This 18-Inch Doll Swimsuit Was Really Annoying To Sew, But It Turned Out Cute So I Guess That's Fine

Recognize that fabric? It makes me so happy to use it again--I miss that little mermaid kid!

This swimsuit got on my nerves SO BADLY while I was sewing it!

But in retrospect, and after looking back at the pattern and the photos of the sample suit, I think my whole entire issue was that my zig-zag stitches were too wide/too long. Fold-over elastic is normally dead easy to sew, but the stitch width and length that works perfectly for the 18-inch doll leggings that I made a billion of this summer did NOT work with the slippery four-way stretch that I used for this swimsuit. I kept thinking I'd finished sewing it, and then noticing a tiny spot where the stitching hadn't caught the fabric, so I'd rip it out and redo that part, then I'd think I was finished, and then I'd notice another tiny spot that hadn't caught.

Grr!

The stitching on the sample photo, though, looks a lot shorter and narrower, presumably to keep better hold of that slippery spandex? It's a variable to experiment with, anyway.

And presuming the whole thing doesn't end up falling apart, it DOES look pretty cute on the doll!

The little kid was helping me take photos of all the doll garments I was planning to send off to my niece, and she discovered that this swimsuit also makes a cute bodysuit to go under other clothes:

That idea might actually be enough to get me to make another one someday!

If I really wanted to make another proper doll swimsuit, I think I'd spring for the paid pattern from this same company. I would personally way rather wear a surf shirt and boy shirts for swimming, so why wouldn't a doll?

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