Phew, last nights Sewing Bee was a mad one!  I think those men's tracksuits we're a little controversial, but I did really love the swimming costumes!   

I've been thinking about sewing a swimming costume for a while, and I loved the style of the one they made on the show. But I know I couldn't make it in less that 4 hours!  The show made sewing a swimming costume look harder than I thought, but I must remember they were under great time pressure and it's probably a lot easier when you haven't got Esme breathing down you neck!

I really love the style of the Ipswich swim suit (available instore and online), you can sew either a full suit or a high waisted bikini with the paper pattern, and Cashmerette have a free add on pack to turn it into a tankini too!   The Ipswich is avalible in US sizes 12 to 28, with cup sizes C - H.

If you do have a go at sewing a swimming costume, you will need some power mesh to help keep everything in place!  Power mesh is usually used as a kind of interfacing layer in lingerie and women's swim wear.  It's comfortable and breathable, and has a lot of stretch and return.   You can buy it in 50cm pieces from our online shop.

We also have the Action Pack pattern, from My Handmade Wardrobe.  The perfect set for exercise or lounging around the house!  The top has an interesting crossover strap and keyhole detail at the back and is finished with elastic around the neckline and armholes for ultimate flexibility. The leggings feature a shaped waistband yoke which sits neatly just below the natural waistline to provide comfort and security.

You can make both the top and the bottoms from the Action Pack in most of our jersey fabrics.  We always keep a fun selection of jersey in at Crafty for projects like this!  Here is a selection of what we have in store right now, but check out our jersey page for the most up to date fabrics!

Dont forget to check out our handy guide to demystify jersey fabrics on the blog too!