i am usually a size 28 in competitve swimsuits. i recently just got a dolfin uglies swim suit and it is tight! is it supposed to be like this, or should i get a 30? do these suits natrually run small?
Answer
Yes they do run slightly small. Especially since they are 91% polyester which makes the suit slightly tighter. I am also a size 28 in competition suit and I ordered a 30 knowing that it'll probably run small. It is pretty snug but I do like the fit. I mean, you don't want a suit that is loose if you're a competitive swimmer. I recommend that you get a 30 if it is not going to be your competition suit. If it is going to be used for racing, get a 28! Hope I helped
Yes they do run slightly small. Especially since they are 91% polyester which makes the suit slightly tighter. I am also a size 28 in competition suit and I ordered a 30 knowing that it'll probably run small. It is pretty snug but I do like the fit. I mean, you don't want a suit that is loose if you're a competitive swimmer. I recommend that you get a 30 if it is not going to be your competition suit. If it is going to be used for racing, get a 28! Hope I helped
Any tips for sewing my own swimsuit?
99leadpenc
-from scratch. For as long as I can remember I've worn either a polyester training suit or a tankini (the SAME tankini). I can't find any retail store that sells a polyester two piece in a design that I like so I'm going to do it myself. I've done other sewing projects before and am fairly confident in my abilities to hand stitch, but I have never sewn anything like this before.
Ideally I would like to use 100% polyester because I like a very tight fitting suit, but one of my designs has ruffles like this http://www.hm.com/ca/product/79766?article=79766-A
Actually I based the entire top on this one, but I've altered the pattern to cover more and fit more securely, but you get the idea.
Any tips for picking fabrics, types of stitches to use or level of stretchiness for the thread? My worst fear is that the suit is too loose or floppy and fills with water.
Answer
You will need to use swimsuit fabric, it has a high percentage of elastic fibers such as spandex/lycra/elastane blended with nylon. Polyester isn't a popular swimsuit fabric because it don't "bounce back" the way that nylon does, which is why so many swim suits are nylon. If you go to a fabric store they will have a section with swimsuit fabrics, choose any of these and do pick up some lining fabric. Don't try to improvise with a fabric that is not specifically made for swim suits, especially for your first project. Swim suit fabric has all way stretch, other knits will stretch some ways but not other. All way stretch is essential. Don't forget elastics for the legs, waist and anywhere that needs a close to the body fit.
Don't hand sew, you can't build in enough stretch and hand sewing with a thread such as wooly nylon or wooly polyester is impossible. An ordinary sewing machine that has a zig zag stitch is all you need. The zig zag stitch has stretchiness built in, all you need is a medium width 3 mm and close length 1.5 mm zig zag to do all the sewing. Use a long staple 100% pure polyester thread for sewing. Gutterman and Mettler are the two best brands. Use a ball point needle in the machine.
Swim suits are made with something called "negative ease" that is they are cut smaller than the body so the fabric stretches around the shape and stays in place. This negative ease also allows for some stretching when wet. You must make the suit12 to 25 % smaller around the body and about 12 smaller in length. This is difficult to calculate so if you are a beginner it is best if you use a commercial sewing pattern by McCalls, Jalie, Burda or Kwik Sew. All the ease is built in, just select the size based on your measurements and follow the instructions. Do not buy your pattern based on the size you buy in the store, the sizes are not the same and bear no resemblance to one another. Don't try to sew your first swim suit without a pattern, it takes the guesswork out of the project. Calculating the amount of elastic to use in the legs of the bottom is complex and requires lots of math.
If you do want to make your own swim suit pattern then go here: http://www.patternschool.com/ It has everything you need to know for making a swimsuit pattern.
Here are a few places with swim suit patterns. Kwik sew is the best, especially for beginners: http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/cat_thumbs.cfm?Cat=Misses&Level=Swimwear&QL=MissSwimActiveWear This book by kwik sew: http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/Book_Swim.cfm?Cat=Book_Swim has everything a beginner needs to know, and includes a pttern sheet.
Jalie's collection: http://www.jalie.com/sports-apparel/swimming.html
McCall's has a couple patterns this one looks similar to your picture: http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m5400-products-8768.php?page_id=118
And that's the basics of sewing swim suits.
You will need to use swimsuit fabric, it has a high percentage of elastic fibers such as spandex/lycra/elastane blended with nylon. Polyester isn't a popular swimsuit fabric because it don't "bounce back" the way that nylon does, which is why so many swim suits are nylon. If you go to a fabric store they will have a section with swimsuit fabrics, choose any of these and do pick up some lining fabric. Don't try to improvise with a fabric that is not specifically made for swim suits, especially for your first project. Swim suit fabric has all way stretch, other knits will stretch some ways but not other. All way stretch is essential. Don't forget elastics for the legs, waist and anywhere that needs a close to the body fit.
Don't hand sew, you can't build in enough stretch and hand sewing with a thread such as wooly nylon or wooly polyester is impossible. An ordinary sewing machine that has a zig zag stitch is all you need. The zig zag stitch has stretchiness built in, all you need is a medium width 3 mm and close length 1.5 mm zig zag to do all the sewing. Use a long staple 100% pure polyester thread for sewing. Gutterman and Mettler are the two best brands. Use a ball point needle in the machine.
Swim suits are made with something called "negative ease" that is they are cut smaller than the body so the fabric stretches around the shape and stays in place. This negative ease also allows for some stretching when wet. You must make the suit12 to 25 % smaller around the body and about 12 smaller in length. This is difficult to calculate so if you are a beginner it is best if you use a commercial sewing pattern by McCalls, Jalie, Burda or Kwik Sew. All the ease is built in, just select the size based on your measurements and follow the instructions. Do not buy your pattern based on the size you buy in the store, the sizes are not the same and bear no resemblance to one another. Don't try to sew your first swim suit without a pattern, it takes the guesswork out of the project. Calculating the amount of elastic to use in the legs of the bottom is complex and requires lots of math.
If you do want to make your own swim suit pattern then go here: http://www.patternschool.com/ It has everything you need to know for making a swimsuit pattern.
Here are a few places with swim suit patterns. Kwik sew is the best, especially for beginners: http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/cat_thumbs.cfm?Cat=Misses&Level=Swimwear&QL=MissSwimActiveWear This book by kwik sew: http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/Book_Swim.cfm?Cat=Book_Swim has everything a beginner needs to know, and includes a pttern sheet.
Jalie's collection: http://www.jalie.com/sports-apparel/swimming.html
McCall's has a couple patterns this one looks similar to your picture: http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m5400-products-8768.php?page_id=118
And that's the basics of sewing swim suits.
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