A few years ago, Artful Blasphemy challenged herself to pattern and build a swimsuit. As the memory of four prototypes and endless revisions fades, she finds herself thinking about doing it again. But this time, with a commercial pattern.

In preparation, the Eva Dress 1956 Swim or Play Suit & Skirt was purchased two years ago. I will most likely skip the boning and modernize it with a stretch fabric–in particular that kaleidoscope orchid neoprene print from Mood…

Of course, my preferred swimsuit would be knee length, like those from the 1920s. You can soak up all the vintage swimwear you want with this book, and get key information as to patterns and construction as well.

The variety of gorgeous, digitally printed neoprene is astonishing. Look at this, and this, at Mood, for example. It’s like I ever even get wet, as I consider my swimsuit an accessorry for looking cute in a lounger with a drink in hand….but it’s hard to pick just one.

There is nothing not to love about this two-piece, shirred 50s number. One wonders about the choice of full-on overcoat versus cover-up, but maybe this is one of those polar bear events and the coat will be ditched just before taking the icy plunge into an icy pond in January.

The Bombshell swimsuit pattern is *very* popular, and has been whipped up by stitchers of all shapes and sizes, extensively photographed and discussed on numerous blogs. If you want to feel like you are part of a hive of swimsuit stitchers, you will have lots of company if you pick this one.  And, given the name, I think you should make it in this mermaid, fish scale spandex or that spectral flame from Friedmans in the UK.