Handmade Vintage Swimsuits, Anyone?

Our local newspaper, The Age, ran a story over the weekend about the return of the Vintage Swimsuit as a prettier, more flattering option for adorable gals. If you are an adorable, stitchy kind of girl, you might like to make one for yourself. If Gemma can be bothered to make knickers the we should all roll off the banana lounge and try making a cute cossie, I think.

Here are some links to look at – keep in mind that some of the more conservative online pattern companies are using HORRIBLE fabrics in their samples. Use your imagination. Just look at the cute cuts of these togs and ignore the fabrics you don’t like.

• Paragon Patterns have some cute skirted swimsuits and some simple one-pieces too.
• Burda Style are sporting the Poolside Goddess That Is Alison – it’s free and ready to download and is a really terrific cut too.
• Pattern 3609 at KwikSew could actually be adorable in the right fabric – there’s also a few disco kinda swimsuits over there, if that’s your thing.

Pattern School has every bit of instruction and advice you will EVER need to fit and draft your own pattern for various swim suit styles – perfect for the experienced seamstress with a poolside penchant.

You can find information on sewing stretch fabrics over at BurdaStyle or you can post your own query over there for heaps of happy, helpful answers! And StretchHouse has a dizzy array of lycra and spandex, lining and other stuff you might need on your sewing adventures. Or just try your local Fabric Store! (Be sure to purchase SWIMWEAR elastic to ensure long life!)

If you’d like, Miss Brache (above) could make you a swimsuit, because maybe you’re not feeling up to cracking out the sewing machine? She will make it to fit YOU – so measure up and you’ll be suited in a trice! Check out Miss Maisy Brown – she made a delicious swimsuit over here.

Bettie B also makes vintage style one-pieces over here and you’ll find patterns for crocheted bikinis here and here. And one for a crocheted toddler bikini here.

And for your pot-luck searching pleasure – the following patterns are for Vintage Swimsuits Too! You can try eBay – or you can google these because lots of Vintage Pattern sellers pop up when you do! Etsy is a great resource for Vintage Patterns too. Be extra sure to check the sizing carefully on vintage patterns – they vary dramatically. You can find a guide to Vintage Pattern sizing here and some more information on sizing here.

• 1940s and 1950s:
• Simplicity 4435
• Simplicity 2448
• Simplicity 1607
• Simplicity 2834
• Vogue 8004
• McCalls 3669
• McCalls 3654
• McCalls 6848

• 1960s:
• Simplicity 5375
• Simplicity 6018
• Simplicity 7697
• Simplicity 7645
• Simplicity 7094
• Simplicity 8837
• Butterick 3077
• Butterick 3545
• McCalls 9237
• McCalls 9696
• McCalls 5829
• McCalls 8833
• McCalls 7775
• KwikSew 151
• Stretch and Sew 1350S

• 1970s:
• Vogue 8313
• Simplicity 5525
• Simplicity 8025
• Simplicity 5693
• Simplicity 9321
• Simplicity 7497
• Stretch and Sew 1327
• McCalls 4501
• McCalls 5104
• McCalls 5036