Over the past few years, I’ve really changed how I think about sun exposure – a few minutes of safe sun is great (and healthy!!), but prolonged sun exposure needs a (1) hat, (2) sunscreen, and (3) protective clothing. The point of this post is not to educate you on the dangers of excessive sun exposure, but rather to encourage you to be safe and take (easy) and appropriate measures.

When I was younger, I would rarely use sunscreen. I was so uneducated about the risks of sun damage and the cancer associated with it. After the first squamous cell carcinoma was removed from my face 3 years ago, I decided I needed to make some changes for me (and for my children!).

Our family vacation to Mexico is coming up shortly so I have “make rash guards” at the top of my vacation planning list. I am so excited that I have almost crossed it off!

I’m sure you can imagine that when I saw the tester call for the Made for Mermaids Reagan rash guard that I put both hands in the air and said please pick me!! I then went on a quest to make at least one for all of my kiddos. I didn’t finish making one for everyone, but you better believe I will be finishing before our plane takes off (even if it means staying up the night before!). I’m excited to show you what I’ve finished so far.

My Thoughts on the Reagan Pattern

To say that I absolutely appreciate this pattern is an understatement. (1) It has the perfect amount of ease so that when I take a wet suit off after swimming, no one is crying. (2) It is absolutely quick to sew up. (3) It has a crop and regular top length options. (4) It can be lined if you don’t want to wear a swim top underneath. (5) The size chart covers us all between the youth and women’s pattern. (6) The youth version has the sweetest ruffle! and (7) SLEEVES (or short if that’s not a big deal to you).

Baby Rash Guard

I made the size 1/2 for my youngest daughter who is 16 months. I used the size 1 length based on her height. It is important to add the length in the armscye for kids as described in the pattern because skinnier/taller kids usually distribute their length throughout their bodies. I made her the cropped, long sleeve option, and included the ruffle. If I get a chance to make her another, I will use a solid that is the same color on both sides for the ruffle so that you don’t see the white underside when she runs around.

This was her first time to experience sand.

She rubbed it all around her hair, dove in, and showed me that she is ready for a beach vacation. It was all hands on deck watching this girl near the water.

I made her the Lainey bottoms to go with her top. I love the sweet ruffle on these and that they let her crop top show off her sweet baby belly. She loves to show me where her belly button is.

Now, if I could convince her to wear a hat…

Pre-Teen Rash Guard

My oldest daughter wanted short sleeves and full length. I made her a straight size 12 without any modifications. I also used the Lainey bottoms for her, but did not add the ruffle. These fit her SOOO much better than her store bought swim undies. The elastic is much more fitted so there is no gaping.

She was just as excited to play in the sand as her sister was.

My Suit

I made a Size Pink cropped length Reagan for my Rash Guard. For my bottoms, I made the Greenstyle North Shore mid rise bikini bottoms. I am in the middle of working on a sew along for the North Shore and am also wearing the full coverage bikini top option under my rash guard. Stay tuned to my blog for details of the North Shore sew along. I plan to announce all the info by Monday.

I LOVE the cropped option of this top. I think it would also work great as an athletic top  if you are being active outside and need some UV protection.

Resources

You can purchase the Youth Reagan Rash Guard Pattern HERE. The Women’s Reagan can be found HERE. The bundle of both the Women’s and Youth can be purchased HERE.

The Lainey Swimsuit Pattern can be purchased HERE. All the swim patterns are on sale at Made for Mermaids through Tuesday to celebrate the release of the Reagan.

The North Shore Swimsuit that I am wearing underneath my Reagan can be found HERE.

I purchased all the fabric for our suits from Made Whimsy. She has amazing quality swim that is great to work with. 

Disclaimers and Hey, Let’s Keep in Touch

Thanks for reading! I hope I have inspired you! You may follow me on Instagram or receive updates by liking my page on Facebook. You can also subscribe to my blog to receive an email when I make new posts. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosure 1: The North Shore Swimsuit pattern link in this post is an affiliate link, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

Disclosure 2: The fabric for Hannah’s rash guard was sent to me for free. A friend sent me tiny scraps, and I made the best use of them!

More Photos