Replies

1. 
   mimi | Aug 02, 2005 07:07am | #1

   Justsew:  From what I remember of skirted suits from the fifties and sixties (when I was a very young child) the skirt is attached at mid hip.  My aunt made our suits and they were gathered and finished and then attached to the suit.  The only difference between the childrens suits and the adult suits was that the skirt part was longer on the adult suits.  Also these suits were made out of cotton gingham.

   As for attaching it to a ready made suit, this would pose several challenges.  If the suit is made of the poly/lycra combination that most are, it might tear if you try to sew on it.  Using needles with a ballpoint might help.  Fit would also be difficult; you would have to decide exactly how to wear the suit the same way everytime.  Any shifting of the original suit would result in a change in the way the skirt fit and looked.

   If you are adding the skirt as a camouflage, have you thought about just adding a lycra flounce skirt with an elastic waist or perhaps a wraparound lycra skirt?  This is being shown in the LL. Bean and Lands End catalogues.

   Good luck!

   mimi

   
   

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   Edited 8/2/2005 12:45 am ET by mimi

1. 
   roone | Aug 02, 2005 02:30pm | #2

   Hi mimi, regarding your question about adding a skirt to a ready-made bathing suit; might I suggest that you put the suit on, have someone mark the most flattering line for you, then cut out the skirt, baste it to that line right side facing up (wrong side of skirt to right side of suit) then using the feather stitch, and gently easing, stitch it onto the suit right along the upper edge (finishing it as you stitch). This gives a flat seam that with co-coordinating or matching thread disappears leaving a flattering skirt that doesn't draw the eye to the seamline. I also suggest this method of attaching rather than cutting and inserting because you would lose body length if you cut and stitch back together. I also think it would be very difficult to decide where to cut and once it's cut you are stuck whereas if you baste on and don't like it you can easily adjust before stitching permanently. As for a pattern I suggest investing in Kwik-Sew's Swim & Action Wear by Kerstin Martensson or Sew Splashy by Ann Person they are bathing suit pattern books. I might also suggest buying a skating skirt or dance pattern if there was a style that you liked. Good luck Karen

2. 
   justsew | Aug 02, 2005 04:36pm | #3

   Hi mimi

   thank you for that suggestion. I am adding it just to make me feel much more comfortable with the suit itself. I had originally made the suit with a Maternity pattern from elizabeth lee design. I reshaped it after the baby was born, and it has been sitting around,so I thought the cute skirt would be a great addition to the money already spent on the suit fabric.

   thanks and keep sewing!