It's Still Summer In Richmond!

I did it folks... I made my first swimsuit!!! I'm thrilled, I was very apprehensive about working with the spandex and the tiny pattern pieces - but it all worked out  :)  This is the Reno/Dakota retro swimsuit from the August edition of Seamwork Magazine. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, there was some seam-ripping, but overall it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.

I've been wanting to make a swimsuit all summer, so I was thrilled when Seamwork offered this one. Although the instructions were really helpful, I struggled with putting the top together. My biggest issues were adding foam cups (which isn't required) and being able to tell all my little pieces apart (which they warn you about in the pattern).  I followed the cup instructions in Seamwork's Swimwear Basics article. The instructions were straightforward, but I started with cups that were bigger than my lining pieces (I found them randomly in my dresser). The first time I cut the cups smaller and sewed them in, I didn't leave enough room around them to stitch my lining to my outer fabric, so I ended up having to recut my lining pieces and cut the cups even smaller and then they worked fine. I also put them in upside-down the first time (oops!).

Pinning my cups to my lining (the first time - see how they're too close to the edges?) #mycupsrunover

My bright cobalt fabric is from the sale section at Jo-ann's. A few weeks after I bought it, I decided to color-block the suit - so I picked up this dark blue fabric. I'm really happy with the mixing of blues. I think they make the suit really pop! I made a size XS for the top and a M for the bottoms. The top fits pretty great, but the bottoms are very loose around my waist. At first I thought I cut the waist elastic too long, so I seam-ripped it out, cut it smaller, and sewed it back in. It still ended up too loose, so I should have graded down to a S at the top of the waist. Live and learn! At some point I'll seam-rip the waist again and cut it smaller, for now I'm just going to enjoy my new swimsuit  :)

Have you all tried making swimwear yet? Really, it's not as scary as you might think! The fabric is actually pretty fun to work with  :)  After this, I'm gearing up for fall - there's a Grainline Studio Alder Shirtdress in my future!

If you want to see more in-progress photos, check out my Instagram pics! https://instagram.com/craft_rambler

Sporty Sweater-knit Mesa Dress

I just can't get enough of this Mesa Dress pattern! It's so simple to sew and cozy to wear. Immediately after finishing my first Mesa, I was itching to make another one. I found this slightly-sporty lightweight sweater-knit at Joannes on sale, and it was ON! I decided to use some leftover black textured fabric for my sleeves. It's the same fabric I used on my first Mesa and on my Midnight Myrtle.

After already putting the pattern together once, I sewed this up really quick. It still took me a few days - I like to work on projects for a little, then put them aside, and then work on them again. My proudest moment for this project, was getting my stripes to line up! I didn't even try it on purpose (because I was lazy & didn't think I had enough fabric). Somehow when I was pinning - I noticed that I could match them up if  I just stretched the fabric a little - et voila! Lovely stripe matching  :)

Matching side seams!!! Yay!

I've already started cutting fabric for a swimsuit - hopefully I'll have it done for Labor Day weekend!

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