This time I tried a new pattern, using Jalie 3464. I made size K and added 1" of torso length. I love that the Jalie swimsuit and leotard patterns have a body measurement that is a loop between the legs and over one shoulder. That way it's easy to work out if your taller than average kid is all legs or all trunk. This one has a long torso for her size.
I bought this glittering purple velour lycra when she first joined the gymnastics club as it's their club colours and was very similar to that year's official leotard. I've now learned that they change the leotard (but not the colour) each year and so I'm doubly glad I'm not paying their full price for the club leotards.
Of course as soon as this one had its first wash, all those larger stick on sequins came off! I suspect they may be mostly adhered to Flipper's cycling kit as we tend to wash all the lycra in one load. He might complain that his bike looks old and tired, but he'll have the blingiest cycling knicks in the bunch!! :)
The second version, which was meant to be a surprise, but she spotted it in the cutting pile, was the same pattern in the long sleeved view.
All of these fabrics came from GJ's. The blue was one of their remnant strips and was only just enough for the front and back panels. This wasn't my original colour blocking plan but when I could exactly use up the leftover orange lycra from last years swimsuits and this remnant of metallic blue stuff it just had to be done this way.
She wore this one for her birthday party at the gymnastics club and while we didn't get any official modelled shots (without other people's kids in the frame), there are a few of her in her natural element - upside down and blurry!
I've had a break from stretch sewing over the last few weeks and have a few regular clothing items still to share, but now, it's time to sew stretch again and get into the second round of swimwear sewathon....
Love all those poses, and both leotards look fantastic! She is just so adorable. I especially like the long sleeved one. I need to go back and check all your leotard posts to get a sense of how you are whipping these up one after one.
ReplyDeleteTHanks Asmita, they're surprisingly quick and easy to make. The slightly time consuming bit is the elastic hems but the Jalie instructions are very good for that in my opinion.
DeleteThis, as with everything you blog about, is really lovely. I've been reading your blog for a while now (and should comment more often or actually subscribe!), and wanted to thank you for all your tips on sewing with knits and stretch fabric. Thanks to you, I've braved the world of knit fabrics (using Oliver+S patterns), and am so happy with the results. I don't know if I'm brave enough for swimwear, but seeing pictures of your adorable daughter make me think that maybe I can make some for my daughter too!
ReplyDeleteThanks! My first knit sewing was the Oliver + S Hopscotch pattern and it was all sewing machine zig zags and, you know, it was just fine! I waited and waited in the hope that there would be an Oliver + S swimwear pattern but finally I just jumped in with a Jalie pattern and it was such a great little pattern that I would highly recommend theirs for the drafting, and while the instructions are brief they include good tips for finishing. Also, you know you can use some Oliver + S patterns to make swimwear. Did you see that blog post? Click my Oliver + S Side tab thingy and there'll be a link. Sewing swimwear isn't so daunting, you can do it, and you won't look back!
DeleteYou are such a pro! I love the photos of her in her natural element, wearing her mama-made gymnastics gear! So much to love about all of this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Inder. They're pretty addictive to make. Maybe I need to practice my handstands more and bust out a catsuit for myself!
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