Swim, Tankini....Dress?

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.}


I'm on a roll lately; I've been modeling things I wouldn't typically model.

Leggings, Swimsuits, dress with amazing ties in the back?!

That's right, a dress with ties in the back.  Now, I wouldn't normally wear a dress that ties in the back or is as tight fitting as the Laura Swim Suit, Tankini and Dress from 5 out of 4.

In reality though, the dress itself isn't that tight fitting.  The top is basically a built in bra!

Yes, you read that right...a built in bra!

Let's face it, when the back looks like this: 

You need a built in bra.  I made an F cup FBA...don't panic, the Laura has an FBA already done for you in the pattern!  

The main fabric for this dress is a double brushed poly from Mily Mae lined with cotton lycra AND power mesh.  I need the support if I'm going to count on the dress for support and go braless.  So, power mesh is my friend!

The one thing I didn't do with my Cherry Tie Die Laura dress is to line the underhand with cotton lycra.  I accidentally cut it out of double brushed poly instead of the cotton lycra which means the underhand isn't as supportive as it could be.

I'm not typically a yellow girl.  In fact, this is the only yellow piece of clothing in my closet. 

I LOVE it though!

For this yellow double brushed poly version I chose to make the bottom skirt cut out a size smaller than I cut my actual skirt.  I debated sizing down for just my waist because it is quite a bit smaller than my hips.  Because I made it smaller, it ended up fitting quite a bit better than my cherry tie die version.  I also made my tie lace ups a little shorter so more of the ties would be visible.  

Several of us during testing debated adding length in the bodice.  

As it turns out, you don't want to add length to the bodice.  It's basically a bra and rather than adding it in the bodice, you want to add it in the skirt (or the swim bottom, or the bottom of the tankini).  I did add length to the skirt, I actually added most of it at the top lengthening line as I have a pretty long torso.  

I'm ready for summer so I can wear my Laura's to the pool over my swim suits!  Although, I did pair my yellow Laura with a blue cardigan today so it would be work appropriate.

And now the fun part....

Get the pattern from 5 out of 4 HERE

The Cherry Tie Die Fabric is from Mily Mae Fabric 

and I believe the yellow DBP is from Knitpop 

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.}