How To Make ... A Bubble Beach Suit (Vanity Fair, June 1959)

After the swim comes the cover-up to be worn on the beach.  Vanity Fair published this pattern for a "Bubble BEACH SUIT Ahead of the swim—and perfect to relax in after one" (to fit bust sizes 32 in.-36 in). in 1959.  My readers who enjoy vintage sewing might like to try it, so I've reproduced the pattern and the instructions below.

Materials: 1³/₈ yds. 36 in. wide sailcloth ... matching and contrasting Sylko; 18 in. zip; 1 yd. thick cotton cord;; ½ yd. elastic; 2 yds. matching bias binding.

Scale of Diagram: 1 square = 1 sq. inch.

Seam allowance: ½ inch.  Facings allowed at back and front neck (where shaded in diagram).

INSTRUCTIONS: Make paper pattern following diagram.  Open out fabric flat and fold in half across width (right sides together), keeping selvedges at top and lower edges.  Place Centre Back to fold edge and Centre Front (reverse way up) to the raw edges, as shown in diagram.  Stitch centre front seam from lower edge up to first notch A, press seam open.  Stitch bust darts as far as point B, press turnings downwards.  Place Fronts to Back at shoulders, side seams and crutch, matching all notches and stitch.  Press these seams open.  Turn in front and back neck facings and ½ in. along front edges.  Make two rows of stitching, using contrasting Sylko and a large stitch.  Stitch along the edge and then ¼ in. away around back of neck, down front edges and continuing along line of seam A to crutch.  Bind armholes and legs with bias binding and stitch round armholes for neck and front edges.  Insert 9 in. of elastic in each leg, commencing elastic 6½ in. away from side seams for front leg and continuing round to within 8 in. of side seams for back leg.  Insert zip by hand at front edges as far as notch A, so that zip is covered and stitches are hidden in second line of stitching.  Mark centre of cord and attach this point to tab of zip.

 

For people used to metric measurements and not too sure of how that translates into inches and yards: 1 inch is approximately 2.5 centimetres long, and a yard translates to roughly 90 centimetres.

Good luck and happy sewing!