The Imaginative Seamstress

Oops...I meant to post this before the Under Armor Style! :roll: Oh well... The Empire Maternity Swimsuit We found we were expecting in February of 2011, this meant I'd have a rather round middle by the summer time. Of course I was thinking ahead to making me a suit. I've made swimwear for 6-7 years now but had never made a maternity suit. I had ideas...ones that didn't look anything like what my mom wore when expecting some of my younger siblings though lol! Suffice it to say, my first plan didn't work out so well. It turned into this. My regular suit top worked well to a certain point...just below the bust. I liked the idea of a solid band at the under bust and then added a gathered/pleated skirt, a belly skirt, much like the skirt in the Original Style Suit . The bottoms were a little complicated. All one piece, the pants, skirt and belly band, all together. They are extremely comfortable and I loved them!! This first suit didn't have quite enough room to

The Under Armor Suit I am going to give the credit for this interesting swimming outfit to my sister Anna. She is always challenging my sewing capabilities with new ideas. But I love it, and it always makes for new designs :-) Anna wanted to buy a swimming shirt (black, under armor brand) that she'd seen in the store, and then have me make bottoms that coordinated. She wanted the bottoms to consist of the spandex pants and an A-line skirt together on an elastic band. This was the first time that I'd combined a skirt and pants together on a band. Before they each had their own band like in the Sports Style Suit . Anna chose a floral print for her skirt, one that matched her black shirt and black pants to go under the skirt. It turned out awesome! I love the way it looked on her and more importantly, she really liked it too. See pictures below.    Front Back Showing the elastic waist band

Still continuing on in my "style" list of swimwear. Here goes another one! The Sports Style Suit This consisted of 3 pieces actually. The top was a tank but wasn't closely fitted, it was loose and longer, with vents in the sides.  Stripes down the sides of the top helped give it a very "sporty", though it could be made without the stripes just as well. The skirt and pants were separate pieces with each having their own elastic waist band. However...the skirt and pants these days are combined on one elastic band, so they're one piece. This is a style I don't necessarily make this style any more, its just here as kind of a memory. See pictures below. Pictures are organized from most recent, to oldest.  Anna wearing a Colorful print accented with purple.   Back   Close-up of neck and arm detail. Close-up of top, stripes down the sides with vents. :-)  Older Pictures.... Isabel (Middle) is

This is a continuation of a series I'm doing on modest swimwear "styles".  Girl's Ice Skater Suit The design for this suit is the same as the Women's Ice Skater Suit , only for girls. Its a fitted tank-top with a skirt that starts out fitted at the waist but flares out into an A-line shape to allow room for the hips and give a nice full, ruffly look. Worn under the skirt are spandex pants. They are separate from the top and have elastic in the waist band. Sleeves are an option, for those of us who prefer a little more sun protection. I don't have many pictures of this style in girl's sizes. I guess the reason why is that its not as popular as the Girl's Original Suit.  My sister Anna at Fort Walton Beach FL  Miss Alaina, 5 years old. Anna in a Geometric Printed suit. Rainbow Starfish Double needle finish around the neck and arms.  Up next is

 This is a series of posts I'm doing on the different "Styles" of modest swimwear I've made in the past and in the present. This post in particular is on the Women's Ice Skater Suit. A post on the girl's will follow this one.  Women's Ice Skater Suit At one point this was the new 'in' thing. And well, it never really went out of style, its still really popular. A fitted bodice with a drop scoop waist. Attached to an a-line skirt which is very flattering and has such flair! The spandex pants beneath are separate and have an elastic waist band. Pictures below are in order from newest to oldest. I have many of these so I'm just choosing a few. Enjoy!      Boat lounging Anna Skurfing behind the boat Me water skiing I don't know what it is about this photo, but its awesome :-)  Stay tuned for the Girl's Ice Skater Sui

The girl's original style is almost the same as the women's , only in a smaller size. The top was a tank with a gathered skirt and spandex pants underneath. The pants were completely separate and had an elastic waist band. Later we used a belt at the waist, just like the Women's Pattern. This belt held everything in place quite well so nothing moved around on you when you jumped in the water. Also, like on the  women's suit, the girl's suit also came with the option of a 'Bib'. This was a great idea for girls who were just starting to develop in the chest and who weren't wearing a bra yet. It provided coverage and was rather cute too. Even girls who weren't to that stage sometimes wanted that style. I have actually never made one with a 'bib', my Mom is the one who has always done that.  One thing that is different between the  women's and girl's is that though the  women's is rarely made anymore, the girl's on the other h