Buzzmills

Summer Swimwear Tour, the Classic Maillot...

We are smack dab in the middle of one heck of a heat wave, it is hot and humid and all in all pretty gross outside!  Seems like the perfect excuse to sew up some swimsuits, right?

Well, thanks to a few lovely ladies, Call Ajaire, The Wolf and the Tree, and Gracious Threads ... there are a few more swimsuit patterns to choose from!  And this week they are having a Summer Swimwear blog tour to show off their awesome swimwear patterns and lucky me (lucky Violet) I was asked to participate.  From the classic maillot, to a rash guard swimset, to swim shorts there are so many different options among and within each of the three patterns, it was hard to decide which to sew first. 

Seeing that Violet has a new found love of tankinis and rash guard/bikini bottoms that seemed like a pretty good place to start...

I used Call Ajaire's classic maillot pattern and sewed up views G & H using a stripe, a polka dot, and floral (from last year's swimsuit stock at Imagine Gnats) to make this sweet little swingy suit.

The pattern is very well written and put together.  Ajaire walks you through the instructions with amazing details and diagrams.  The suit has a variety of different options, 8 in all including a classic maillot suit or a tankini option.  The sizing runs from newborn through size 12, which means that you will be able to sew this suit summer after summer...but seeing that it's fully lined...you might not have to as it is built to withstand multiple pool, creek, lake and beach trips! 

I will say, that initially I made the bottoms a size too large...and I think that I likely ought to have gone down a size on the top as well, but to be honest, getting body measurements (especially for Violet) isn't always my strong suit.  The bottoms come together super quickly though so, no worries there...and as far as the top goes, it needed a little pop of something anyway so I added a couple little neon pink "tubes" around the shoulder straps which seemed to tighten the straps up just the right amount!  And then, well, Violet and I decided that maybe it needed a little neon pink ruffle as well...

Violet could not love this bathing suit more!  

She loves the swing of the suit and how comfortable it is! 

Not to mention the fact that it's completely adorable! 

And the back tie adds to the styling of the suit, but also allows for easy adjustments allowing this suit to "grow" a bit along with her...

And, well, it doesn't hurt that now she and Henry and I all have matching bathing suits now!

I wonder when they grow out of getting enjoyment out of matching?  Hmm...I'm going to simply savor and enjoy these simple pleasures while they last.

When her tankini was complete I couldn't pass up using a bit of glittery, splashy mermaid-like (terrible to take pictures of) fabric that I had sitting around to quickly sew up a "Just Keep Swimming" rash guard too.

This pattern, too, comes with loads of different options from sleeve lengths, color blocking/solid, and 5 different bottom options...adding up to 160 combinations, plus it's size range goes from 12months - 14 years!  Another long lasting pattern!  I think, perhaps, I "threw it together" a little too quickly as I was in a bit of a hurry and it too turned out on the "too-biggish" side...but she promised me that she didn't mind at all and loves the fit! 

And, in fact, squealed "I look like a mermaid!" when she saw it!  

Plus, it pairs perfectly with the bottoms from the classic maillot, it's always nice to have options, right?!

So, here's to a perfectly timed heat wave!  Ahem, I mean ugh...I am not a fan of hot and humid, but hey...Violet's got some new cute suits so that's a plus!  Now, let's go adventure and cool off shall we?

 

 

Join in on the Summer Swimwear Tour fun by using the hashtag #sewswimtour to share your favorite swimwear makes.  And don't forget to enter the rafflecopter below to win some fabulous prizes from our sponsors!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

During the tour Designs by Call Ajaire is offering 20% off all patterns in the Etsy shop using the code SWIMTOUR, Gracious Threads is offering 15% off the purchase of 3 or more patterns in her shop (no coupon needed), and The Wolf and the Tree is offering 15% off patterns in her shop using the code SWIMTOUR as well.  So take a few minutes to visit Call Ajaire, Gracious Threads, and The Wolf and the Tree and of course the rest of the lovely blogs we have on the tour:

 

imagine gnats - Buzzmills - Sprouting JubeJube 

Our Chez Nous - Replicate Then Deviate - Once Upon a Sewing Machine

Once Upon a Sewing Machine - Kadiddlehopper - Lulu & Celeste - Skirt As Top - Needle and Ted 

Straight Stitch Designs - Rebel & Malice - Rae Gun Ramblings

Paisley Roots - Made by Sara - The Crazy Tailor - Skirt Fixation

Sew Chibi Designs - Max California - Better Dressed Child - Shaffer Sisters

Sew Country Chick - Handmade Frenzy - House of Estrela - Elegance & Elephants - SewsNBows

 

*Disclaimer: I was given the classic maillot, rash guard swimset, & swim shorts patterns in exchange for for participating in this blog tour. All opinions are honestly my own! I love these patterns and look forward to making more for sure!

 

Sleeveless Groove Dress...

I can not believe how quickly this summer is flying by!  I've been desperately attempting to declutter each and every room and closet in our house, while simultaneously mediating umpteen squabbles between siblings...it really seems to be the summer of bickering.  It's not been all quarreling and chores though...there's been plenty of fun too, camping, fireworks, NYC, baseball games, icebergs and more...

But, with all of the above...there's been little time for sewing.  Not that my list isn't miles long.  I mean, there are so many fun summery items for me, the kids, and my husband that I'd love to sew up...but there's only so much time and honestly, by the end of the day between early morning runs, errands, kid fun and such, I am too tired to sew at nighttime. 

I did, however, finally manage to squeeze in making a groove dress for myself earlier this week while the rest of the family watched a bit of the home run derby on tv.  I've been wanting to make myself (and Violet too, but she's later...) a groove dress from made it patterns for months now!  I had initial plans...and then, as it turned out, I didn't have enough fabric.  I love this dress, but it's volume also means that it uses up a lot of fabric!  With my great immediate "need" in mind we headed for a quick trip to Joann, where I found only really one viable option to get the feel and fit that I was looking for, pink and black stripes, not exactly my first choice...but good enough...

I used the teen pattern size medium with an added 1 1/2" to the length, which I think worked perfectly for my height of 5'2", I think maybe the adult version might way too long for me.  I also omitted the sleeves opting instead for a sleeveless version, which I love!  

To make the sleeveless version I used the neck binding pattern and cut a piece that was 15" long for the arm binding.  I used same method as instructed for the neck binding for the arms.  This was the first time I'd used the "neat method" of binding and I love the way it turned out!  

I must admit that, when I tried this dress on after it was completed, I squealed a little with delight!  It's the perfect summer dress, cool and flowy and oh so amazing!  

I wore it out to our trip to the National Building Museum's  Icebergs exhibit yesterday where I totally did a twirl amidst a bunch of people...

Violet told me to "stop, that's a good picture!"...

And then I did a little "grooving"...

 

and then a stroll through the National Gallery's Sculpture gardens...

Thank you to Violet who graciously offered to take some pictures of me! 

It was a fun day and the perfect dress for it all!