2/🧵

I purchased some black “Tricot Matte UV Protective Nylon Stretch Fabric” (190gsm; 19% Spandex, 81% Nylon) to make a new #Spandex #bodysuit, but needed to make a #sewing pattern first. @sewing

3/🧵

But I ended up buying another #Spandex #Bodysuit on Amazon first, because I thought it would make a better #sewing pattern. @sewing

This new bodysuit has a centre seam all the way down the back, which lends itself to a nicer-looking bum, but equally important, it allows much more options for adjusting the fit.

It too had some fit issues, though, and a high neck that I hated, so I still had to tailor it to fit.

4/🧵

I’ve been working — very slowly — on getting the fit right, before I take this #Spandex #Bodysuit apart to make a #sewing pattern.

@sewing

5/🧵

I also came across this YouTube #sewing video, “How to Make a #Spandex #Bodysuit,” which made me realize that I may be overcomplicating things unnecessarily… @sewing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxwOmlmFrCA

6/🧵

Once I got the #spandex #bodysuit to fit how I wanted, I painstakingly took apart all the serged seams to trace it out and make a #sewing pattern.

The front and back are not symmetrical, which allows for a nicer, form-fitting fit.

At the same time, I also superimposed my body measurements using the instructions from the aforementioned video and calculated negative ease before finalizing the pattern. @sewing

7/🧵

I re-cut the fabric using my new #spandex #bodysuit pattern before #sewing it back together. I also modified the zipper installation to accommodate a smaller neck/collar.

I’m happy with the fit, the only problem is it was impossible to put on or take off by myself so I needed my wife to help me with the zipper. It is indeed a bit tight, but this fabric has only 5% spandex, so I think if I stick to 20%+ spandex, it should be okay, especially with complete seam allowances everywhere. @sewing

8/🧵

So now it’s time to really test my #spandex #bodysuit #sewing pattern by using new fabric, with 20% spandex. So far this fabric is proving to be nice to work with.

I spent some time figuring out and deciding which side of the fabric should face out, but not until I was done marking everything up did I change my mind and decide that the matte side should be facing out instead. I won’t re-mark anything, but will just keep this in mind when sewing it together. @sewing

9/🧵

Here are some photos I took while #sewing the invisible #zipper into my new #spandex #bodysuit pattern.

The fabric is nice to work with because it doesn’t curl or do weird things and it has a bit of weight to it. But, it is *super slippery* like silk… Also, it’s a 4-way stretch fabric, so I had to be careful when installing the zipper; I took extra time to get the presser foot pressure set correctly on my serger and straight-stitch machines. @sewing