Swim Week – Sash Swimsuit Upper Bodice Pattern Hack

We’re back with another day of Swim Week with a quick pattern hack of the Sash Swimsuit upper bodice and some view D inspiration.  And a secret…

When I was designing the Sash Swimsuit, it was clear to me that views D and F with colorblocking could be a thing, but I originally left them out of the list of pattern views.  It seemed like anyone who wanted to use separate fabrics for the upper and lower would know that they could colorblock it and I wasn’t interested in “padding” the number of views for this pattern.  But then at the last minute I decided to add them in as views to make it clear to someone who doesn’t own the pattern yet that the sash is actually sewn in a seam across the body and not just stitched down onto a solid suit.  And all of the colorblocked maillots and tankinis that came through in testing ended up being my absolute favorites!  Funny right?

So I had been eagerly anticipating making Bean a view D maillot once I saw this gorgeous Tropical Leaves fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.  It paired so well with this navy and white stripe I purchased from Peek-a-boo Fabrics (*affiliate link) last year, that I have been dying to share it with you guys!!

Instead of stripe matching on the upper bodice, I decided to cut the upper bodice piece on the fold.  The back and front upper bodice is normally a piece with a side seam allowance that is cut mirrored and then stitched together.  In case you have some special fabric you’ve been hoarding and don’t want a side seam on the upper bodice to interfere, I’ve shown below how I hacked the pattern.

Start by taking the pattern piece in the child’s size and drawing in the 3/8″ (1cm) side seam allowance.

Since you want the fabric to be positioned correctly according to the grain of the fabric, you can’t just cut off the seam allowance and cut the piece on the fold.  First make a line that starts at the seam allowance mark on the lower edge and goes straight up, parallel to the grainline arrow on the pattern piece.

This will be the new shape of the side of the upper bodice.  Some of the curve of the upper bodice side seam will be removed, but with the stretch of swimsuit knit fabric this amount will go unnoticed without the seam bulk there.

Now you can use this transformed piece to cut a solid back and front upper bodice piece on the fold.  Proceed with the rest of the pattern as designed.

Easiest stripe matching ever, hehe.  Don’t forget that since it’s Swim week, both the Sash Swimsuit and the Classic Maillot patterns are on sale for just $5 a piece.  Throughout the week we have been and will continue to be having giveaways on Instagram and in the Designs by Call Ajaire Facebook group so be sure to keep an eye out on those feeds!