Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Swimsuit With A Zipper

From Drop Box

I used the same fabric as the first suit I made to make another one which is almost the same, except for one glaringly obvious diversion. It has an exposed zipper right in the front. The suit I copied and my first two copies all have a hook at the CB. This is fine, except it's sometimes hard to hook since it's fairly high up in the back, and it's tight fitting. I feel like I ought to be able to dress myself at this stage in life, and I have had to ask for help with this once or twice. I began to try to think of a better closure option.

From Drop Box

A center front zipper seemed the obvious choice, and so far, I like it. I've worn it twice now, and it's fine. I plan to make more like this as I need them, and perhaps several fairly soon. I have a few of these zippers on hand, and I might as well use them if they happen the right color. Finding swimsuit fabric is the trick. Here's the back view.

From Drop Box

I used Fold Over Elastic for all of the edges except the legs. Maybe I should put it there too, in future, but I'm not sure that would be worthwhile. I sort of guard the FOE, since it's a little hard to find. White isn't so precious as colors, but none of it is available locally.

You can see the inner structure. It's the same as the others except the zipper goes right through it. I use a powernet shield in the front bodice area. It has a strip of 3/4" elastic at the bottom, which floats free, and the powernet is basted to all corresponding edges of the front, and constructed as one. This gives it great support, just about like a sports bra, and perfect for water exercise.

14 comments:

katherine h said...

Great solution! You do a really great job on your swimwear.

I also tend to guard my FOE...then somebody will probably receive it all in my estate when I'm gone! Along with all sorts of other notions that I have been using sparingly.

patti said...

Love this! Good luck finding the swimsuit fabric, Liana.

Mary said...

I love this suit, as well as the others you have made. Thanks for posting about them...I need to replace my tropical suits for more exercise type suits (my top completely came off in Hawaii!!)

Anne L said...

FOE spurce, have you seen http://www.saf-t-pockets.com/notions.asp - I haven't tried it myself but she has quite a range of colours.

badmomgoodmom said...

I have reels of FOE, bought from a LA odd-jobber. I have navy and other colors. Email me at badmomgoodmom at gmail dot com and tell me what you need. It sells for something like 15 cents a yard, when I can find it, so I always stock up when I see it.

Unknown said...

This is so wild! This is the 2nd post today from blogs I follow about bathing suits...which I have never made, but am now thinking I need to.

I love the zipper in the front, takes the style of the suit up a notch, if you ask me.

Thanks for boldly sharing:)

Tee said...

Really love this swimsuit! Great job, looks great.

SewingLibrarian said...

This is genius, and I love it! I hope you can find fabric to make more.

Mardel said...

Fabulous idea! and it looks great too.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

What a great suit! You make the best swimsuits, really!

Anonymous said...

Nice suit , Liana. Swimsuits are so much fun to make once you get through the learning curve and fitting tweaks. I'm going to remeber that zipper detail for future suits.

Theresa in Tucson

Summerset said...

Very smart with the zip in front! The sports zip fits in perfectly because this is athletic wear.

velosews said...

How retro. It's fabulous.

florine foulon said...

Nice! I love it!