bra
6. Construction Techniques ……………….……….………..83
Swimsuit Shopping List
Pattern Layout Machine Setup
Construction—the Back is First
Front with Pre-formed Bra Cups
Front with a Built-in Bra
Fitting the Swimsuit
Elastics and Finishing
Binding Application
Making Elastic Straps
Variation—the Swim Dress
Variation—the Mono-kini
Variation—the Retro Suit
7. Tankinis, Bikinis & More ……………………………..……117
Tankinis
Tankini and Bikini Bottoms
Swim Shorts
Adding Bands
Crop Tops
Triangle Bikini Tops
Making a Bikini from your Bra
Finishing Cup Edges
Covering Pre-formed Foam Cups
Construction of Foam Cup Bikinis
8. Designer Details …….………………………………….…..165
Changing Straps
Sewing Straps to the Neckline
Changing the Neckline Shape
Changing the Back
Changing the Leg Shape
Modesty panels
Colour Blocking
Inserting Separators
Continuous Wires
9. Flare, Frills, Ruffles & Ruching ……………………..……198
Flared Skirts
Frills
Ruffles
Ruching
Brazilian Scrunch
Bonus – Swimwear Cover-ups
10. Index……………………………………………….…..……220
Published in March 2018 by Beverly V. Johnson.
