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 too 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 swimsuit. 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.
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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.
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!!
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.
Thanks! I agree, though, the only thing worse that fat spilling over jeans, is boobs popping out of tops, ugh!
Super cute! You did a great job with it 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this at The Fun In Functional!
Thanks 🙂
Girl you did a fabulous job with this!!!!
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 🙂
Thanks you! I like to be modest but still look pretty 🙂 if that makes sense.
It does indeed. Look at who men date and then look at who they date when they are thinking marriage – usually a huge difference! Modesty is beautiful and leaves something to the imagination 🙂
Love that you made it work for you girl!!
Good job! looks and sounds like it would work for me too!!
Wow! It looks like a dress I used to have!!
It does look like a dress 🙂 That’s kinda what I was going for 🙂
Very cute! Great job! I totally second wanting something modest, yet something you like!
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!
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… 😉
I really don’t know what the skirt does. It ties under the bust-line and is still fitted in the waist so I don’t think it comes up, not that I can remember anyway. Glad you stopped by 🙂
I’ve found that the longer the “skirt” the less it goes up. Mine is shorter than hers,(but I wear long shorts with it) and it stays down.
this is CUTE! good job!
Thanks Ashley 🙂
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!
I love it! 🙂
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!
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/
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.
Kendra, I love what you did with this garment! It translated into the perfect swim suit! My daughter did much the same thing and we are very pleased with the results! Great post!
A friend of mine and I were JUST talking yesterday about how some swimsuits off the rack are SO stinking cute, but ALWAYS too short! I wish I could sew so I could do what you did! Great job!!!!
I think I’m going to cry. Truly. I admire that you dress modestly, even on the beach where so many other women are wearing “conservative” yet high cut one piece swimsuits. Your husband is an extremely lucky man. God bless.. and please stay modest.