I can’t believe I made a swimsuit! I mean, I guess it’s not that surprising since everyone and their mother is making a swimsuit this summer (has anyone made one for their mom? I’m guessing my mom would love it… but don’t give her any ideas or I’ll be running a swimsuit sweatshop… my sister already has her eye on this!), but the thought of sewing swimwear has always made me say, “No way, Jose!”

If my photos look a little nicer than usual today, it’s because my bro-in-law was on the camera and my sis was calling the shots. Thanks J and B!
But, along came the Bombshell Swimsuit pattern from Closet Case Files to tempt me into sewing swimwear! It’s a very flattering suit with a lot of coverage, perfect for those who don’t feel like baring it all at the beach. This has been a super popular pattern this summer, so I’m definitely not the first person to sing its praises, but it’s pretty fabulous. Not gonna lie– this is the first one-piece I’ve had since I was about 10 years old, so it’s kind of a change of pace for me, but there are definitely occasions when a bikini is a bit too revealing that this will be perfect for.
I thought this would be fiddly and difficult to sew, but it was actually really easy! Stretch (not ballpoint) needles are a necessity, and a simple zigzag stitch is your friend. The fabric isn’t slippery at all, so it was very easy to cut and sew. Because the main fabric is gathered and ruched, then attached to the lining, I used my walking foot to help keep the layers and gathers even. Heather Lou’s sewalong posts are packed with helpful tips and photos, and she covers everything you need to know! This was the perfect pattern for my first swimsuit sewing experience.
I bought this fabric at Mood Fabrics NYC for my July Mood Sewing Network project. It might surprise a few people to know that they sell swimwear fabric, but yes, they have lots of it! I planned to get a solid color, but this print had a fun retro appeal that I couldn’t resist. It’s a nylon/lycra blend with a matte finish and a fairly loose weave. The suit is fully lined with a champagne-colored mesh-like nylon blend. Both fabrics are four-way stretch– definitely what you want in a one-piece swimsuit!

My sister insisted that I include this shot, even though (well, probably BECAUSE) I look like a big dummy!
Swimsuits are one of those things that I hated buying even before I sewed. Even if you find one that you love and it fits, they always seemed so expensive considering how little fabric they used! This project was very economical– I used a little over a yard of fabric, a half a yard of lining, and a couple of yards of swimwear elastic, and it was a fraction of the cost of a similar RTW swimsuit. I just cut out a bikini using less than $10 worth of materials!

Don’t forget your sunscreen!
I think this swimsuit looks really lovely on girls with an hourglass or curvy figure. Since I don’t have a very defined waist, the ruching kind of obscures my waistline and makes me feel a little boyish in this style. I’m also a little on the fence about the print paired with the pattern– I’m pretty sure I’ve made a swimsuit that my grandmother would love! But these are minor concerns and overall I’m really happy with the suit.

This is my sexy fish face.
If you’re on the fence about sewing a swimsuit this summer, give it a go! You can totally do it! I think you’ll be really pleased with the results, and you’ll love telling your friends “I made this!”.
Fab fab fab!! Love it on you and it’s so pretty. I think it’s flattering too and that fabric is lovely. Well done you, and the photos are v good!! Xx
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Thanks, Winnie! This would be so cute on you!
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Add me to the list of people saying that the suit looks fab in that fabric, and that you don’t look in any way boyish. And that I am jealous of your great legs. Wear more mini skirts, Ginger.
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Thanks, Kate! You’re too sweet! I’m getting too old for miniskirts! 😀
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You look stunning! I love the print and the roses fabric looks so nice on you. The pictures are very good, and it looks like you had a lot of fun taking them.
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Thanks, Elise! It was fun to be able to take the photos with my sis and brother-in-law. For some reason I’m never very relaxed when I take photos with my hubs– I always get really nervous and stiff!
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I think it looks amazing! The combination of style & fabric are perfect! This is one post I’m not sharing with my girls though, it will put ideas in their heads & next thing they’ll be wanting custom-made swimsuits too! Lovely work!
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Ahahahahaha! I don’t blame you– you keep those girls awfully well-dressed as it is! No need to chain yourself to the sewing machine!
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love the SPF45 – you match it perfectly! it looks so nice, i cant wait until i can sew my own!
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Cathy, I can’t wait to see yours! Now hurry up and get back to the States! 🙂
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Super job, great legs! The fabric is wonderful it suits you. If I thought there was any danger of me going anywhere near a beach I’d make this too.
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Hahahaha, that’s my problem– I never visit the beach or even a pool! Not that I don’t want to… just never get around to it!
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Woo! It looks very charming. I need to procure some of this mesh lining stuff everyone is buying up for their swim suits!
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Spandex House has it on the cheap– it’s upstairs on the creepy second floor. 🙂
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I think you looks super cute in this and I love the print you picked. Now will you always be my sunscreen model, cause that’s my favorite shot. 🙂
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Thanks, Heather Queen Bee! I never choose prints like this, but I just couldn’t escape its grasp! 😀
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SUPER cute! It’s one of those suits you can put a skirt over and wear it on the boardwalk all day!
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Oooh, good idea! You need one of these, SoCal girl!
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Go you! And you look pretty good wearing it..you go girl!!! Make sure you take a picture in the water =). ❤ Bekah
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Teeheehee, I gotta make it to the beach! It’s terrible– I never get out there, but now I have the excuse of the new swimsuit to try out!
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love love love this! The print is awesome and you look amazing in it! 🙂
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Gosh, thanks, Hazel! You’re too sweet!
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Super cute suit!! This pattern really really does flatter everyone!
On vacation, my Phin refused to share his water with me until I made my “pouty fish face”. I’m going to have to work on my sexy fish face. LOL
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Bahahahaha! I can just imagine what the “pouty fish face” looks like!
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Looks awesome! I think I missed the boat for a suit this summer, but it’s on my to-make list for next year!
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This summer felt very short, didn’t it? I feel like it’s already over!
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You and the swimsuit, both gorgeous:)
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Thanks, Bec! 😀
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This is the best bombshell I have seen yet! I love the print and pattern combination, just perfect and you look great!!
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Thanks, Liz! 😀
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Great choice of fabric for your swim suit. I’ve made one already this year and it’s had a couple of dips in the pool – still going strong!
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Oooh, good to know! I’m still a little paranoid that it will dissolve in the chlorine or something!
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Naaa as long as you used polycotton thread or wooly nylon, lycra-nylon fabric and either clear swim elastic or swim regular elastic then it’ll be fine.
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I used poly thread and swim elastic, and I’m pretty sure my fabric is lycra/nylon… hopefully I’m good!
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I think even cotton takes a while to be degraded by chlorine so you’ll be fine! No accidental exposures are likely!
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This looks kickarse on you!! Love the fabric choice oh, and your sexy fish face really gets me going.
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Ahahahahaha! Thanks, Amy!
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This swimsuit is AWESOME. I think it looks great on you – not curve obstructing at all. If (when) I make this suit, I will forsake other clothing and wear it everywhere, if it is half as flattering on me as it has been on the many bloggers who have made it. Probably I shouldn’t make it…
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Do it!!!!! I can’t think of any occasions where this wouldn’t be appropriate to wear… not a single one. 😉
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Very pretty swim suit. I love the pattern.It’s so sweet 🙂
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Thank you, Intira!
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I love this! Not boyish or grannyish AT ALL. It’s bloody lovely!
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Thanks, Sabs! You’re too sweet!
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You look adorable!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
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Thanks Kazz!!! 😀
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Awesome! And best fish face ever!
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Thanks, Amanda!
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This is super cute on you young lady!!
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Thanks, Zo!
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Amazing! love the photos too 🙂
Can’t wait to try this pattern. bring on summer!
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Thanks, Renay! I bet you’ll do a bang-up job on yours!!!
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Oh so cute!!!! You look anything but boyish in this! Amazing work. Oh, and how nice is it when you realise a sewing project actually worked out CHEAPER than buying the mass-produced equivalent for once?! xx
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It’s such a plus! Not to mention that they’re infinitely cheaper when you factor in how much more likely you are to wear a handmade garment for a very long time instead of a cheaply-made mass-produced one. 🙂
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This looks so cute! I like your fabric choice too!
I’ve never tried sewing a swimsuit, even though I did think about it when sewing some of the patterns from Eres Paris (and the pricetag!)
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It’s pretty easy– I bet you would really enjoy it!
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Chapeau! This bathing suit is gorgeous! Perfect fabric choice for this pattern! You look awesome!
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Thanks, Nette! 😀
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Wow – you look amazing! I love the fabric too! 🙂
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Thank you, Ami! 😀
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This post is too cute. The whole thing. I love it! I love the print on the fabric too. Perhaps grandma and I have similar tastes. 😉
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Teeheehee– hopefully you don’t also collect creepy porcelain dolls like my grandma! 😀
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Um, I straight up want to copy you!!!! This swimsuit is perfection. And flowers + animal print have my heart.
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I loooove animal print paired with other things, too– it’s even more fun than plain animal print! This would be super cute on you– maybe Mood LA has some!
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When I go next time I’m going to look!
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Awesome sewing!! I would buy your swimsuit!!
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Thank you, Mary! You should try one of these– I bet you’d really enjoy making one!
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I love this suit-so 1940’s glamour-babe, and ruching is always nice I think. Love the shoes too. 😉
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Thanks, girlie! I’m sporting some pretty serious blisters today from those shoes, but they’re so cute that I wear them anyway!
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So cute–both you and the suit!
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Thanks girl!
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Lady, that is so NOT a grandma’s swimsuit! Va va voom!! Super glamorous on ya, I love it!! That neckline, both front and back, suits you amazingly well. (Plus, I love the fabric choice. 🙂 )
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Thanks, Kat! I hope you try it out when summer rolls around– I bet you would love it!
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I really want to make this swimsuit – everyone is saying how fantastic it is! I may put it on my spring to-do list 🙂 Yours looks great!
-Amy (www.thatssewamy.com)
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Oh I’m drooling over this fabric. Most of the swim fabric prints I could find were just a bit too twee (for me), but this is lovely. Funny how we all got sucked into swimsuits… I still haven’t made it to any kind of water this summer. Other than my sprinkler!
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Awesome!
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WHY am I pregnant this summer??!! (No, don’t answer that; I know why). I’ve been having swimsuit envy because *of course* you and Lauren and 1500 other people keep showing off your mad swimsuit skillz and cute little bods. I hope I remember this is out there when next summer rolls around.
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Blah, I keep forgetting to change my blog address when I’m cruising the sewing blog circuit.
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Bahahahahahahahaha! Well, there’s always next summer… and think of the adorable possibilities for tiny tot swimwear!
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Ooh, now I didn’t consider that…
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I LOVE this swimsuit!!! and what a lovely figure you have! The photos are adorable, too!
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Thanks, Alice! I bet you would love this pattern. 🙂
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I think I’m behind on commenting. hehehe But hey! kudos on your swimsuit! also kudos for being the only responsible one and promoting sunscreen.
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Ahahaha– my sister is responsible for that… she’s a sunscreen tyrant!
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I laugh at the hubbinator cos he always forgets to put it on and he gets red really fast, despite some Mediterranean blood in him. I’m evil for laughing at him, aren’t I? I rarely burn.
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Hahaha! My hubster never wants to wear it, either, so he’ll end up with some funky sunburns (his origins are Swiss and Polish… basically the palest people ever!).
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lol! why do they have to be so stubborn about the sunscreen? hehe I wonder if it’s uncool if you’re a guy?
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That MUST be it! Seriously– my dude has a giant SCAR from a nasty sunburn that bubbled his skin… gross!
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