Bathing Suit Numero Uno finished

Okay, so I haven't posted enough the past few days. Shame on me.

I started this bathing suit a few weeks ago. It's made from a 4 way stretch (dance-like) jersey that I got for free. I have some more substantial weighted bathing suit fabric but I didn't want to ruin it; essentially this became my bathing suit muslin. I used Pattern School to make draft a complete block. I really liked creating it though. I was unsure of how to draft the halter parts and after I completed it realized where I went wrong. I think I maybe should have done a simpler design for my first bathing suit, but it did turn out alright. This is from earlier today at Kawela Bay (pronounced Ka-Vela) just part Turtle Bay on the North Shore. It's a beautiful secluded cove with the most amazing Banyon Trees. Also, they were setting up  to begin shooting for the next Pirates movie. Pretty cool

Okay I know this is a weird one but props to my husband for the pictures. It was so bright he couldn't see what he was shooting. Love him.

Obviously a one piece is more ambitious that a bikini (in my opinion); it has to fit more parts of your body at once.

The fabric isn't great, but it was free! (ps. not pregnant)

Please ignore my love handles. This is actually the second time I wore it.  I tried to finish it really quickly (hence why the back straps look wonky) to wear it to the beach a week ago. However, I soon realized where I had gone wrong. Just being in the water isn't so bad but I was surfing and the ladies, though quite petite, didn't want to stay put. (can you tell i usually wear a different bathing suit that comes up higher in the back)

What I learned: Somehow I managed to get the legs perfect. They fit well. I read Sarah at Vintage Bobbin attempt at making a bathing suit and how fitting the legs was hard. I guess I lucked out, but I couldn't get the sides and the top quite right. The halter top sides need to be more straight- mine are too curved. I tried to make it a mix between mono-kini and backless one piece but I just don't think it works in stretch. It may be hard to tell, but the upper sides gap horrendously. On top of that, the elastic (which I zigzagged on then rolled over and top stitched) kind of sticks out. Imma research and practice that more.

My ultimate goal is to create a vintage inspired one piece bathing suit that is not only cute, but stays on, especially while surfing!

I can't believe I'm going to put this last one on here but the water just looks so magical I can't resist.

PS!!!: protect your skin. I am still peeling something awful from my Kahuku-Turtle Bay trek from a week and half ago. Don't be dumb like me and get burnt! It's completely uncool.

White Skirt

I used this pattern, which is apparently out of print! Who knew? I made it once before in leopard print.. I know leopard print pencil skirt, who am I trying to fool? I made version C without the lace , but it came out really tight. I also didn't like the small waist band. This time I used version C with has front and back darts, plus the wide yoke of version B. I cut it a little bit bigger this time too. Much better. However, when I tried it on the bottom looked weird so I took in the side seams to taper the bottom more. I'm not sure I'm in love with it but it might grow on me. I had the white fabric laying around, jut enough for this skirt and it was too heavy to use for much else. I'm unsure about white on the bottom- I've always avoided white pants and skirts for good reason. Will this be a new me?
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It was kind of wrinkled because I wore it to church. I'm feel like maybe these pictures aren't as flattering at I'd like them to be. Like maybe white doesn't have the same slimming effect as black.

Swimsuit sewing: favorite vintage types and inspiration

So in my previous post I mentioned that one of my goals is to sew a bathing suit (or, ahem, 3) for this summer. Living in Hawaii has the luxury of being in swim wear climate all year long- which I find to be both a good and bad thing. Pros: surfing, beaching and general outdoorsy stuff is nice; Cons: skin health and sunburns are a major priority, and keeping in swimwear shape too. Anywhoo- back to my point. I have already drafted and executed (both senses) a bathing suit which I  will post about really soon (I know I keep saying that but I just haven't gotten the courage to post a picture of myself in a bathing suit on the interweb for all to see). But I thought I would share some of my inspiration and favorite vintage pics....

This image is courtsey of LIFE, but I first stumbled upon it on NibsBlog about vintage and retro bathing suits. She also mentions Orla Kiely who I am sooo digging.

I just really love this next one. The picture and the bathing suit. Not the cotton so much, but the boards are really doing it. Check out more images from the Getty! Love them.

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These next two I just threw in just because. Google vintage or retro bathing suits and I'm sure you'll come across this. The thing I notice is that most vintage bathing suits are strapless. I love the look but I'm not so sure I can pull that off. Plus I want a bathing suit that will stay on in the water, especially if I'm surfing. How do I combine vintage with modern surf capabilities?

These two images are from national archive of australia . they have a lot of other cool images as well

 

 And the winner of the worst Sports Illustrated Cover Bathing Suit award goes to.....

Sue Peterson, 1965 

 probably one of the most unflattering suits i've seen. It highlights the worst par of the body....

 

And lastly here are some vintage inspired modern styles that I love. Although, I love retro, I can't imagine having a cotton swimsuit with a zipper! That would be unreal. Also, I can't imagine anyone who's hair stays looking that good at the beach....

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Non Sewing Related: Hiking Trek

This is a non sewing related post but I thought I'd share anyway. On Friday I went on a Trek with my good friend Emily. We started at the Kahuku Golf Course and walked to Turtle Bay by way of the beach. I found one article about it. I didn't think to research it but I was glad I brought plenty of water because it ended up being 8 miles. (as opposed to 4 miles by Kam Hwy)

Here are some pictures I took. I would have taken more but I forgot to charge my camera before I left so it died right when we got to the really beautiful rocks.

It's very secluded because there are no roads that lead to it. You have to cross the fairway or walk along the golf cart path to get to the beach. There's a surf spot right when you get to the beach by the golf course called Seventh Hole, but I've never gone.

  

It's really quite rocky most of the way- not suitable for swimming 

I found a dried up eel. it smelled like a wet dog. I also got the worst sunburn of my life (no joke). We were out from 9am-2pm. Don't get sun cancer! I put sun screen on two times but no where it counts I guess.

The first part had lots and lots of washed up trash. It was depressing

All of those little white things are broken pieces of plastic mixed with the occasional shell.

It reminds me of the Craftzine contest to Save our Oceans. For real.

These are the rock formations that are spoken of in the Honolulu Examiner article I found

All in all it was a beautiful day. I wish my camera had held out and I'd put on more sunscreen. Ever since I read this article from Surfline I got freaked out.

Summer Sewing Goals

Okay, okay...I know it's is already the end of June (where does time go?) but I think there's plenty of time left to make some summer [sewing] goals.

1. Make   3  2 swimsuits(technically I've already made one which I'll post soon, but I don't know if it counts)

2. Sailor front shorts/pants/skirt (like these cute ones)- hopefully in time for July 4th! Is that this weekend already? I know July 4th doesn't necessarily mean sailor but lets me honest- the colors definitely meld. I used to have some sailor pants but who knows what happened to them (real ones made from wool, so itchy).
Here's a cute take on them:

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But I think I'll try to make something more with a front like these

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I'd also like to make a paper bag waist skirt, but we'll see what happens.....


3. Bow front bag. I have all kinds of random fabric laying around that are too small of pieces to use for clothes. (Up until this point I have been making mostly clothes, but I'm thinking I need to branch out). I have some white/black/ red striped fabric which I'll think I'll whip up soon. I stumbled upon this blog and I'm in love. So inspiring.

via Freshly Picked

4. Use up some of my excess fabric before I move!

This one is uber important. I'm moving in less than three weeks. We'll be leaving Laie for San Diego. It's bitter sweet but I'll be glad to be back on the main land.

5. Finish projects from my refashion/free bin pile
Along with moving I have to use up my free bin pile. Whatever I don't get to is probably going back to the free bin.


Non Sewing related goals:

working out (of course...) but I want to be able to do at least one pull up by the end of the summer. I want to learn some tumbling when we get to SD and I need to work on my upper body strength. I'm getting there, and ....

reading: by the end of last summer I felt like I hadn't had too many good summer reads. So far I've read

Le Divorce by Diane Johnson, which I just found out was a movie! I'll have to netflix it

My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. I liked it but it made me sad....

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I don't read a lot of nonfiction but I definitely found this very interesting

and I'm almost finished with The Confederate General Rides North but Amanda C. Gable. I foudn this randomly in the library and apparently it just came out. So far I am enjoying it a lot. It makes me want to go to every Civil War historical site- which Chris would love.

My favorite genre of books however are memoirs. I especially enjoy Frank McCourt, David Sedaris, and Susan Jane Gillman



So I'll have to keep updating on my progress. Here we go!

Our DIY Wedding, May 2009

A year too late? I hope not. I wanted to post the results of out DIY wedding in San Diego last May. I know in earlier posts I had mentioned different aspects: food, dress, decorations, etc.
I followed the example of the 2000 Dollar Wedding huge which was a huge an invaluable resource and inspiration. I really loved their motivation behind it so we decided to do something similar. Overall, it really quite simple: we have our sealing ceremony in the San Diego, CA temple (which looks like a castle, btw), took pictures outside and then went to Mission Bay Park in Mission Bay (about 20 minutes south of the temple) and had a ring ceremony and reception.

We decided (or I guess I decided) on green and yellow for decorations, which in fact were quite minimal. The Bouquets were probably the most expensive thing BUT they were incredibly beautiful. We thrifted the glass bowls for the centerpieces. Also we reused the lemons and limes later on for juice.

1. table settings at the reception were thrifted glass bowls filled will lemons and limes 2. my husband and I during our ring ceremony 3. gorgeous bouquet filled with lilies 4. back of my dress which i got for free. also i had my sister do my hair 5. my mom and I outside the temple 6. a few bows on the trees in the park 7. my best friend natalie (left) and my only sister Kelsey(right) picked out their own black skirts and yellow tops

One of my very good friends from Kentucky came to take out pictures. Later I wished that maybe I could have her be more guest than photographer, but I was glad I knew her and it wasn't awkward introductions. Also, wedding photographers can be a fortune! We really tried to keep it around $2000, which I think we might have gone over because we stopped keeping count. The Park was cheap- just a permit to do the wedding.

1. Cutting the haupia cake 2. guitarists playing while we walked down aisle 3. the guests during reception 4. a close friend juggling the fruit : )

The weather threatened clouds but cleared up to be beautiful and sunny. Chris' two friend played the guitar as I walked in, which way waaaaay better than anything we could have plugged into an iHome. The grassy area is a kind of pennisula in the very interior of mission park. We had the tables set to the left of the chairs and had the guests move the chairs over to the table


1. my dad walking my down the [grassy] aisle. I pinned in the netting to my bun and flower 2. cake holder for cutting cake 3. his green socks, my yellow shoes 4. Mom with nephew and cakes 5. brides maid playing croquet 6. dad and me outside the temple


I wanted to make the cakes for the reception. I don't know where I got that crazy idea, and it was a lot of work, but I'm glad I did. I had tons of help of course. In the picture you can see all 5. We only had about 50 guests (close friends and relatives) so 5 cakes was plenty. From far to near: Haupia (coconut) the one we cut, Lemon, Pineapple and cherry Angel Food cake, Chocolate Lava, Carrot Spice. The Haupia kept wanted to melt all the whipped cream off the outside on the way to the park but it ended up looking fine.
My wedding dress was also a DIY. I got it for free and sewed it to my specifications. More on that later!

Thank you, Free bin

Let me first and foremost say that I love the free bin. What's the free bin you ask? Well, let me enlighten you: it's a place in our apartment complex office, a bin you might call it (actually it's more like a whole corner) with free stuff. Where does the free stuff come from? In an area where there's a high volume of people moving in and out, lots of useful stuff- that might otherwise get thrown in the trash- is placed here for others to have at. Hence, I love it. Think of it as a free store or a community freecycle where you can offer up your still-useful stuff. Granted, I often find things that really don't belong: broken appliances, dirty clothes, unmentionables, and plenty of other things that I would deem "trash." Despite the gross stuff I have found tons of great stuff. It's like a free thrift store. Clothes are the largest component of the free bin and I am not shy in saying that I have whole-heatedly taken advantage of this! No, I don't glutton myself on all kinds of things that I really don't need, but I have found many refashionable items. In the future if I refer to the "free bin" you'll know I'm not completely crazy.

My picks of the Week: June 21

First order of business: my picks of the week. This summer is all about stripes, neutrals, and subtle floral prints. Here are a few of my favorites from anthropologie. Always beautiful!






Always beautiful!
However, I absolutely love the neck detailing around the neck on this one:

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I don't know if I'm loving the acid wash/tie dye thing though. I think I will put this in my variation pile.

It reminds me of the top of this dress from Butterick 4657. I think this might look better with a simpler skirt, and throw away that jewel, but the neck line is sooooo great.
Perusing their patterns, I cam across this one that I also really like. However, it's only suitable for knits, which worries me about the clingy factor.


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I also like these two casual tops from Simplicity

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What the ruffles? Hahah. Version C of this tunic/dress is okay, but what the ruffle is around the hem of your dress? Noooooo. Haha. Too much, simplicity. Let's not get carried away.

Blog Relaunch

I have unofficially, officially relaunched my blog. However that works....

I have resolved to actually post my projects, tutorials, links and inspiration here.

Keep a look out for lots of projects and posts in the near future!

much love,

Dana

Long time.

Isn't it always? I'm always slacking on posting. But I have been working on many sewing projects lately and I'm going to upload them soon!