So I have never in my life thought I would sew my own swimsuit, but I did it! Momma Mia has a pool and it has been calling my name. Several weeks ago I bought a swim suit, two actually. I brought them home to try on and no surprise, but they didn’t even come close to fitting. Literally, inches of side boob showing while the bottom of the suit didn’t even touch my bottom. 🙂 So when 5oo4 put out a tester call for a swim pattern, I signed up! I made my first ever swim suit and I am showing it online. Eeekk! Last year I didn’t even wear shorts in public. I think I have officially gotten to the age where I just don’t care anymore. This is me, accept it or not.
So this swim top is the Rosanna top from 5oo4 patterns. I recently blogged about this version…
For this swim version, I did make the built in bra. I am pretty busty and it didn’t provide the support I needed so I am also wearing a normal bra under my swim version. Yep, I swam in it too, I just like the girls to be contained. 😉
Options Include:
- Regular Bodice and 1″ FBA Bodice pieces.
- Peplum, Swim Dress, Short or Long Full Circle Skirt Lengths.
- Peplum, Swim Dress, Short or Long Half Circle Skirt Lengths.
- Finish arms and neckline with binding, bands or elastic.
- Thin or thick back strap and basic instructions that you can use for infinite creative backs.
- 2 Neckline Options: High or Low Scoop
I chose to make the high scoop neck, short swim dress with an attached half circle skirt. I also used the INCLUDED full bust adjustments pieces. I finished my edges with binding. I didn’t add any straps to the scoop back, but after a test swim, I think I will add them for a little more support. So since Rosanna is only the top, I needed swim bottoms. I would also like to the lengthen the skirt a few more inches in my next version.

Lucky for me, I had recently won a free pattern from 5oo4.com. I had chosen the Tidal Waves Swim Shorts. I thought these shorts would be great to wear under my skirts, but they are the Tidal Waves SWIM SHORTS! I made these shorts in size 4x which is where I normally fall in their patterns. Now the 5004 Team took the time to write a nice little note in the pattern about adjusting the thighs for a perfect fit, but as usual I didn’t follow directions. Are the thighs too loose? YUP! Am I kicked myself? YUP! This is your reminder…READ THE PROVIDED INFORMATION! DO WHAT IT SAY!!!
The Women’s Tidal Wave Swim Shorts include:
-4 rise heights (high, mid-rise, low, extra low/maternity)
-2 leg lengths (2.5″ and 4.5″ when hemmed)
-Legs can be hemmed or finished with a band
-Solid or color blocked option
-Optional drawstring
I decided for my first test run I would do the most basic version. I did the high-rise with the 4.5 inch length. I banded mine, but I *may* have serged my bands on the wrong side of my shorts. I was too lazy to unpick all that so I just flipped the bands covering the seam allowance and top stitched them down. Shh!! Don’t tell, but that is why you can’t really see my bands here! I also opted to go with the solid option and not do the color blocking for the sake of a test run.

If this would have been in the sand this picture would have been perfect! Oh, that and if my eyes were open, that would have been perfect. Something else that is perfect…these patterns!!!
Something not so perfect…

Risking swimming in a storm for these pics. We swam for an hour or so and thankfully no storms. Ok, so are you ready for the pattern info? Here it is!
Rosanna Tank, Tankini, and Dress. Buy the pattern here.
Tidal Waves Swim Shorts. Buy the pattern here.
To shop all of 5oo4. Click here.
Leave me a comment and let me know which pattern you are picking up! I would love to see what you are making!
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