Shell Yea Collection (PDF Pattern)

CONSTRUCTION AND SIZING

The Shell Yea Collection consists of 3 patterns: A tankini top, tankini bottoms, and a skirt. All 3 patterns are made-to-measure which means you will use your own body measurements (and personal fit preferences) to create your garments. There is some light math involved (addition and multiplication) for certain sections, but formulas are provided and examples are given throughout.

For the tankini top pattern, you will create cups based on your underbreast to nipple measurement (so that your breast sits snugly in the center of the cup) and your own personal preference for overall coverage. A chart with suggestions based on cup size is given. You will also be able to decide how long and wide to make your tankini band.

For the tankini bottoms pattern and the skirt pattern, you choose the ease for which you'd like to create your waistband. Suggestions are given based on yarn type and examples are provided. For the tankini bottoms, you'll also be able to choose how high your waistband goes on your hips/waist so there is potential to create low, mid, or high waisted bottoms. You'll also be able to choose your front and back panel coverage so whether you'd like to make a thong, cheeky, or full coverage bottoms, you can!!! You will add elastic to both the skirt and the tankini bottoms for a snug and comfortable fit around your waist (and legs for the tankini bottoms).

YARN AND YARDAGE

As this pattern is made-to-measure, the yarn weight, fiber, and hook size you choose are totally up to you!!! I do recommend making the pattern gauge swatches to ensure that you like the fabric you are creating before getting started.

My suggested yarns in the pattern are based on the samples I created. If you plan to wear your tankini set in the water, I highly recommend using a "bikini yarn" like Alize Diva Stretch, Himalaya Celinda Stretch, or Leroo Cotton's Vegan Sock. I have personally worked with these yarns and find them to hold up wonderfully in the water because of the elastic in the fiber content. They also don't absorb nearly as much water as other fibers and they dry much quicker. BUT, I will also say that I have a few bikinis (and my brown Shell Yea Sample) that are made with fingering weight cotton. I still wear them in the water and I really love them, but here are the caveats with using cotton as your swimwear: cotton absorbs water. You may have to squeeze the water from your tankini as you exit and you'll be wet for quite a while. Cotton can stretch quite a bit and doesn't have muscle memory. The elastic we add to the bottoms really helps with this, but if you prefer a super snug fit, just know that cotton will probably loosen up on you.

Additionally, cotton yarns can bleed/fade/change color when exposed to chlorine, salt water, and the sun for long periods of time. Keep these things in mind when choosing your yarn.

Because of the plentiful options for yarn choice (fiber, weight) and the many customization options for the patterns, it was very difficult to provide my usual "estimated yardages" by size range. Instead, I offer to you the Tester Yardage Spreadsheet. My testers consented to listing their body measurements and have graciously provided all their garment measurements, yarn choices, and yardages to help you plan for your own Shell Yea Tankini and Shell Yea Skirt. Many of their Instagram handles are listed so that you can check out photos of them or DM them to ask questions about their particular samples.

MATERIALS

Recommended Hook for the Tankini: 2.75 mm C hook -3.5 mm E hook or size needed to achieve desired fabric

Recommended Hook for the Skirt: 4.00 mm G hook - 5.00 mm H hook or size needed to achieve desired fabric

Approximately 5 yards of ⅛” elastic for bikini bottoms and skirt

Scissors

Tape Measure/Ruler

Yarn needle

2-4 stitch markers

Optional Beads for embellishing shells

Elastic or cotton thread in same color as yarn (if adding beading)

Sewing needle that fits through beads