My Custom Tankini {Swimsuit Embroidery}

I waited until the last possible minute to find a new swimsuit before we left for vacation last week... well, last possible day, anyway.  I settled on a mix n' match set from Target, coral bottoms with a Navy/White striped tankini top.

Needless to say, I wasn't super thrilled with the top as swimwear... it basically looks like a tube top, cute, but not like a swimsuit, and very plain. BUT, it was on SALE!  Naturally, I decided I should spice it up with some machine embroidery! 

I knew I wanted something nautical, so I headed over to my go-to Embroidery Site, Urban Threads, to purchase my design.  Also, this was a great opportunity to use some of the new supplies I picked up a few weekends ago at The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Raleigh.  

Here's the deets:

[The Project] 

Machine Embroidered Swimsuit (top)

Machine Used: 

Singer Futura CE-150

Material: 

 Swimtop from Target, 92% Polyester 2% Spandex; Fully Lined

Supplies:

 Thread: Floriani, 100%Polyester Embroidery Thread in Coral

 Stabilizer: Floriani No Show Mesh

 Topper: Madera Wash Away Avalon Film

 Embroidery Design: Ahoy from Urban Threads

Process: 

  I fused the stabilizer to the back of my swimtop, where I planned to position my design; I lightly hooped the top.  I didn't pull the fabric taught because of it's stretchy-ness and the fact that the area to be embroidered doesn't stretch much when worn.

  I then pinned my wash away film to the top before beginning embroidery.  I used white bobbin thread.

P.S.- Since this was a last minute thing, I had some anxiety about it and asked my machine, "Please don't eat my swimsuit", a few times... the whole design and process went very smoothly!

Here is the design right after taking it off of the hoop and trying on the top: 

Here is the design after a week of vacation, several wears at the beach and pool, including washing:

[The Verdict: on Embroidering Swimwear]

  The embroidery held up better than the top!  While the top is still perfectly fine to wear, I am super bummed that it was so stained by sunblock... I don't know that it'll last past this summer, but for a last minute sale find, I'm happy. 

  Embroidering on this swimsuit wasn't as difficult as I imagined.  That could be because it's not the super stretchy kind of material, but I have an old top that is, and I plan to try my hand at machine embroidery on it... I'll let you know how it goes.

P.S.~ The first day on the beach I saw a similar Target top... but it wasn't custom embroidered, like mine... Winning. *wink*

XxOo~ Melissa