What I’m using:
Megan Nielsen’s Rowan and Acacia patterns.
A stretch needle in my sewing machine, but not in my overlocker.
Swim fabric (spandex/nylon blend) from Pitt Trading.
Swim lining (bottoms only) from The Remnant Warehouse.
A chunky plastic open ended zipper (51cm) from Spotlight.
A couple of strips of light to medium weight iron-on interfacing.
I’ve used the turtle neck t shirt pattern pieces from Rowan, but instead of cutting the front pieces on the fold, they’ve been cut into two pieces with a bit of seam allowance added for the zipper. I’ve added the same allowance to the neckband piece. The first video covers the basic construction of the rashie – sewing the front pieces to the back and sewing in the sleeves.
The second video shows how I add sleeve bands instead of hemming the sleeves and also adding the neck band.
The third and final video shows how to interface the front edges to stabilise them before adding the zip. Then I finish off the neck band and hem.
Super awesome bonus round:
Making matching, fully lined bikini bottoms from the free Acacia pattern!
I make swimmers from underwear patterns quite often and this is something I get asked about all the time. What takes something from knickers to swimwear? Let me show you. Spoilers: Fabric choice, lack of gusset, including a lining and leg and waistbands instead of picot.
I also added some height to these are they are quite low.
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Oh you looks Stunning in these! Rashies with zips are so much easier to get on/off. Thanks for the tutorial!
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They sure are! No getting trapped inside a wet rashie!
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I love how happy you are in your photos 🙂
I really enjoyed watching your videos – I think cause as an Aussie there’s not many Aussie’s making sewing videos so your accent was so friendly/familiar. You make it look so easy I need to find me a pattern that fits – I am a bit outside Megan Neilson’s sizing range.
Keep up the awesome work 🙂 Thank you for putting the energy in to making videos.
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Thank you Liz! I think the aussie accent is why I was so hesitant, it’s hard to tolerate the sound of your own voice without cringing. I think the other sewers making videos sound much more refined. Anyway, try Jalie for swimmers and rashie patterns (and underwear). They’re awesome patterns with a fabulous size range. I use 3242 all the time. Sew Squirrel stocks a good range of Jalie patterns.
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Hi Katie,
Thanks for making such an easy tutorial. I’ve been looking for a new rashie (I’ve had my current one at least fifteen years! It’s quite awful now) for a few summers but haven’t found one I like. I’d like to sew one but I don’t have an overlocker. Do you think it would work on my sewing machine? I worry about the major seams.
Thanks, Nicole
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Hey Nicole! I’m so glad you liked it. I think you should be totally fine as long as you use an appropriate stitch (the lightning bolt one or zig zag). I use zig zag on my hems and it hasn’t popped at all. Maybe you could test on a scrap piece of fabric first and make sure you use a stretch needle 🙂
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