My kids started swim squad this week, and apparently, baggy board shorts not allowed. Nowadays, the boys wear what looks like bike pants to me, but they call "jammers" or "skins" (I think these are both brand names?), which cost upwards of $35 a pair. I had a couple of swim shirts in my op shop bag that the boys had outgrown, made out of aqualife, which lasts forever. I bought this fabric at Glitter and Dance, but they don't seem to stock it any more. Time to re-purpose.
My older son is old enough to worried about what his friends think of his clothes, at least when it comes to sports wear, and is not too keen on my sewing, so I stepped it up and used Jalie 2563, rather than just a plain leggings pattern. Winner! He likes them, and I even heard the other kids ask where he got them (shhhh...don't tell him that Jalie market this as a girl's pattern).
I left out the lining on the pattern. The side strip is part of the pattern, but the bright strip at the back waist is not..that is just where I was short of fabric. Now that they are made up, I wish I had curved that bit down to meet the tip of the side stripe. I have found other Jalie leggings patterns a bit small, so I used the hip measurement and then went up a size.
16 comments:
Oh these are very nice. I've never heard of aqualife before but sounds good.
My boys would never consent to wear these - although someday they may be in fashion here. No doubt your boy will be a faster swimmer without those baggy shorts?! However, they look very sharp - the colorblocking is perfect, even if due to some fabric shortage! I'm glad you were able to make the "girls'" Jalie pattern work. I found their girls' unitard pattern to be tight, too, especially in the thigh.
I've done this. After my son's second store bought swimsuit wore out in only a couple of months I couldn't bear to buy another. I also conveniently lost the envelope photo when proposing the project. The only modifications I made were adding an internal draw string at the waist and copying a partial lining his last spandex suit had. It's sort of a trapezoid piece of swim lycra. The long edge is tucked into the waistband at center front and the short edge joins the crotch seam. The two other edges are left free and unfinished. I assume it adds some modesty and/or protection from seam chafing but at the very least it didn't cause any complaints. Your son's suit looks great, I'm sure he'll love it.
That partial lining sounds like the lining that came with the pattern. I wondered if the unsecured sides would curl up or move around and bother him. I might have to give it a go.
You know, I'd forgotten the pattern included a lining. I certainly haven't gotten any complaints and as it happens he's wearing these this evening or I'd double check what I did. But looking again at the pair I copied, this is a one piece lining (no CF seam and I attached it to the front crotch seam) and without pulling out the pattern, I think it's wider than Jalie's. Actually the sides aren't left unfinished, they have an additional strip of elastic sewn along the raw edges such that it's away from the body. Instead of being simply a doubled front layer it seems to be a little tighter than contour of the suit.
Great re-use of fabric. I'll have to keep that pattern in mind for my kids too! If it's the same Aqualife as I know, try this site to get some more. Sar's http://www.stretchtex.com.au/default.html
They look like they're worth more than $35. The colours are great.
I am currently looking for a suitable Speedo type pattern for my son who has decided that he now likes swimming in this type of swim wear. I was making my own self drafted cycle shorts type ones but at 9 he feels all pro in the speedo type. It seems to be what most of his squad are wearing. I really like the way you have spliced these. I just wish I could buy cool boy suitable lycra.
Perhaps for Speedo style swimmers you could cut a horizontal line across the children's block, given by Stuart http://www.patternschool.com/?page_id=197
They look great! I love the contrast at the back and at the sides. Isn't it amazing how peer-influenced we can be? My boyfriend trains in an IronMan group, and the other day he came home with 'trunks'. You know, the european style swimming trunks that are like budgie smugglers but with a tad more coverage. I nearly had a heart attack - he'd turned his nose up in horror at the very same thing the previous summer! "Everyone's wearing them" he says. I giggled a little inside.
Cute! I probably tortured my mom about fashionable swimsuits. It starts to get so very specific at a certain age! Happy swimming...
They look absolutely terrific! I can see why they are a hit.
I used the pattern you sent me, and absolutely love this style :) I blogged about them on 27 Jan. Thanks again!
Thanks Carolyn, I saw your post but have not been commenting due to very busy couple of weeks...I have remedied this now and left a comment at your post. I'm pleased the pattern worked out so well for you!
Great work mum! It is so hard when kids stop valuing home sewn garments.
They are terrific looking swim trunks. I like the back contrast insertion particularly - it looks very RTW. I second the stretchtex recommendation for more aqualife, although I find their chloroban lasts even longer and is nicely thick and sturdy.
Winner! I was just looking for a pattern to make my son these and I have this one. Thanks for the post!
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