Bikini!

I haven’t had a bikini for quite a few years now – I think I only ever had 3 in my life before now.  And since I had surgery several years ago and have a big scar on my belly button, I went off the idea of two -piece swimsuits.  But, I’ve been working out and feeling stronger and wanted a bikini again.  So I made one!

The top is Jalie 2446, view B.  It’s not the most modest or the least modest view, it’s in the middle.  It was pretty simple to make, except for the pattern instructions being almost indecipherable.  I could not believe how opaque those instructions were, steps were left out or assumed, and the instructions for the 3 different views were hard to distinguish.  I was going along happily when I realised I’d been making view C for several steps and had to rip out a whole lot. I’d appreciate ONE set of instructions for each view, instead of them being mixed together.

The bottom is my go-to underpants pattern, which is a KnitWit pattern from the 80s I have a photocopy of.  I just made the rise about an inch higher on these.

I didn’t have any swimwear elastic, so all the elastic throughout is bra strapping I had from old convertible bras and from bra-making.  I used the same elastic on the bottoms as the top.  It feels nice and sturdy.

I didn’t have a bikini clasp either, so the top needs to be put on over my head.  It works, but it is pretty inelegant!

I do have a photo of it worn, but my students have recently figured out how Google works so I won’t show that here.  Maybe on Instagram: @cutiefulchristina

Happy Summer!