Sewing the Waimea Rash Guard and Swim Bottoms with a Pocket

Hi sewing friends! I have two new swimsuits to share with you today!

Do you ever start a project and think, “What did I get myself into?” With the extra time I have spent at home lately, I have attempted to tackle some projects around the house with my husband and oldest daughter helping. Let’s just say, I don’t think I would enjoy a career as an interior decorator.

My overwhelmed feelings while painting last night made me start thinking about whether this is how some people feel when they first start sewing or even when seasoned sewists start a project or type of fabric that is new to them. I think there is more reason to give up with sewing for yourself, though, because to be honest, it often is cheaper to just buy from the store. Yes, I will admit it – sewing is not about doing it for cheaper. Granted, you can make yourself clothes for cheaper than you can buy them, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Ask my husband.

Anyways, with home renovations and hiring contractors, it is not the case that you can just run to a shelf and buy it cheaper like you can sewing clothes. So, why push on as a home sewist? (1) The creative process and resulting high are real. It is art. (2) You can adjust the resulting product to fit you just perfectly. and (3) You stop feeding into the fast fashion economy where people are paid pennies an hour under unfair working conditions, and you realize the value of what it takes to make a garment.

What reason(s) do you sew? What did I leave off my list?

Ok, let’s steer this blogpost back to the topic at hand. I made two new swimsuits! The pattern for the top and bottom are sold separately so I will talk about each in its own section. 

The Rash Guard Pattern

The Waimea Rash Guard is a fitted raglan top pattern that is designed for swim fabric. (Note: You could alternatively use athletic fabric to make a work out top or sun shirt for the outdoors!)

The pattern has three top lengths (short crop, long crop, or regular top length) as well as three sleeve length options (cap, elbow, or long). The front and back of the top have the option for fun figure-flattering curved seam lines or for a simple solid version. 

I made a crop version with long sleeves for both of my rashguards! I have made two tops with the fun figure-flattering curved line option in the pattern but failed to take photos of either of them! Uh, maybe next time?

Sewing the Waimea Rash Guard is pretty quick if you choose the non-pieced front and back seams. I tend to go slower when sewing swim so I would not call this a quick project. The nature of swim is to shift around so I take extra time to use Wonder Clips and to line up my seams. 

In the last 5 or so years, I have learned how imperative a rash guard is for my skin. I have very fair skin and freckles and have already have had several small places of skin cancer removed! If only I could have a chat with my teenage self….!!! I would tell her to use sun screen and that because she will forget to reapply, her shoulders and chest will always take the brunt of sun exposure so to also wear a rash guard when swimming! I would also tell her a few other things about boys, friendships, and finances, but this one would probably be high up on my list! What would you tell your teenage self if you could? 

The Pocketed Swim Bottoms Pattern

The Waimea Swim Bottoms are a mid or high rise bottoms with the option of  a one inch elastic waistband or a fold over non-elasticated waistband. I made both pairs with the fold over waistband because I love how adjustable it makes them!! The dark berry swim bottoms are the high rise, and the emerald and tropic pair are the midrise.

The bottoms have a paneled front so that you have the option for a pocket. You definitely could make them without the pocket, but that would take the fun out of it! (But, alas, I understand if you are trying to play fabric tetris and it doesn’t work in your favor, the pocket will be the first to go.)  

So, what do you want to put in your pocket? The high rise bottoms have a deeper pocket so you will have more options of what to store. I am thinking I could fit an Oreo or two in them. Maybe my pool ID card or keys? Don’t put anything in there that would be sad if you forgot about it and jumped in the pool. I like how the fold over waistband can fold over the top of my pocket to make it extra secure!

The Waimea Swim Bottoms are the perfect amount of cheeky. A little cheek is flattering on the bottom, but too much cheek may be awkward at the pool with 5 kids. 

The fabric I used for my suits came from The Fabric Fairy. The bottoms are fully lined and the top is not so you don’t need a lot of swim lining for this project.

Underneath my top I am wearing a North Shore swim top. I like wearing this North Shore top underneath because it has a swim clasp in the back to make it easy to get off! Alternatively I like to wear a swim power sports bra underneath. It is nice to have a support method underneath the rash guard that can be worn without it if the sun goes away and I decide to have an adult swim without the rash guard! It is also nice for the support! I definitely need some kind of support or sports bra underneath and couldn’t wear a rash guard alone just like I wouldn’t want to wear a t shirt out without a bra.

It took me about a week to finish both of my swimsuits for this post, so I wouldn’t call this a “quick” project. I think that is also because my sewing time is so much more limited these days with my husband working from home in our office (and the aforementioned home projects!). I am glad I made them, though, because swimming is the one thing that I can still enjoy this year even with the stay at home restrictions in my area because I have a pool in my backyard! (Note: not this pool. This is our empty neighborhood pool!)

Resources

1. Waimea Rashguard pattern
2. Waimea Swim Bottoms pattern
3. Printed Swim Fabric (mine is out of stock, but they have so many other prints I LOVE)
4. Dark Berry Nylon Spandex Swim Fabric
5. Emerald Solid Nylon Spandex Swim Fabric 
6. 3/8 inch swim elastic
7. Swim lining

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*Disclosures

I received this pattern for free as part of the testing process to give the designer feedback about the instructions and fit. Also, this post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.