The Aloha Vintage Swimsuit, by Forever 18 Inches, is a historically-inspired design that is appropriate for the late 1930s through early 1950s. Designed exclusively for woven fabrics, features include authentic bloomer-style underpants, a ruffled, high-waisted overskirt, a halter-style top, decorative tie bows, and a vintage-inspired sunhat. An extra set of cutting lines is provided for dolls who are on the chubbier side of the 18" doll world, and also for more recent soft-bodied dolls with smaller dimensions. Directions are written comprehensively to provide many explanatory details for newer seamstresses.
The swimsuit is also specifically designed to pair with the Forever 18 Inches Aloha Hula Accessories! The high-waisted bloomers can be sewn with longer leg openings and without the swimsuit skirt to complement the grass hula skirt and provide a splash of color at the waistline. The swimsuit top is a perfect complement to the bloomers, grass skirt, and other accessories.
During the late 1930s through the 1950s a casual-wear staple in the female closet was a Playsuit. A typical Playsuit consisted of a one or two-piece outfit with short pants or bloomers worn at the beach or other casual warm-weather occasions, accompanied by a front-opening skirt that could be added or removed for a more covered look. A Playsuit set could be designed as beach wear with a bathing suit underlayer, as well as a casual outfit that could be worn during sports activities or outdoor events.
The Forever 18 Inches Playsuit Skirt is an authentic reproduction of a vintage pattern. It's designed to fit over the Forever 18 Inches Cat's Meow Vintage Rompers, as well as the long bloomers in the Forever 18 Inches Aloha Vintage Swimsuit. Features include a gathered skirt sewn into a fitted waistband, a front opening, and optional pockets. The skirt can close with button-covered snaps, hook and loop tape, or even authentic buttons and buttonholes. It can also be paired with any vintage blouse or top pattern, such as the Time Traveler Vintage Blouse, for a classic swing-era retro look, or worn as a classic skirt with a modern-day top for a timeless fusion of then and now. Your doll can time travel with ease and look great combining her favorite looks!
This PDF sewing pattern is designed to fit 18" dolls such as American Girl®.
The Playsuit Skirt is available in 3 different bundles paired with the Cat's Meow Vintage Rompers, Aloha Vintage Swimsuit, and Time Traveler Vintage Blouse, to save you money.
Recommended Fabrics for swimsuit: Tightly woven fabric such as quilter's cotton or other similar medium-light to medium-weight natural fabrics are ideal
Recommended Fabrics for the playsuit skirt: Natural fabrics such as quilter's cotton, seersucker, lightweight denim, or lightweight chambray. All fabrics should have a tight weave.
Supplies Needed:
Swimsuit:
Option 1 (with Sun Hat): ½ yd. of 45" wide fabric PLUS ¼ yd. for Hat Lining
Option 2 (with Sun Hat): 2/3 yd. of 45" wide fabric PLUS ¼ yd. for Hat Lining.
If the Straps and Ruffle are NOT cut on the cross-grain more fabric will be needed for alternate layouts.
Option 3 Sun Hat: ¼ yd. of the Main Fabric, and ¼ yd. of Lining Fabric
All Options:
1. Matching thread and sewing needle
2. One pair of small, very sharp scissor to trim seam allowances.
3. Optional: Fray Check
4. Optional: A Frixion pen for marking Dots and tracing around templates (when touched with heat, the pen markings disappear!)
5. A small safety pin for turning Straps and threading elastic
Option 1 Swimsuit (without sunhat):
1. For the Bloomer leg openings: two pieces of ¼" elastic measuring 5.5"
2. Four medium-sized snaps
Option 2 Swimsuit (without sunhat)
1. For the Bloomer leg openings: two pieces of ¼" elastic measuring 5.5"
2. Four medium-sized snaps
Option 3: Sunhat1.
1. For the Hat crown and back opening: two pieces of ¼" elastic measuring 5.5" and 8.5"
Skirt:
Fabric Requirements: Natural fabrics such as quilter's cotton, seersucker, lightweight denim, or lightweight chambray. All fabrics should have a tight weave.
Fabric Needed: ¼ yd. 45" wide fabric
Notions:
1. Matching thread
2. One pair of small, very sharp scissors to trim seam allowances
3. ¼" Graph Paper to make the pattern for the Skirt
4. Six ¼” buttons (for use with snaps only)
5. Five or Six medium-sized snaps OR buttons (to be used with buttonholes)
6. Fray Check
7. Optional: Contrast thread for topstitching
8. Optional: Two 3/8" x 6" wide strips of lightweight iron-on interfacing
9. Cellophane tape to tape the graph paper together
Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate
What You Get: One 59 page sewing pattern and one 19 page sewing pattern that you digitally download as a PDF file so you can start your project immediately! The PDF sewing pattern provides full color step-by-step illustrated instructions and full size pattern pieces. A PDF reader is required to view and print the files (example: Adobe Reader or Preview for MAC). The download link is received immediately after the transaction is complete. Print copies are NOT available.
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