Ta da! A new bathing suit for me, me, ME!
We're keeping it positive today, friends. Not one word about E-lame, who's obviously experiencing a meltdown judging from yesterday's desperate attempt to smear not only me, but my beautiful, not short cousin Cathy too. I take it all with a grain of salt and a few Extra Strength Tylenol.
Yesterday, desperate to escape the ugliness, I faced near 100 degree temperatures and slogged my way to 39th Street for a little fabric shopping. I won't show you everything I bought, but I did pick up a yard and a half of this multicolored cotton seersucker that I've seen in the store for many a month. You'd think at $2/yd. it would sell faster.
I decided to make myself a pair of retro-style swim trunks from a vintage (well, 1984) McCall's pattern I bought last fall.
The pattern has cute little details, like this front pocket:
And the split hem on the outside leg:
The back waistband has a casing for elastic for a snugger fit.
Instead of a zipper fly I used velcro. I added a velcro closure to the waistband too.
It all went together very easily and I still have enough fabric for either a matching short-sleeve shirt or matching chihuahua muumuus. Is a cabana set too over the top? Please advise.
Big hot day of sewing ahead, needless to say.
Have a great day, everybody!
Matching chihuahua muumuus, please. They wouldn't take much fabric and you could probably make the matching top as well. Then take the dogs for a walk.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, there has been lots of aggression bouncing around sewing-blog-land.(It might be weird for non-regular readers so can I just say for them that this is kind of normal and TSS and Pete really do think this is all good hearted banter - heaven help us if they really truly disliked each other!)
ReplyDeleteI am in LOVE with the seersucker! I want some.
i know that material!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://oonaballoona.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-hump.html
and i know the store from which you acquired it-- i got 10 yards for 5 bucks. yeah, what exactly does one do with 10 yards of this?
also, the gentleman that owns the store should not be approached by unaccompanied ladies. i think his mojo must've rubbed off on the fabric, as i had a very lecherous experience on it's maiden outing. so watch out when you wear those hot pants!
Speaking from a place in time when I'm struggling to dress myself in the morning, I must congratulate you on how comfortable you are in your own skin. I hate those blogs where people are trying to pose and pretend to be something/someone they are not. But, and I mean this with no irony given the current feud, I love the WYSIWYG-ness of your blog. Although I don't generally qualify my comments for the uninitiated, today I'll say I mean this in the bestest, nicest, most kindest way.
ReplyDeleteYou show off! I don't think a cabana set would be too much at all.
ReplyDeleteLove them. How do you do it. You will be the star of Fire Island in those.
ReplyDeleteThey look FANTASTIC! I hadn't really considered seersucker for swimsuit fabric, but this is a splendid idea! Don't worry about Elaine, no one believes her anyway. We all know that you could not possibly be Cathy! PS I simply love the latest 1920's frock on her! Simply Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteNice legs! ... oh, and shorts too!
ReplyDeleteLove the bathing suit. Reminds me when we were children and my brothers had matching seersucker trunks with matching shirt/jacs to wear to the pool at the club. I, of course, had a swell green seersucker suit with matching terry cloth tunic with a lady bug on it and my mother had the same tunic (but in her size). Yes, we were quite a site to see! Us kids in the pool and my Mom poolside playing bridge with the other mothers, smoking cigarettes and drinking a bloody marys. Summer never looked so good! Please send some of that hot weather you are having to the Southern CA since, although the calender says July we are still covered by the depressing "June Gloom' overcast skies.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks for asking about the Pattern Review Wearable Art Contest - I did get my garment made and it is posted. Wow! Such creative sewers, I feel really humble on reading that site.
Great swim shorts - especially with the red hat! Wonder if a woman's bathing suit would work in seersucker...
ReplyDeleteMan, that fabric is fab! Chihuahua muumuus please!
ReplyDeleteLove the fabric! Why, oh, why can't my local store have seersucker for that price? I'm uncertain about using velcro as a closure on something that tight, though.... I vote for the shirt. That way it can be used with regular pants, too.
ReplyDeletePuh-leeze! Chihuahua muumuus. As if you even have to ask.
ReplyDeletePs. Nice gams.
ReplyDeleteCabana set - YES! So NOT over the top. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote Chihuahua muumuus!
ReplyDeleteLove the seersucker as a swimsuit. You look so happy. And to be sure you remain looking happy when the suit gets use, have you done a "wet test" on it yet? ;-)
(Team Peter BTW!)
Not yet, Debbie. I'll keep you posted! ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't think light colored cotton passes the wet test, although the stripes obscure, they are not demure.
ReplyDeleteAnd Peter...sunscreen, LOT's of suncreen.
Love these in this fabric!
ReplyDeleteYou better make the matching shirt - you might need it after 10 minutes in the sun!
I really like these pants!
ReplyDeleteI was just looking through your photos again and noticed that your Velcro fly has the pokey side of the Velcro facing your skin. You may want to rethink that on future projects. ;-) Don't mean to sound preachy - just speaking from experience. :-)
ReplyDeleteSuper Duper Cute! Chihuahua Mumus please!
ReplyDeleteThey are cute!... I was thinking a matching safari suit style jacket/shirt - since you have that cute pocket on the shorts - the pockets on a safari type shirt would match wonderfully!
ReplyDeleteÓtimo post! Lindo shorts!
ReplyDeleteSo HOT it's HAWT!
ReplyDeleteYou'll be the belle of the beach in those swim trunks. Love, love, love the fabric and the cut!
ReplyDeleteHotness!
ReplyDeleteReturning for a moment to the topic of inspiration from nature- is there is anyone out there who doesn't follow TLo?- they show us how it's done here
ReplyDeletehttp://tomandlorenzo2.blogspot.com/2010/07/christian-dior-haute-couture-fall-2010.html
Nice job Pedro, but..... Does it have all the requirements for a male bathing suit? will you be spilling out? And is elastic and velcro strong enough to handle the water? I ask because I want to make some trunks for my guy, but I don't want to give the world a show....
ReplyDeleteGoodness, girls! A jock or sports brief will take care of everything, I assure you. Your men will know what they are. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh Peter, many of us hang out with baggy pants wearing losers, who, unfortunately, we are both related to and do not know what they are about. Although I'm perfectly convinced you can handle your own junk, I see the advice as coming from a place of "oh no, not that again."
ReplyDeleteMaybe I need to do a tutorial on male foundation garments...
ReplyDeleteI think the reason the "underpinnings" subject came up is because patterns of that vintage should have included a nylon or other lightweight "panty" inside. But hey, you know your business, so we'll stay out of it ;-)
ReplyDeletehmm. and I rather liked the thought of clingy sheer wet cotton....
ReplyDeletebut maybe I'm just a pervert :)
Found you by searching for retro sewing.
ReplyDeleteMale foundation garments - yes please. I have sons who are learning ballet, one nearly 12, and in this part of Arkansas there is not anyone to quietly discuss the necessary undergarments.
Adorable trunks! And I'm impressed by Stephanie in AR's sons learning ballet.
ReplyDelete