A Swimsuit Makover

Every summer begins with me making sure my swimsuit fits right.  The way I’ve gained weight lately the chances were slim that my old one would fit.

Then of course comes the issue of finding a new one that fits nice, is modest, and don’t make me look like a granny. Can you say picky much? :)

Every one’s idea of modest is a little different. I have to be able to swim in my suit, so no sleeves and not to much loose fabric please. But I did want my suit to come up and cover most of my chest and it also needed to cover my thighs.

So with the ideal swim suit in mind and a budget of less than $50, I head to the stores. Where I would pull every suit I thought could fit right off the racks and headed to the changing room. Meijer, Khols, Sears, JCPennys, Elderbeerman. Nothing! After looking around a little more in Sears, I found a one piece that I thought I could work with.

I wish I would have taken some pictures of how I did this, but I had about an hour to do it in and taking pictures takes time. :)

What I did though, was go to Joann’s and buy some black swimsuit fabric. Then I took the hem out of the swim suit. I cut about a five inch length and sewed it to the bottom and hemmed it.

For the top, I used the top of the swimsuit as a pattern and created a piece that could be sewn in. So here is what I ended up with.

I really like how it turned out, the skirt is just above my knees and the top comes up high enough that no cleavage shows. I know for some this still wouldn’t be modest enough, but for me I am happy.

I have been known to link up to these totally cool and awesome linky parties! Why don’t you see which ones you can link up with today?

 

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Respectful opinions are always welcome

  1. awh you did a great job! IF i wore a swimsuit, it would have to cover my thighs too. I like the black ribbon? tie at the bustline.
    brittany recently posted..meet & tweet thursdays! i am a co-host!My Profile

  2. wow! I’m impressed! You basically made a swimsuit!!!Ever thought of quitting your babysitting job, and doing seamstressing instead? And, you think I’m joking! Not!!
    Sue@housepretty recently posted..The Lump Of Ugly TransformedMy Profile

  3. I love it. You did an amazing job. I never thought to do that. I do find 99% of swimsuits show a ton of cleavage and I hate that. Some things other people shouldn’t see.
    Chrystal recently posted..Introducing BelleMy Profile

    • Thanks! I agree, though, the only thing worse that fat spilling over jeans, is boobs popping out of tops, ugh!

  4. Super cute! You did a great job with it :-) Thanks so much for sharing this at The Fun In Functional!
    Jessi @ Practically Functional recently posted..The Fun In Functional! {Link Party #9}My Profile

  5. Girl you did a fabulous job with this!!!!
    Kelly recently posted..Copy Cat Closet – Summer BootsMy Profile

  6. You did a wonderful job… I really like this. I’m with you, nothing wrong with modesty and this doesn’t look grannyish at all :)
    Kathleen recently posted..Purity: It’s more than sex – Part 1My Profile

  7. Love that you made it work for you girl!!
    Kassi @ Truly Lovely recently posted..Bloggie Bestie – The Creative PaigeMy Profile

  8. Good job! looks and sounds like it would work for me too!!
    Jill Flory recently posted..Chalk Paint on a Door from the Trash HeapMy Profile

  9. Wow! It looks like a dress I used to have!!
    Kristen @ Trial & Error Homemaking recently posted..Menu for July 23-29My Profile

  10. Very cute! Great job! I totally second wanting something modest, yet something you like!
    deborah recently posted..A Winner, Farmers who Grow It, and Other InformationMy Profile

  11. So cute! I usually have better luck finding a two piece swimsuit (tank top and skirted bottom). It is more modest than most one piece suits. Thanks for sharing this with Thrive @ Home!
    Jenni Mullinix recently posted..Looking Beyond OurselvesMy Profile

  12. I love it! So I have what’s probably a totally dumb question… what happens when you wear this suit in the water? I ask because I’ve reluctantly graduated from the form-flattering suits of my youth to a more matronly skirted version (much less flattering than yours, I must add!) … but I HATE it because whenever I get in the water, the skirt floats up around my chest! Eliminates the point of having it and just gets in my way, GRR! :) I’ve thought of running a stitch down the sides of it so that it can’t float away, but just wondered if you have the same frustrations? Thanks, and nice to meet you! I bounced over here from Covered in Grace… ;)
    Jess @ The Colorful Ones recently posted..Lovely Package Exchange >> Summer 2012 >> What I Shipped {Pattern Paper Flower Tutorial}My Profile

  13. ashley k jones says:

    this is CUTE! good job!

  14. This is ADORABLE! And since I have an issue with my thighs…as in I’m starting to get old lady legs I lOVE this work around! :) You should go into business…I would buy one in a heartbeat!
    Mindy @ New Equus – A New Creation recently posted..Mr. Toad’s Wild RideMy Profile

  15. I love it! :)
    Katy recently posted..::Organizing ~ Home & School::My Profile

  16. That is so pretty! I bought myself a swimdress this summer because I’m pretty sure no one wants to see my thighs or my belly (esp post 3 kids). I love how you made yours even more modest, but it’s still so flattering! It’s really sad how hard it is to find modest swimwear these days, when the racks are filled with tiny string bikinis :S Thanks for the post!
    Cat recently posted..Weigh In On BeautyMy Profile

  17. I LOVE it! It’s sooo pretty! Great job! I recently “created” my own modest swimsuit, so this really encourages me.

    http://trulyskrumptious.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/31-days-of-heart-and-home-trust-and-a-modest-monday-swimsuit-tutorial/
    Tiffanie of Truly Skrumptious recently posted..Recipe Exchange: Cinnamon Roll PancakesMy Profile

    • I like your suit, you did a really good job tying it all in together. I had to buy fabric for mine.
      The main thing a like about this one is it’s really modest, but doesn’t scream “look at me, I’m being modest and covering up!”
      Because modest swimsuits that look homemade actually attract more attention than just your normal suit.

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