We love the new Marblehead swimsuit pattern from Cashmerette, and we love it even more as we bundle it with the Wickham shorts and skirt to make a full swim ensemble! I don't know about you, but I prefer to hang out waterside with a bit more coverage than you get with a swim bottom, although swimming in a swim bottom is definitely more practical than swimming in a swim skirt. With this kit, you can have it all! We've done all the layouts and figured out all the options that you might prefer so that you can just cut it out and sew it up!
We're offering our kit with a variety of color options so that you can color block your ensemble if you'd like. We have 2 print choices, our Vintage swim and our Contemporary swim. Both prints work well with our black Microlycra and also work well with our lovely Aegean swim fabric. We've put together some options about how you might like to put your set together, but the sky's the limit on how you mix it and match it.
We start each ensemble with the swim top and brief. For the top, we're planning for a stable lining of Sheer Cup Lining in the front and Regular Power Net in the back for the Larger size, which will provide the best support for your bust. The Smaller assumes a Stretch Mesh lining for front and back, but you can upgrade to the more supportive lining if you prefer. We're bra people, so we care about support and comfort! We're automatically including 5 G-hooks with twill tape loops for the center closure on the lining of the swimsuit so that you can add extra support by evenly spacing the hooks down the front of the lining. You can also switch out the included wide swim hook for 2 smaller G-hooks so that the bottom band can accommodate any roundness in the tummy. Finally, because we know support, we're offering the option to add a separating zipper in the front for the best support. You'll want to sew the zipper area together by:
- sewing the boning to the seamline of the lining at the front opening just beyond of the seam allowance.
- layering the fabrics with the right side of the outer shell to the right side of the zipper, and the right side of the lining to the wrong side of the zipper.
We recommend that you install the G-hook to the top of the opening on the inside of zipper, and that you complete the swim top without the tie. It isn't necessary since you'll have the zipper. You may need to shorten your zipper. We'll provide zipper stops which you can clamp onto the zipper with needle nose pliers to prevent the slide from coming off the top. We're lining the swim bottoms with Stretch Mesh.
We used the length measurements from swim pieces at Lands End to suggest alterations to the Wickham shorts and skirt. The Larger kit has enough fabric to make the Wickham as designed with the longer length for those who want fuller coverage. The Smaller kit has enough fabric for the equivalent of the Lands End swim shorts with a 3 1/2" inseam instead of the 5 3/8" inseam per pattern for the shorter length. Just shorten along the lengthen/shorten lines. The Smaller kit has enough fabric for a skirt length of 14" rather than the 19 1/8" length as designed for the Wickham in the shorter length. Just measure 5 1/8" up from the cutting line for the shorter length.
The Smaller kit works for up to a 36DD cup and a size 16 bottom and assumes the Lands End lengths. The swim shorts are lined with stretch mesh. The Larger kit works for all sizes and lengths.
