I was very keen to see what all the fuss was about with this pattern which is, of course, the Bombshell Swimsuit by Closet Case Files. I have made swimwear before and not only enjoyed it, but ended up with bathers that I love. It was time to do it again. I found this brown lycra with white and gold hearts in my stash from a lycra buying spree when a swimwear manufacturer had a moving sale some time ago. I went a bit crazy buying more lycra than I could ever possibly use - so unlike me!
I was all set to start making View B (which I love) with the triangular shaped bodice pieces, and was just checking the sewalong for instructions, when the ever helpful LJ, aged 11, wandered over. Not having learned from past experience, I casually asked him which style he preferred. "Definitely this one" was the emphatic response as he pointed to View A. The wind nudged slightly out of my sails. "Oh why?" I asked. "The other one is too...boobalicious" said LJ. "Oh ha ha" said I. "One day you will appreciate boobalicious". "I already do" came the reply. "Just not on you".
Sails completely deflated, I printed off View A.
Then, just to taunt him, I highlighted my cleavage with gold lycra.
And wore my Fabulous Hat.
I mostly used the sewalong instructions to make my Bombshell. The instructions were great, but I didn't enjoy making this much at all. All those gathers and layers made for a cumbersome sewing experience that looked as if it was going to be a massive fail almost until the end of the process.
One reason for this was that, as suggested by the sewalong, I added three inches to the length of the inner layer (which meant adding 4.75 inches to the gathered layer) to make this fit my height of around 5'10". I even did a muslin of the inner layer and it seemed ok. It was not ok. It was and still is far too long in the body and when held up looks more like a knee-length dress than a pair of bathers. You can see in the photos that I have tried to distribute this length evenly from below the bust to the hips, but the gathers just want to congregate at my waist, accentuating my tummy in an unflattering way and looking uneven and belt-like in the back.
The fit otherwise is fine and I will use the unaltered bodice piece if I make this again. I made size 12, which was one size up from my measurements, after hearing that the bathers can be difficult to get into. I think this was the right size for me.
So, in summary, aside from the trials and tribulations in sewing these bathers, the too-long bodice causing uneven ruching and the lack of boobaliciousness, I am quite pleased with my Bombshell. It isn't as sleek and comfortable in the water as my last pair of bathers, but I think it has potential in the looks department. Actually, after looking at these pictures again, I think I will make another...and next time it will be View B for Boobalicious. So there LJ!
Pictures taken on Pulau Gaya Island, Borneo. We had just seen a monkey in the surrounding forest and, taking heed of the 'Beware Monkeys' sign, hightailed it back to the beach before it could do anything dangerous!
13 comments:
It's funny, both versions look pretty boobalicious to me! This suit turned out really nice, especially love the fabric and that extra dash of gold.
Love the fabric and the location! It looks really good on you!
he he kids are funny, nice to see you winding them up too! I have a very similar ready to wear swimsuit which is too short in the body. I keep having to hoik it up and not good for diving into waves so Longer probably better of the two, although perfect would be perfect! Hat is pretty cool too. Nice to bump into the other weekend, happy sewing.
how cute is your fabric...LOVE it. and what a fantastic job you've done of this bombshell. im yet to venture down the swimsuit route but i hope that when i do, mine looks as good as yours.x
You look perfectly and exotically fabulous, lounging on the beaches of Borneo, just needing a cocktail with an little umbrella in it to really complete the picture, of course!!
I love how this view of the bombshell looks on you, although I prefer the halter neck version for myself too. I hope you had a marvellous holiday! :)
Love your swimsuit and so jealous...I love Borneo and would like to revisit.
Thank you! Yes, I also love the fabric. I just wish I hadn't used so much of it.
We had just finished some amazing snorkelling - tropical fish all around us. The islands there are beautiful.
I never miss an opportunity to wind up the kids! It was a lovely surprise seeing you the other day. I thought afterwards I should have had you over for coffee. Next time x
Wow, thank you for the lovely comment! You have more than enough sewing skills to make a great swimsuit.
Alas, there was no cocktail bar on the beach, but I do wish there had been! Thank you and yes, I will make the halterneck version.
This was our first visit and it was such an interesting place. I wish we could have seen the wilder, jungly side of the island but there were travel warnings against visiting while we were there. It will have to be next time - in View B of the bombshell!
LOL at the sassy 11-year-old!
I am working on my Bombshell, too, and I'm very close to finishing and also wondering if it is going to be a fail. The bodice as is seems too long for me (5' 4"), and I also have a belly (so the ruching ends up going above or below, instead of evenly throughout). I am also having problems feeding everything through the serger - will have to add an extra side seam to hide the single-layer serged edge, which is peaking through the side seams.
And yet I think your suit looks pretty fine, so now I am hopeful that mine will, too! Thanks for sharing your experience.
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