When I was first working on the Breakwater Swimsuit I excitedly showed it to Laurie and she loved it instantly. That said, she loved it on me and was a bit skeptical about it for her. I’m 66! Is this style too young for me? Is it too revealing for my age? Will it cover my chest? Will it show too much in the back? All questions I am sure many of us can relate to.
I reassured her that no, it is not too ‘young’ for her because anyone can wear whatever they want! I also reminded her that sewing is all about customization so we can easily adjust this suit to give her the perfect amount of coverage. You should feel confident in a swimsuit and whatever amount of coverage makes you feel that way is the right amount.
I asked her if she would model the suit for a feature during our launch week and she hesitated. Do people really want to see me in a swimsuit? YES! People want to see bodies of all sizes and ages and it’s really important. Show off those legs and arms. Show off the wrinkles and the varicose veins. Show the world that it’s ok to have a body! She agreed and so we began to make the suit!
She tried on my size 20 suit and we assessed the fit. She is a 20 in the chest and a 14 in the hips so we had some grading to do to start. Thankfully the chest fit really well! Laurie has a large bust but the Breakwater Swimsuit had her covered—literally. No changes needed for the upper part of the pattern. We graded down to a size 14 on the bottoms and it looked like this.
She also wanted more bum coverage and a slightly lower hip. Breakwater has a high hip and a cheeky back but that is all easily adjusted. If you have a pair of swim bottoms you love or an underwear pattern you know you like the cut of, you can use that as a guide. If not, simply experiment with drawing in more coverage. We lowered the hip 1” (2.5 cm) and added more bum coverage for Laurie. It looked like this:
The last thing we customized for Laurie was to add bra slider hardware. This customization is covered in the instruction booklet but it is optional. You just need to get 3/8” (1 cm) bra rings and sliders and it is easy to do!
Once we had adjusted the pattern I got to work sewing! One of my favorite things about sewing swimwear is how quick it is. I can cut and sew this suit in an hour now that I’ve made a few. 2-3 hours would be a good estimate for somebody new to the pattern. I whipped this one up in fabric from Blackbird Fabrics and I love how it turned out! The print and colour is so cute on her.
The week before we we planning to get together so she could try the suit on, Laurie called me after a disheartening shopping session. She had been trying to get some new summer clothes and nothing in the stores was fitting. It was all too frilly or too tight or too poorly made. Again—relatable! She was feeling bad about the fashion industry, her body, and her wardrobe. A wicked cocktail that is all too familiar. Naturally, I was concerned about the swimsuit and making her model it but she reassured me that she was hopeful and willing to at least try it on. We agreed that if she hated it, we would scrap the whole thing.
When she came to try on the suit I could tell she was nervous. The skepticism was back in full force. It’s an internal battle we all fight with ourselves and swimwear really tends to kick it into high gear. She hesitantly tried on the suit and I’ll be honest, I was nervous too! When she tightened up the straps and adjusted the suit into place, the whole energy in the room shifted. WOW we both said looking at her in the full length mirror. You look HOT! You look incredible! It fits so perfectly! And it’s so comfortable! Oh my goodness it is so cute! We just stared as she turned and posed in the mirror. All smiles all around!
Needless to say we immediately went up to the lake and took her for a spin. Laurie was beaming in her new suit and I took about 100 photos of her. It was impossible to take a bad shot! I could feel the confidence and joy through the lens. Custom fit clothing and celebrating our bodies as they are is so powerful. I could not be happier that we did this project!
Laurie messaged me with this update just the other day:
"I've worn it everyday while on the island and I feel comfortable, stunning, and confident in my custom-made suit!"
Breakwater is on sale this week for 25% off! No coupon code required. Sale ends June 30th, 2026.
