Swim Trunks

Posted byAlex LoveridgePosted inClothing Construction, DesignerTags:, ,

My Patterning

I made men’s 70s swim trunks based on a McCall’s Pattern from the 1970s. I had learned so much while doing this project with trimming seams, learning how to take in patterns and how to use good finishings on the product. In this blog post, I will show you how I made these shorts and what I learned. Make sure to click on each image to enlarge it and take a closer look.

McCalls Patterns

I used a 1972 McCall’s Pattern as my base for this project. I use the word base losly because this pattern was about 4 sizes to large for me, so I had to stink the pattern, which I have never done before. I wanted to add a few things as well, put in side seam pockets as well as lining the shorts. Below you will see the original McCalls Pattern that i bought on Etsy for 7.92.

Front of McCalls Pattern

For this project, I used the Inset and Pocket number 14 for my pocket base. I also used Numbers 20 and 21 for the front and back of the trunks themselves.

Front Trunk Base Pattern
Back Trunk Base Pattern
Pocket Pattern

My Patterning

Notice the difference in sizing between the McCall’s Pattern and the one I shrank to better fit my body. I ended up taking in my pattern pieces an inch on all sides. This worked for this project but I can see how I should have only taken half of that on the crotch area.

Front

The Different between my pattern and McCalls Pattern. Notice how much smaller mine is verses McCall’s
Changed Front Pattern

Back

Back trunk comparison between McCall’s Pattern and the one I took in
Back pattern, shown with points of where to sew and seam allowance

All three of my patterns

This is all three of my patterns side by side, they are smaller that I thought I would need

Mock Up

While making this mock up, I discovered how large this pattern really was. I too it in an inch on all sides, this enabled me to make the smaller changes to fit it better to my body. Notice below that I put the bias tape on to test the best way to put it on. By the end of this project, I feel that I am a master at bias tape and how it should look. I also put in 1 of the side seam pockets on the right hand side. I didn’t see a point in putting in both pockets, that just seemed redundant and time wasting . I also tested the steps needed to complete this project. I tested when and how to put on the bias tape, how to put in the pocket, and went to connect all of these pieces together.

Front Mock up with side seam bias tape finish
Mock up back with Bias tape hem and seam finish
Bias tape

Pocket

side seam pocket, you can see inside
pocket as seen from the hem line at the bias tape
Pocket as seen with the mock up inside out, this shows how large the pocket is

Inside Mock up

This picture shows the inside of the front mock with pocket shown to the right
mock up back
inside crotch of mock up with seem ironed open

The Finished Product

This second shows the final product, my mens swim trunks.

Front of the final swim trunks
The back, they look great, the bias tape looks amazing
Crotch Area
Right side of Bias Tape
front Left bias tape
front of close

Pockets

Right pocket view from front
Left pocket front view
look closely and you’ll be able to see the pocket that is inside the lining

Linning

Front Inside Linning
View of left leg lining, it looks great and fits inside very well.
Crotch lining, notice how both seams have been ironed before put together so it is as flat as possible.
Left leg lining viewed from back side
Right side lining viewed from the back
lining up the front to the draw strings

Waste band and Draw strings

UNFINISHED PART

front waist band

This is the end, make sure that you have clicked on each photo you would like to take a closer look at. I have enabled that feature on this post. Let me know what you think in the comments below

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