Swimsuit

[Ellabella]

My DD asked me to try and make her a swimsuit.

She is very tall, 6’ish and at the moment a bit overweight. She has most of her height in her body so struggles with buying a cossie without spending a fortune, which she is not in a position to do.

High street ones either threaten to expose her boobs or give her a very uncomfortable wedgie.

I started with
https://sinclairpatterns.com/search?q=Indigo&type=product
as they have a tall file option for all their patterns.

She requested more bum coverage and no opening in the back.
I’ve made her lots of Sinclair patters in the past so know where to adjust the pattern for her figure. My problem was the body length as the pattern is drafted for a person 5’9””.

I added 3” to each body piece, 1.5” above and below the waist, dropped the back leg curve by about half an inch, sewed it up and gave it to her, stressing that it was a first toile and to see how it goes.
It fits her really well, I am amazed and very relieved as swim fabric is a bit pricey to be making lots of toiles.

Provided it is still comfortable after she has actually swum in it, I maybe in production.

Now I just need to source nice swim fabric.

[Ouryve]

There's a few options here and not too eye-watering, either.
https://sewmesunshine.co.uk/collections/activewear

[BrendaP]

Funkifabrics

[ScubaGirl]

I'm eyeing this pattern as I think it's quite flattering for many body shapes. But I'm also quite tall and not very slim. Might need a height adjustment though. https://www.patternsforpirates.com/product/take-the-plunge-swimsuit/

I also like 2 pieces. For bottom's I really just use a leggings pattern cut short for a "boy short" style bottoms which gives me lots of coverage. Then maybe pair with a tankini style top?

[The Shrinking Sewist]

Oh I love the look of that pattern!

Learning swimwear is on my ‘to do’ list this year.

[Ellabella]

Well DD has finally been able to give her swimsuit a proper tryout and it has passed with flying colours. 

Her only comment was that the lining was a little too full in the leg area, easily sorted as I could have made the leg elastic a little tighter.

More fabric has been ordered, she wants to get away from stripes as she says no one her size needs an arrow pointing to their bottom!

The added bonus is that as the fabric is nice and wide I can get a simple swimsuit for DGD out of the leftovers. Mind you at 5years old she loves matching Mummy, but I don’t suppose that will last.

@The Shrinking Sewist a basic swimsuit is a very easy sew, complications like bra cups etc not so much.

[The Shrinking Sewist]

That’s useful to know, thank you. I generally swim ‘heads down’ in a compression type suit with no bust support, so that wouldn’t be an issue. Holiday swimwear is a completely different matter!

[Acorn]

I have a piece of fabric and a pattern, but am scared stiff of trying to make a swimsuit.  No cups needed because of the way the pattern works, it's just the fact that it really needs to fit, whereas most things I make are made to skim!

[Ouryve]

You just need to take the plunge, @Acorn 

[realale]

Yes, @Acorn, just jump in and go for it.