Skirt Tankini Tutorial - Cutting (2)

                                                                                             

Next up, I'll be touching on the Cutting.
If you have not read my previous post on Pattern, click here.

Please read all the instruction before cutting out!

As I'm using a ruffle fabric, I need to be careful that the ruffles all face in one direction. Place the Right side facing down, make sure that the ruffles are laid down in one direction.

Front Bodice

1) Then, lay the pattern piece on the wrong side and trace out. As I'm using the ruffle fabric, I decided to trace both side instead of placing it on fold so that I've better control over the alignment of the ruffles.

2) Then trace in the seams allowance, all around except the line that you are suppose to cut on fold. (Note, if you have added in the seam allowance earlier on the pattern, you don't need to do this step)

3) Flip the pattern piece to the wrong side and place it on the fold line and trace the other half of the pattern.

4) Add in the seams allowance and you have the full bodice pieces.

5) Cut them out carefully and you have your Front bodice piece.

Do the same for the back bodice.

Skirt
1) For the skirt, I didn't make any pattern piece since it is a rectangle. I also use the full width of the fabric.  First, fold the ruffle fabric, wrong side together, align the ruffles and place down.  Measure the length that you want, flip up the excess ruffles on top, and make a marking. You need to have some seam allowance on top as you will need to sew it to the bodice later.  I left the bottom as it is as the ruffle makes a nice finish.

2) Then, pin along the top so that you can cut the ruffle evenly. 

Bottom/pantie
1) Trace and cut the pantie. Remember to add seam allowance if you have not done so on the pattern.

Big sister's version

baby sister's version (from Dana's diaper cover)

2) I also added some ruffles so that the pantie will look more cute. Just eye ball the length that you need with your paper pattern and cut out the desired width.

Lining

As my ruffle is quite thin, I decided to line my front and back bodice, as well as the pantie (only the big sister). 

Before I sew the swim suit, I pin the front ruffle and the front lining pieces together, Wrong Side Facing. Use as much pins as you like.  Then, sew basting stitch all around except for the bottom. Do the same for the back bodice and the pantie.

If i'm not using a ruffle fabric, I will use my serger but i'm worried that that ruffles will be pulled along by the serger and I'll not be able to match the seams later.

That's all for the cutting, come back to the last post on sewing up the swim suit!