I wanted to share with you a sweet Victorian Bathing costume that I made from one of the Sew Adorable patterns. These patterns are somewhat hard to come by and when you do find one, they can be terribly expensive. I happened to win a lot of these patterns on Ebay and they are really fun to make up. This particular pattern is called “By the Sea” and features a jacket with a peplum skirt and short puffed sleeves. There are ruffles that go around the edges of the all-in-one jacket, skirt and the sleeves. The bloomers have elastic at the waist and ruffles at the bottom edge for a darling look. A full brimmed hat is turned up in the front and has a large bow as an accent. That’s a whole lot of ruffles, but it makes for an adorable outfit, I think.
If you click on the pictures, they will enlarge somewhat.
I changed the lap over on the jacket as women’s apparel is supposed to be right over left when buttons are used. At first I thought maybe the picture on the front of the pattern was just transposed, but it was done backwards on the pattern pieces…(unless for some reason on the bathing outfits of the early 1900’s it was okay to do left over right, but that’s news to me if it was.) My bathing costume was made from a pretty aqua and white leaf pattern and I just love how it turned out. Nellie, with her strawberry blonde hair, was the perfect model for this color fabric. I used some little square mother-of-pearl buttons on the front (just to give it that sea-shore feel!)
So here’s how mine turned out…
Okay, so who’s ready for a swim? Just kidding…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh Jeanne, that is adorable! I LOVE it! I certainly can’t imagine actually going into the water with all that on, but I just love that big floppy hat too! Now, considering my figure, maybe that’s what I need, and why I can’t quite seem to find a swimsuit nowadays!
For sure, there is no need for sunscreen with that outfit!
You know, just looking at it, the top part could also be a frilly bathrobe too, or maybe the whole set could be a turn of the century set of pj’s, without the hat, of course!
Thank you Linda,
I can’t imagine getting in the water either, but I think they did.
After I made this, I had a dear customer beg me to make her one only with a long victorian skirt instead of the bloomers. I’ve searched in all my pictures, but I guess I didn’t save the one of how it turned out. It was so pretty made with a skirt.
It could easily be a robe or a coat too…
You are too funny…but I almost agree…the more coverage the safer I feel…
Blessings, Jeanne
I remember when you posted this on Playthings. I loved it then and still do. I have yet to acquire some of these patterns, but I must admit, I haven’t tried too hard to find them either! LOL 🙂
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your kind words. After I did this post last night, I went on Ebay to see how many Sew Adorable patterns there were and how expensive they were. There were about 4 and they were less than $12.00, but they weren’t the popular ones…they are the higher priced ones. I’ve also seen them on Etsy too.
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
Nellie looks so cute. I remember when AG did Samantha’s bathing costume, but it wasn’t pretty like this, just navy blue and white. i know the Victorians did go into the water with all that on for modesty. You wouldn’t be able to swim though because you would be water logged in all that fabric. I haven’t seen that pattern before, but it sure is cute with all the ruffles.
Thanks Laura,
I guess the only thing good about a bathing suit like this is it would hide a lot of flesh! That’s always good when it gets to be swimming weather! Fortunately we don’t have to worry about that now… Snow suits are what we need!
Blessings, Jeanne
I have a pic of my Mom at age 18 as Miss Arlington (NE)..in the most awful swimsuit. It looked like a wool mans wife beater undershirt with little boy leg shorts. She had to borrow it to be in the contest because she didn’t swim.. I don’t think she ever did learn to swim and hid the picture for years…of course now we have it displayed and my daughter has her satin banner ( in many pieces.. and the trophy…it’s priceless)
Awww Kathie,
That is such a special story! I bet every time you see it you remember her…
I had to borrow a swim suit one time from my mother in law (to be…at the time!) I was dating my hubby and he wanted to go swimming in their family pool. I, of course hadn’t brought a bathing suit, so my mother in law said she probably had one I could borrow. It was this black number with a built in bra that stuck out like the dickens! It had a little flippy skirt to it and I was mortified to be seen in it, but I did come out in it and swam for a while in it… my hubby still married me so I guess it wasn’t that bad…
Blessings, Jeanne
I love that pattern! I’ll have to be on the lookout for one–at the right price of course. Your finished outfit is just gorgeous in the Aqua color and I love all the ruffles. Good job!
Thank you Carolyn,
It was fun to make, even with all those ruffles to gather up. I think Nellie looked the best in it, so she got the job of modeling it. Thanks so much for your nice comments.
Blessings, Jeanne