an extravagant welcome--heading to the beach

There are lots of beaches here in Chicago--33 of them according to the Park District website.
When the children were little, I liked Jarvis Beach and Pratt Beach for walks and sitting--very quiet.
For swimming, we would head to Foster Beach at 1000 and leave by noon, before the sun got too high and the crowd too big, but even with SPF 40, my children would tend to get as burned as those in these three blocks.

All are made in vertical rows.

Background is cut as for the shirt and pants block, but the between the legs section is cut long to allow for variations.
Arms are cut 2 by 1 inches on all swim suit blocks.

Hint--when dealing with very small fiddly pieces, I am finding it best to cut the legs section a bit long, and cut the center section down to 6 1/2 inches after it is sewn together. This also allows you to play with proportions a bit.

If in your fiddling, the center section of the block looks off, throw it away. The tiny bits of fabric are not worth reworking at a certain point, and will stretch and not lay right.

Don't over-think this obsession with proportion--these blocks are not to scale with human children. There is a primitive feel to the block, and by messing with embellishments and such, you will lose that appeal.


One piece suit:
straps and chest cut from 1 inch squares
suit cut 2 inches by 2 3/4 inches to accommodate the mermaid--can be shorter for another style.
Legs cut 3 inches and sewn in, then cut down to center section measuring 6 1/2 inches.


Swim trunks:
chest skin cut 2 inch square
trunk top cut 2 by 1 inches
trunk legs cut 2 by 1 inches
legs cut 3 inches and sewn in, then cut down to center section measuring 6 1/2 inches.

Two-piece suit:
straps and chest cut from 1 inch squares.
suit top is 1 inch by 2 inches
midrift skin is 1 inch by 2 inches
suit bottom is cut 1 1/4 inch by 2 inches
legs are cut 3 1/2 inches and sewn in, then cut down to center section measuring 6 1/2 inches.

Fabric for the bathing children was given to me by my friend Nancy.

Anyone making a speedo?

Seth and Eve, Foster Avenue Beach, about 2005