Those Summer Days

     Let's see, one summer about 8 years ago I saw this fabulous bikini in a spring issue of a magazine.  I loved it!!!  It was a string bikini (tie top and bottom).  Red, black, beige, and white camouflage.  I needed to have this!!! I immediately went to the back of the magazine to see who made this suit.  It was from Burberry.

     I knew my local mall had a Burberry store, so I decided one day to go, hoping they would still have the suit being it summer and all.  I walked into the store straight to the swim wear, and didn't see the bikini.  A sales person saw me searching.  I was searching as if i'd find it magically.  She came over and asked if I needed help.  I told her of the bikini, and she said they had put out the new collection, but would look in the back for the bikini because she thought she had seen one.  She also mentioned that she thought it was a small.  I was so thrilled, that I said please find it even if it's a small.

    I just knew I wouldn't fit it, designer and all, but what the @!?*, right?  She came back with the small.  I rushed to the dressing room praying it would fit, and like Cinderella and her g

lass slipper it was a perfect fit!  I got dressed and told her "I'll take it".  I didn't even flinch at the price.  The most expensive bathing suit i'd ever bought, but wouldn't you know I still have it.

    This bikini is still one of my favorites, the cut is great, even with my weight fluctuations.

    I've always wanted to knit or crochet a bikini, but never found a pattern that I liked.  So, I guess about 2 summers ago I decided to make my own.  I was going to base it on my Burberry. It me a minute to figure out my approach.  Was I going to knit or crochet?  How was I going to measure the shaping, especially the bottom?

     First I laid the pattern out on pattern paper and pinned it down, so I could get the exact shaping without the elastic pull.  I traced it, then put it on foam board, so i'd be able to pin down my fabric as I was going.  I tried knitting, cause that usually isn't as bulky and looks pretty.  Wow, was that a pain!!  Trying to pin it down to see if I was getting the shaping.  I then decided crocheting was my best bet.  Bingo, I was right!!

     Now that I got that down, I picked my yarn.  It needed to be fabulous, so picked from my stash "Star" by Tahki/Stacy Charles.  It's a multi colored metallic, it is so beautiful on my sk

in. 

    While working on it I got a lot of compliments, except for one person in her snotty and jealous way said "That's going to be itchy", I replied "No it won't".  Haters need to stop!!!  BTW, the suit is far from itchy!

     Needless to say the bikini turned out perfect in every way!!  I do have to say although the yarn was nice in the hand, once cut it unravels like crazy!  I had to make knots at the ends until I could weave in the e

nds.  

     The moment you've been waiting for, Ta Dah!