My Three Sisters
It’s been a hectic 2 months here at the Enchanted Castle, with the recent launch of my Craftsy Swimwear class, plus I have had a special request to make a bikini pattern. We’ve have been working very hard to test these suits to make them fit and flatter. So without further ado, here is the latest Pin-up Girl – my Three Sisters Bikini Pattern. Drum roll, please!
All of the bikinis in the Three Sisters Bikini Pattern have underwired bra tops and a unique criss-cross back that allows the bikini top to fit multiple bra cup sizes. The inside layer is made of swim cup foam and the outer cover can be whatever swimwear fabric your heart desires! The straps have the elastic sewn inside directly to the seam for the best straps you’ve ever experienced (yes, the instructions are included!) The bikini bra tops all use our SHORT wires, and the pattern fits breasts measuring from 6.5″ – 9.5″ (16.5 – 24 cm) directly across the fullest part (called the Cross Cup measurement)
There are also three centre back seam bottoms with a beautiful fit over the bum. All views have a waist high cut with doubled fabric waistband ( no elastic so no muffin top!) plus a centre back seam for shapely results. The bottoms fit hip sizes 35-47″ (89 – 119.5 cm) All sizes and complete instructions are included in the pattern envelope.
VIOLET– vertical seamed bra top and bottoms with button trim at the waist
REBECCA – uses a tie to gather the front of the top, bottoms have a ruched front panel
MARSHA – with a twisted knot effect and bottoms with mini twists at the side front
I love them all, that back is divine! I mistakenly thought there was a non-wired option, is there a sister you recommend as more appropriate to be wireless? I’m a cross cup E.
I did change the Rebecca straps and forgot to change the drawing! I have had several tell me they chopped off the extra cut-on strap and made the Rebecca like the other two tops; and some tell me they like the cut-on straps better. Each to their own, I guess! By the way, your plan is sound! Go for it and I hope you enjoy wearing Rebecca!
Beverly, is it possible there are some instructions missing – or did you change the Rebecca straps after the images of the suit were created? I see strap instructions for the other two, but not Rebecca, which has slightly wider cut-on straps).
My plan, unless you say otherwise, is to cut strips 6" shorter than the pattern calls for (because the front of the straps are cut on the pattern) that are the same width as the finished front strap (I've graded 2 sizes up from the pattern, but figure that the strap finishes at 1" at the shoulder), and which taper to 1.5" wide at the end which ties.
If you look at the pattern for the cup, you can see that it is an even grade, so you can extend a line from the corners connecting all the sizes. Then go out to make the next size, by drawing a line the same distance between the sizes. That will make the cup one size larger so a total of 1/2" bigger on the cross cup. If you need to do that a second time, you can!
But what if you are larger (I measure 11″ and size 44 wire) than the largest pattern size? Or am I just not visualizing this properly?
I designed the pattern for sizes up to 9.5″ across the cross cup. You could grade the pattern up if you like, but I chose to stay with that size range for the tops.
Mine is about 10.25 inches – will I be able to adapt this pattern to fit? Thanks.
The cross cup measurement is taken directly across the fullest part of the bust, from the wire line to the wire line.
How does one measure the cross-cup?
I love it! 🙂
/Agneta
Beverly, if you ever need technical help in doing pdf versions, I'm happy to assist. You know I studied computer science and I'm well into Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, Indesign and many more. Just give me a shout out.
Your new patterns look f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s! Can't wait for next summer!
I don't have them available at this time as a .pdf. There are many things I have to consider before doing them in that format.
All of the cups have the same size range, but as in all of my patterns, they are easy to grade up. If you draw lines at the corners of each pattern pieces, and draw the next size up equal to the space between the last two, you can easily grade the pattern. The SHORT wires are avialable up to #48 so that pattern could be graded up 2 sizes without any problems.
Thanks for your comments! Erin sewed up all the samples and had to model a lot more than she wanted to – I am sure. But the result is stunning. I thinks these bikinis will be a good seller!
Thanks Kathy! I love this pattern and it looked so good on everyone we tried…those tops suit a lot of body types and the bottoms hide a multitude of sins!
I have no plans to do a .pdf pattern version…I haven't figured out how to make that work yet!
Just fantastic! The cute bottoms, the underwires, the sizes, the vintage-y look… these are going to be a big seller. Congrats on yet another top notch pattern and the upcoming swimwear class.
I can't wait to sew these up!!! The fact that they're all underwire means that finally I'll be looking my best in a bikini- not all flattened out. Also congratulations on the new craftsy course. Very well done! The next best thing to being there in person.
M. Meiklejohn
Second the request for PDF patterns as I live in the Philippines and the local mail is just too unreliable…..
Super cute! I love the little details. Which top sister would you recommend for those above a D cup? I think I'm larger than the cross cup measurements you list (really helpful to include those thank you). So I will likely need to grade up.
Great new pattern! Really nice that it includes so many variations.
I've been meaning to ask if any of your patterns will become available as PDF?
I've looked into ordering from Bodil, but find it really off putting that the patterns are so much more expensive than through Bra-makers (I don't know if you're aware of this, but its more cost effective to order from Canada I think). By the way, I'm in the Netherlands.