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Summer togs.

I use togs every week; mostly 3 times a week. My last togs were ones I got in Target for end of season sale for $5. They were a really lovely cut and I liked the way the racer back was too. I'll try to deconstruct them. Well you know how togs just are good one day and next they are stretched out and baggy.  I do aqua aerobics on Sunday mornings and when I was getting my stuff ready 2 Saturday evenings ago, I noticed the lycra had stretched out as it does. I had some Jalie togs cut out maybe 12 months but because I found this pair for $5 and my others were still ok, I didn't make them up. Well I needed them for the next day so cut out lining in power mesh and watched Victoria on tv and what ever was on after and made up these togs.


I wasn't sure I'd like them - not sure why - I love the colours and the lilys but I do like them made up. 

  

I made the back band and the straps shorter - luckily I remembered that from last time I made them which was probably a couple of years ago now. I was in a hurry and I set to work with pink thread. I rushed in and decided I would use the lining and lycra as one piece. I also just se the machine to zig zag and set off. 

I didn't think about stitch length and when I put them on to get the strap length right, it stretched the stitches and now it has this flat lock looking stitch. Quite fortuitous as I happens as I really love the look... I think it's a nice feature. 


The seams are a little stiff and a little scratchy but not enough to worry me but enough that it's noted for next time I use power net... if I use ordinary lining fabric and sew it up in as one it's much softer. I do like the power net lining as it keeps things firm for aqua aerobics although I do wear a sports bra when I do it. 

That's the back view with the sports bra.

This is the front view. Here's me thinking the covid kilos didn't get me... ha! The elastic in the front was a little too long and isn't pulling quite tightly enough and next time I'll try and remember to the a little wedge out of the back at the sides just under the cross strap for my sway back. 

I'm really happy with how they turned out. Fabric is from East Coast Fabrics for $15 per metre. I have some left and may make a little rashie too. 


Comments

M-C said…
Love the way these look! What a cheerful print. But why wear a sports bra when it would be so easy to build in the same effect in this pattern? Aligning the bottom elastic of a slightly tighter internal layer with the back strap would give you the same support, as that back strap is clearly designed as a bra's back band. You might want to not shorten the straps quite so much though, as you're losing some of the support effect by distorting the back band. Congratulations on whipping this out so decisively though, how nice to get such a nice suit in a blink 😁
22 November, 2020 01:52
Summer Flies said…
Oh yes M-C I should and it's on the to do list...it's just a time factor. Hopefully in my holidays coming I will make the next pair with a built in bra. I really appreciate your comment.
22 November, 2020 07:46
kbenco said…
Awesome togs. I keep meaning to make myself some, but frankly I am pretty scared of them. You are very clever. I've managed a few sets for my children, but for myself it seems much trickier.
28 November, 2020 15:38
Tropical Threads said…
They look really good! Love them!

I'm with KBenco on this. Too scary! But happily I don't actually swim at the moment, so hey...

It does look easy to adapt that back into a built in bra. Not that I know how easy it is to actually do, but just from a pattern perspective yup, worth a try?

07 December, 2020 12:38
McVal said…
So cute! SOMEDAY I'll have enough courage and time to try my hand at a swimsuit, but as it stands, I don't... My next project for MYSELF will be a bra I think. I've had one cut out for more than a year but haven't had the guts to just do it...
Maybe after the Christmas rush.
08 December, 2020 03:27
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