Mairin Swimsuit

This make has been a long time coming. I bought some colorful striped swimwear fabric in the summer of 2019 with some other sewists at Blue Moon Fabrics in LA. I only bought a yard, and at the time, I was thinking, ‘This isn’t going to get sewn very soon at all.

I was very intimidated to sew it at the time, even though we were living in California near the beach. Then soon after, we moved to the PNW where I almost never wore a swimsuit to the beach (too cold), so that was very demotivating.

We’ve lived in Portugal for over 2 years now, and I’ve gotten by with one pretty good swimsuit from Old Navy. But last year, Pauline (@sewuthinkucan) gave me some polka dot swimwear fabric, and I thought, ‘Maybe it’s time to try making a swimsuit now.’ So, after going to the beach a few times this year already, I figured it was worth it to at least try. If it didn’t work, then I still had a backup swimsuit, and it wouldn’t be a big deal.

I remember seeing a lot of people, including some friends, share about making the Mairin Swimsuit by Sew a Little Seam quite a few years ago, and it looked like a really good pattern. It has SO many different variations and looked pretty beginner friendly, so I went for it.

Mairin Swimsuit by Sew a Little Seam | The Sewing Things Blog
Mairin Swimsuit by Sew a Little Seam | The Sewing Things Blog

Here it is! I really like it. After I finished my polka dot one, I felt very silly that I had waited 6 years because it’s really so simple. I can even explain it easily.

Watch this,
Cut out your main fabric and lining just like normal. Then, sew the shoulder seams, side seams, and crotch seams – right sides together. Then, put the lining inside of the main fabric with the wrong sides touching. Next, baste all of the openings so that you don’t have to worry about the fabric sliding around while you’re sewing the elastic. Once that is done, cut all of your elastic to the correct lengths. This pattern lists all of the lengths for you (although the neckline was way off, so I just trimmed the excess). The elastic seems tricky, but really, you’re just sewing it on so that it’s not stretched, but also you don’t want to sew it on all flimsy either. Then, just fold the elastic to the inside and topstitch with zigzag stitch. Tada!

Watching a video of someone making a really simple swimsuit would probably show you just how easy it is, too. I just can’t stop thinking about how I was making it seem so much harder than it was in my head and put it off for so long.

Pattern Review:
My measurements put me right in the size 12/14, so that’s the size that I made. I was very impressed with the fit. I made the wide strap bikini with the lowest scoop front, and mid scoop back. For the bottoms I chose to make the mid cut leg version and since there was only low or high waisted, I removed some of the rise from the high waist to make it mid-rise.

Since there are so many different versions of this pattern, the instructions are very long, and you have to figure out which parts apply to the version you are making. The file is very organized though, so as long you are patient, you’ll get through the instructions just fine.

Adjustments:
I learned after making my first polka dot top that I wasn’t topstitching with a large enough seam allowance, and the elastic was curling back outward. But I needed to make some adjustments anyway, so I made the top again and did a much better job the second time.

The polka dot top that I’m wearing in the photos above is my second version. For my second version, I added 1/4″ to the front and back straps and also added 1/2″ in length. I didn’t want to make too big of changes and then have it be too long or saggy in places, so I’m really happy with these adjustments because they made it much more comfortable.

The pattern only has a low- and high-rise option for the bottoms, so I just shortened the rise on the high-rise by 1.5″ for more of a mid-rise. I didn’t make the topstitching mistake on the bottoms, so I decided to just keep them. There’s kind of a subtle curve on the back angle of the bottoms; I’m guessing for a little bit more coverage. But I didn’t really see a point to it, so I just straightened the angle for my stripped bottoms, and it worked out really well. You can barely tell from the photos, so it was more of a personal preference.

I didn’t sew bra pads into my swimsuits because I’ve been using a pair of Cakes, which are seamless silicone nip covers that I can easily just put in my swimsuit and not have to worry about them showing or sliding around. If I did have to sew in bra pads, that might have been another hinderance to making me not want to sew a swimsuit. But maybe that’s another thing that’s easier than it looks?

Please also appreciate the perfect stripe matching in the photos below. It was so satisfying.

Mairin Swimsuit by Sew a Little Seam | The Sewing Things Blog
Mairin Swimsuit by Sew a Little Seam | The Sewing Things Blog

One of the things I love about Portugal is that no one is ashamed to wear a bikini at the beach. In fact, most people wear them- even the avós (grandmas). The smaller the swimsuit the better (even for grandmas). This was not a huge shock to me, but after growing up in a culture and religion that always put so much focus on covering up and shame if you didn’t wear the right thing or cover up in the right way, this new normal is very different.

Only as I’ve gotten older, have I realized how much I was policing other people’s clothing choices. So, to put on a bikini and go to the beach and realize that no one around me is policing what I’m wearing in their heads or even cares what I’m wearing felt so freeing. It made me realize how much of what I was taught growing up so based in fear of…many things, but in this instance, the judgement of others and for my own safety.

Growing out of that type of thinking has felt very expansive and has brought me so much more peace. So here I am, in a pretty simple swimsuit. I even still had some timid feelings while I was taking these photos and didn’t even take them far enough away to see my face. But the me-made swimsuits that I’m most proud of are the focus anyway.

This body has grown two humans, it is strong, and it’s just as good as when I was younger even though it has a few battle scars (aka stretch marks). So, I’m gonna wear the damn bikini and feel proud of myself for more reasons than one.

I got a little existential there for a minute but thank you for reading today’s blog post and I hope it gives you the courage to make the swimsuit or do something that you’ve put off for a long time. Maybe it will end up being easier than you thought it would be.

Happy sewing!

10 thoughts on “Mairin Swimsuit”

  1. Hi Tori, both of your swimsuits are so cute. I have been thinking about sewing my own for years. After reading this post, I’m going to give it a try! Because…why not?! 😊 Thanks for the inspiration.
    Portugal sounds like a wonderful place!
    It’s so freeing to not have to worry about judgement of ourselves or others.
    SEW ON!!

    1. Thank you, Katherine! 🥰
      You should! It doesn’t require all that much fabric and it’s a pretty quick sew. Definitely worth a try! I’m so glad this has inspired you to give it a go.
      Best of luck! xx

  2. Both suits look great, Tor! The pattern matching with the stripes is amazing. I bought that pattern several years ago when it came out, and I have never been brave enough to try making a swimming suit yet either. Maybe this will inspire me!

    1. Thank you, Sky! 🥰 I’ve been eyeing it for years too, especially after I saw that Jamie had made it and hers turned out so cute. I bought the combo with the little girls’ version so that I can make Vanessa some swimsuits too eventually when she grows out of her swimsuits. I hope you give it a try! xoxo

  3. I love this post! Your suits are beautifully sewn and im so happy you can feel comfortable wearing them. Thanks so much for sharing. It brightens my day to hear how you are doing.

    1. Thank you, Jamie! 🥰 And thank you for the encouragement when I decided I was finally going to make one. It’s a relief to feel comfortable (physically and mentally) wearing these swimsuits and to be able to focus on things that matter more. I hope you’re doing well too. xoxo

  4. Cute suits! What you said really resonates too. I’ve definitely self policed and unconsciously projected that onto others when it comes to clothing. I absorbed and then reflected back societies judgements or who could or should wear what, quite unconsciously. Really freeing to confront and then break out of that mindset, it’s something I really try to talk about now – especially with the younger people in my life. It’s always reassuring to hear that others have been on this journey too!

    1. Thank you, Louise! I’m so glad that this resonated with you and that you’ve felt peace from growing out of this mindset too. Thank you so much for sharing this. 💗

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