Friday, January 10, 2014

Swim

Its technically still Zara's turn, but Elsa had an invite to a pool party and negotiated to jump a spot.

Her request?
A rash vest and board shorts.

As I didn't have anything she fancied in my stash she purchased the fabric herself.
Proper grown up.
 For the rash vest she chose a grey&black stripe swim suit knit.
And the shorts a bright red taslon.

The Twins love the firm fit of Oliver+S Field Trip tee so I went with that pattern.
 The last time I was in Spotters I picked up these ball point pins.
They are just the job!
I was keen to match the stripes as best I could, so I marked the pattern to help line up them up.
It worked okay.
Have you seen this before?
Its a Goddess sheet. The special properties of the cloth let you press synthetics at a high temperature without burning.
Perfect for swimmers!
I sewed three of the four shoulder seam.
Then I attached the neck band strip by sewing the right side of the band to the wrong side of the top.
I sewed with a big stitch length stretching the fabric as I did so it would have ease once relaxed.
I trimmed off any straggly bits and pressed the seam towards the neck band.
Using my Goddess sheet.
I then folded over the edge as you would do with a normal bound edge.
I did this at the side seams and then eased and pinned the rest.
After that I sewed again, with a long stitch, stretching the neck band as I did so.
I baste the final seam before running it through the overlocker as the neck band end is quite thick and the over locker can be a bit fussy.
 To keep the neck seam sitting nicely, I use a piece of interfacing to hold it down(Goddess sheet, anyone)
And then I topstitched it down from the right side.
Next time I will use this method
I have a coverstitch machine but I don't get on with it. I find this wavy stretch stitch on my sewing machine give me the longest lasting hemming stitch.
There we have it.
One rash vest.
Now for the shorts, they needed to be sturdy.
Evidently someone (no names) at school split theirs!
The shame.
I used a vintage pattern I had previously made the top and bottoms from.
So I re-inforced.
Split these Baby-Baby.
(Actually, please, don't)
The cord is purely decorative.
Good high coverage over the derriere.
Cute little side vents.
Lowered just a wee bit at he front.
Several inches off the length of the rash vest.
Yes, she is beautiful.
Have fun Elsa!
xx N

20 comments:

  1. I have never heard the term rash vest. What a great outfit and your daughter is stunning. I often avoid stripes because I am afraid to match them up. Do you need more fabric to make sure you can match them up?

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    1. Thanks Christine, I am not sure where 'rash vest' comes from. Possibly a surfie term?
      I am very new to knits and stripes but I found my method of marking the stripes on the pattern piece helped me a lot.
      I guess a little extra fabric wouldn't hurt....
      xx N

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  2. You reminded me that I need to put rash vests on my to-do sewing list for this summer. Elsa's outfit looks great!

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    1. Thank you Deb.
      This pattern (the Field Trip) made a great rash vest.
      xx N

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  3. I love the board shorts! Great outfit for a pool party. Elsa is most definitely beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Cindy, I was so happy to find a stockist for the taslon fabric.
      xx N

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  4. I love both of these, so stylish! I'll have to look into those pins.

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    1. Thank you Sharon.
      If you need me to get some fabric for you, I am happy too!
      xx N

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  5. I am impressed with her fabric choices! She looks so stylish (as usual).

    I have a Seashore dress to make for Boo and then I am onto this vintage pattern. I can't wait. I got hold of some soft pink jersey that is quite heavy weight for the long sleeved top version. I am hoping it will replace her best hoodie that is growing too small.

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    1. Katy, you will love this pattern!

      I was pretty happy to find the bigger size on eBay, I snapped it up!
      Thank you
      xx N

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  6. great outfit for a swim! I had wondered about the ball point pins - I need to pick up some myself.
    too bad you don't get on w/ the coverstitch :(

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    Replies
    1. Thank you!
      I feel ill about the cover stitch, it was a very expensive gift from my husband.
      Its a coverstitch/overlocker combo and I would sell it BUT it is a very good domestic overlocker and Zara is getting quite keen on sewing so I want to keep it for her!

      I have reset it and had it back to the dealer but I spend so much time trying to get it to work.
      When it does, it is marvellous, it likes the cotton/poly I use for my school polos', sews those hems perfectly!

      xx N

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  7. There's nothing you can't sew! And no, I've never heard of the Goddess sheet before.

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    1. You are so kind Rachel. I guess if I want to sew for my girls I have to keep trying new things.

      I am in love with the Goddess sheet! I bought one for applying interfacing but I love it for swimmer fabric. Normally you cannot press that and I am a bit OCD about pressing.
      xx n

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  8. Wow! Totally fab pool party outfit. The shorts are perfect and as usual, your finishing touches are exactly right.

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    1. Thank you Justine.

      The shorts took a lot longer then I expected but I enjoyed sewing them.
      I reckon you could do similar with the Class Picnic shorts.
      xx N

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  9. Love those shorts! Need to get me one of those Goddess sheets asap!

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    1. Thank you Peta.
      And re the Goddess sheets, you do, you really do!
      Perfect for applying transfers AND pressing the t-shirts afterwards.
      xx N

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  10. Oh, to be so young and tiny again! (Too bad I wasted those years being self-conscious and critical of my body!)

    What a cute, practical beach ensemble. Have fun, Elsa!

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  11. I know exactly what you mean Inder!
    Both my girls work out and play sport so they are proud of their figures.
    Thank you

    xx N
    PS She had a blast!

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