Our Mermaids Shores Collection is here! As always we are bringing you some amazing, quick and easy hacks to help you get even more use from your new patterns! We have a few hacks for each suit. We’ll start with Camila/s, move on to Lainey and then end with Calypso if you want to skip around! If you haven’t grabbed your suits yet, make sure to while they are on sale! We also have two LIMITED TIME bundle options for you (bundles are only available now at release). Bundle 1 includes all 3 girls suits- Camila, Calypso and Lainey PLUS you get the Pearl Cover Up for FREE! All 4 patterns for $21. OR Bundle 2 will get you our entire collection with Mama Camila, Camila, Calypso and Lainey PLUS you get the Pearl Cover Up for FREE! All 5 patterns for $26. That sweet deal won’t last long, offer ends Monday 7/3 midnight cst.
Ok on to the hacks…
*Mama Camila cheeky hack*
Nicole L. is going to show us this awesome hack. Mama Camila is a classic but sexy swimsuit on it’s own with a full coverage bottom but some may prefer something a little more cheeky. It is a quick and easy modification and gives it some extra va-va-voom. For an ultra cheeky version, you will cut the “cheek” on the bottoms at a straight angle from the crotch to the side seam (blue line below). For the little cheeky version (pink line shown below), use the original curve as a guide but make the curve more shallow. Of course you can play with the curves a little and customize to your liking but this gives you a starting point. Tip: If you’re a little unsure how much you’d like to adjust the bottoms, cut the lower portion out of some lining fabric first (since it’s usually cheaper than swim knit). You can then decide how cheeky you want it and make adjustments to your pattern piece.
Construct your suit as instructed in the pattern but you will need to adjust the leg elastic. To determine the new length, measure the leg opening and subtract 2.5″. Remember when you go to attach the elastic, you will stitch 1:1 along the front from the crotch seam to the side seam and then stretch to fit along the booty curve.
*Camila separates hack*
The Camila swimsuits are great 1 pieces, but what if you or your daughter are wanting separates? You can easily create a bikini or tankini with a few simple modifications. On the Mama Camila, there is a lengthen/shorten line that is perfect to use as a guide on where to cut your pieces. You can cut or or less depending on your personal preference and what style you want your top and bottoms to be. You can also measure from underarm to where you want your top to hit, and add .75″ for hem allowances to determine where to cut for your new top.
Now you need to decide if you want to keep the ruching on the bottom portion of your suit or not. If you do, no changes needed, but if you want to lose the ruching you will need to trim your new bottom piece down. Shown below yellow would be a high rise and pink a more traditional lower rise.
You will cut your new pieces and linings the same as the tutorial but with separate top and bottom pieces. To finish the top hem and top edge of your bottom piece, use 3/8″ elastic to attach, then turn and hem (same method as described in the tutorial for the neckline). To calculate your elastic length, measure the bottom edge of your finished top, then subtract 1.5″. Do the same for the top edge of your bottoms.
*Mama Camila maternity hack*
The gorgeous Aaronica is here to show this hack. Hello friends! I’m back again with one of the most important maternity hacks that we pregnant women need–a swimsuit hack. Yes, yes, I know. It does, indeed, deserve a round of applause! It’s actually a rather quick hack so let’s go ahead and get started.
Materials:
- Mama Camila Pattern
- Patterns for Pirates LMU Maternity Add-On
- Swim fabric (amount depends on sizing)
- Elastic
Directions:
- Assemble patterns as you normally would. **Tip on sizing–don’t size up on the swimsuit despite how big you think your belly is! Be sure to use the size of your bust measurements**
- Cut the front Mama Camila pattern 1 inch under the bust elastic guideline and attach to the LMU Maternity Add-On above the first set of triangles.
- Cut the front Mama Camila Pattern 1 inch above the leg cut out and attach below the second set of triangles. Smooth out any needed pieces of the pattern sticking out awkwardly.
- Line up pattern as normal on fabric and cut. You’ll need 1 main fabric, 1 lining of the front and 1 main fabric of the back.
- Follow the directions in the Mama Camila Pattern until you get to putting the elastic in on the sides–switch the directions of the LMU Maternity Add-On for this. You’ll want to use the elastic measurements from LMU Maternity Add-On.
- Complete the assembly using the Mama Camila Pattern.
- You’re done!
*Lainey Faux Bow/Tie Strap Hack*
For this Hack, you can either make a faux bow to add to the strap of your Lainey swimsuit, or make a functional tie strap! No extra supplies are needed, except for a small amount of coordinating swim fabric. Let’s get started!
STEP 1: CUTTING
Complete your Lainey bodice as per the tutorial. If you are adding a faux bow, make sure to sew on the strap to the bodice. If making the functional tie strap, you will need to cut 2 straps to from the chart below. Measurements are given as length X width.
If making the faux strap, cut one piece of fabric 1″-1.5″ X 15″-20″, depending on how big you want your bow.
STEP 2: STRAPS/FAUX BOW
Fold the straps/faux bow in half lengthwise, right sides together. Pin in place and sew along the long raw edge with a 1/4” seam allowance. Trim your seam allowance in half.
Turn straps/faux bow right side out. I like to use a safety pin. Stick it into the end of one strap, then turn it and feed it back through the strap. Knot one end of each strap (functional tie straps) or both ends of the faux bow strap.
If making the faux bow, tie the strap into a bow.
STEP 3: ATTACHING THE BOW/STRAPS
If making the functional tie straps, attach the raw end of each strap to the inside of the Lainey bodice, as if you were attaching the sewn in strap. For the faux bow, find the center of the sewn in strap and sew the bow in place.
Aren’t those bows sooooooo cute?!?!
*Lainey Double Ruffle Hack*
This hack ii very easy too! Instead of adding just one ruffle to the Lainey bodice, we will add 2 for a double ruffle look. Let’s get started!
Supplies:
For this hack, in addition to the supplies needed to make Lainey, you will need either a wash away hem tape, or a marking tool.
STEP 1: CUTTING/CONSTRUCTING THE BODICE
Cut out the Lainey pattern pieces and optional ruffle as instructed in the tutorial. You will cut 2 bodice ruffle pieces instead of 1. Construct the Lainey bodice as per the tutorial. Do NOT add the ruffles to the bodice yet!
STEP 2: RUFFLES
Sew and gather each bodice ruffle as per the tutorial.
STEP 3: ATTACHING THE DOUBLE RUFFLE
Mark 1/2″ away from the top edge of the neckline or place double sided was away hem tape 1/2″ away from the top bodice all along the neckline. Tip: It is much easier to use a hem tape here then it is to mark the bodice!
Peel away the backing from the hem tape if using. Slide the second ruffle on top of the bodice along the neckline, matching center point of the ruffle and seam to the shoulder seam and side seam of the bodice. Place the second ruffle on top the hem tape or along the line you marked. Pin in place if you did not use a hem tape. Sew the ruffle to the bodice and remove gathering stitches.
Add the first ruffle to the top of the bodice and complete the Lainey bodice as per the tutorial. Tada! All done. You have added a second ruffle without adding bulk to your binding.
That double ruffle sure is INCREDIBLY CUTE!
*Calypso Flow-y Flounce and Crossed Straps*
Liesel is here to show us how to make some fun modifications to the Calypso Swimsuit! She is going to show you how to turn the halter straps into criss cross straps and how to stitch your elastic so you have an extra flow-y flounce! The crossed straps tutorial will actually work well on the Camila and Mama Camila suits as well!
The amazing Mermaid Shores Collection is here, and everyone will be sewing up amazing swimsuits that I can’t wait to see! We’ve thought of a few fun hacks, and I’m sharing some with you. I have seen so many cute crochet flounce suits on the internet, and I wanted to try that with the Calypso flounce top. I thought I could get the swingy look I was after if there was no topstitching on top of the flounce, so I stitched the elastic down under the flounce instead. And then instead of using a halter tie, the straps are secured to the back bodice to make a cross strap suit. I also only used one layer of the flounce, which is an easy hack, and gives a new look!
First, you’ll prepare all your pieces. I cut the straps to the dimensions in the tutorial, that should be long enough to make the cross straps in the back. I did not line the top, since the flounce gives another layer of coverage, and this swim knit is thick. I just cut the longer flounce pieces, and skipped the shorter layer for this suit.
Follow the steps in the tutorial to make your bodice, and when you get to topstitching your top elastic down, separate your flounce and straps away from your bodice. Make sure the elastic is folded down, and that your straps are out of the way. Use a stretch stitch (I use zig zag) to topstitch, and secure the elastic all the way around. That’s it!
To make the cross straps, I completed the bodice, and then used the front pattern piece, with the strap placement markings, to mark strap placement on the back. I tried it on my daughter to measure a good strap length. And then stitched the straps down to the back of the bodice, underneath the flounce, on top of where I topstitched my elastic. Trim off the extra length from the straps. And you’re done!
My daughter loves this suit, and so do I! Stay tuned for more gorgeous suits, and hacks!
*Calypso Single Flounce*
This may be the easiest hack ever! The Calypso pattern suggests making a double flounce on the bikini top. You can totally change up the look of your bikini by using only one of the flounce sets. You can choose to use the Short OR Long Flounce sets instead of both! Check out these inspiring tester photos and see how just using one flounce can change things up!!
Single SHORT flounce:
Single LONG flounce:
*Calypso Romper Mash*
Stephanie is going to show us how to mash the Calypso bodice with one of our romper patterns for a fun, flouncy romper!
I used the single, short flounce from Calypso, with the Lillian romper. The same method applies. You simply mash the main bodice of the Calypso top so it matches the bottom of the Lillian bodice. Trace new lines and Boom- you have a new pattern piece that will work with the Calypso flounce and the Lillian romper bottoms!
Hey Mermaids! We are all over here swooning over this new swimsuit collection and all of its options, am I right? How about another hack that you can take beyond the water? Pool season is also romper season, and the single or double flounced bodice of Calypso pairs adorably with romper shorts to make the most perfect little romper! And I am a romper super fan, trust me, this one is CUTE! For this mash you’ll need: knit fabric instead of swim knit, preferably one with 4 way stretch ( I used spandex french terry for one, double brushed polyester for another); your Calypso top pattern pieces ( front & back bodice pieces, flounce pieces, and straps) + the elastic the pattern calls for at the top of the bodice (does not need to be swim elastic); the romper shorts and bodice pieces of Lea or Lillian, along with the appropriate elastic for the waist casing that the patterns call for; paper to trace your new bodice pieces onto; a curved ruler also can be very handy when mashing patterns.
Start by laying your Calypso front bodice piece over your Lea or Lillian front bodice piece, making sure the underarms line up and matching fold lines. The orange dots in the photos below show you how the underarms are in line. I’m showing you with both the Lea and Lillian bodices.
We are basically going to add length and width to the Calypso bodice pieces so that they hit at the same spot of the waist as the romper bodice that you chose, and they will also match the width of the romper shorts. This is where your curved ruler can come in handy. The photos below show in orange how you will add width by grading the underarm of Calypso to the bottom bodice edge of Lea or Lillian, and also how you will lengthen the Calypso bodice. * For my size I added 3/4 of an inch to Calypso to match Lea, and 2 1/2 inches for Calypso to match Lillian. The amount of length you add with be the same for both the front and back Calypso bodice pieces.
Place tracing paper over both bodices and draw your new pieces. The photo below shows in blue, roughly what your new bodice piece should look like. (this is Calypso/Lea)
Your new Calypso bodice pieces will now match the width of the top of the shorts (minus the 1/2 inch seam allowance for when you attach the front and back shorts pieces together)
You may now cut out your pieces and continue constructing your Calypso bodice per the tutorial, adding the flounce(s), straps, and elastic to the top of the bodice, but skipping the step where you add elastic to the bottom of the bodice. You will now treat this bodice as if it were the Lea or Lillian. Construct the shorts as instructed in the romper tutorial, then attach your Calypso bodice to the shorts. Easy peasy! You’re all finished! You can also make this a pants romper or even a dress! Just use the skirt or pants pieces of Lea or Lillian in place of the romper shorts pieces. You’ve got options here!
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