Easy DIY Beach Coverup and Pinterest Challenge

I've never had a really cute beach coverup.  I've always worn an A-tank and shorts to the beach while other girls will wear pretty dresses.  When I was younger, my mom will tell you that I refused to wear dresses at any cost, but nowadays I like dressing up, even if it's just to the beach.

I have a few summer dresses in my closet, including this amazing maxi dress I bought at the Gap at the end of last season, but I don't have any dresses I can wear over a bathing suit.  Enter the beauty of Pinterest.  Next to my To Make board, My DIY and Craft board is my favorite pinboard on Pinterest.  It has only a few projects, mostly for my future apartment - and later house - but one I had pinned about a month ago is something that is perfect for this time of year.  The pools are open (except for mine), people are taking trips to the beach, and again I am in desperate need of a pretty coverup.

After much backtracking (which unfortunately, is something I do not like about Pinterest) I found the original site that contained a tutorial on how to make this cute little coverup.  I am not one for sewing, except for the minor sewing I have done on crochet projects, but when I saw this wrap I knew it was something I could put together.  Plus, this Pinterest Challenge I found on Topsy Turvy was a perfect excuse to sit down and put this project together for the blog!  I took my first trip to Joann Fabrics, bought some stretchy green fabric, and got to work.

DIY Beach Coverup
Materials
- 2 yds jersey fabric**See note in instructions below on determining how much fabric you'll need**
- thread that matches your fabric
- needle and pins
- sharp scissors
- cloth tape measure

Before you go to the store, you need to determine how much fabric you need.  I'm a 0/2, and I needed 2 yards (6 ft) of fabric.  Basically, you need to take your hip measurement and double it.  And when in doubt, buy more than you think you'll need.  Remember, you'll need some fabric for the straps as well.

Head out to your local fabric store (bring your coupons!) and look for a "Jersey knit."  This is a spandex/polyester blend that stretches, but not too much.  You want a fabric that will be clingy in all of the right places, where a full cotton blend will just fall flat.  Next, head up to the desk to get your fabric cut.  Now, when I bought the fabric it was folded over the spool, which meant that even though I bought 1 yard, I actually ended up with 2.  Also, be sure to hold the fabric up to you to make sure the width will cover you appropriately.  The fabric I bought has a 58" width, which was plenty for my 5'2" stature.

Alright, now that you have your fabric, you need to measure it out.  Hold the fabric behind you (as if you're wearing a cape),

and wrap it around 1 side of your body making sure to bring the fabric to your shoulder blade.  Do the same for the other side (see how the fabric is just about at my shoulder blade in the back?).  Trim the fabric if needed on both the sides and the bottom.

Then, cut out the fabric for your straps.  You want 2 strips, 5 inches wide and 1 yard long (you won't need all of that, but it helps to have extra).  Cut the 5 inch straps into three smaller straps for the braid.  Knot them together and braid, then knot the end.  Make sure you make the braids tight since they will be holding up the coverup!  Do the same for the other 3 pieces.  Set aside.

Next, cut an opening for your underarm.  Fold the fabric in half (hamburger style!) and cut a C in the top corner (not where the fold is).  Then, pin the straps to each end of the C and try it on.  Adjust the straps accordingly.  Then grab your thread, cut a length, loop it through the eye of the needle, double it up, and tie the ends together.  You want to start and end your sewing on the inside of the dress.

Now try it on!  Hold the coverup in front of you, put your right arm through, wrap it around in front, behind and then in front of your body again.  Put your left arm through.  Admire.  Do you want to take more off of the bottom?  Do you want to angle the front?  Or do you love it as is?  To make adjustments, I stood in front of a full length mirror and adjusted the fabric and pinned it where I wanted it to fall, then I'd sew and cut as needed.

To angle the front, fold under the fabric that's going in front of your body so you have a diagonal line from one armpit to the opposite knee.  Pin where you want it to land and then go back and cut.  This step isn't necessary, though, so don't fret over it too much.  The coverup is lovely as is :)  Also, I know this coverup is somewhat daring because the back is completely open, but remember, it's a coverup, you'll be wearing a bathing suit underneath.

This is such a cute and modern coverup.  I love it so much.  And it only cost me $10 to make (with my coupon!) and about an hour's worth of my time (maybe not even!).  Plus, this coverup is ridiculously easy to create, so please don't get discouraged by the sewing!  You don't need to hem anything either since the jersey material rolls at the edges, hiding any sides you may have cut unevenly.  And as always, if you have any questions be sure to leave a comment below!  Thank you again to Topsy Turvy for motivating me to finally make the coverup with this Pinterest challenge!

Also, if you like this project, please share it using the buttons below!  Happy pinning and beachgoing! 

8 comment(s)

Posted by Ali B at 7:29 PM

Swimming

The more I start thinking about this sprint triathlon, the more I realize I'm going to have to step outside of my comfort zone.  I've always had a pool in my backyard and have considered myself a fairly decent swimmer, except when I was younger.

When I was about 6-years-old, I started taking swim lessons.  I spent that entire summer sitting on my coach's pool steps, slowly lowering my face into the water.  I had progressed from putting my chin under the water to putting my nose under the water throughout the course of the summer.  I don't know why I was so afraid to put my head under water (especially since I own a pool), or why my parents didn't just tell me to close my eyes and my nose and then dunk my head underwater so they wouldn't waste an entire summer's worth of swim lessons.  I obviously somehow got over my fear of putting my head underwater, and I spent the next few summers learning how to do different strokes, dive (that was another doozy), and even do a wall flip.

Those lessons lasted for about 4 years, and since then I've spent my swimming days doggy-paddling around the pool.  The doggy-paddle isn't going to cut it if I want to do this sprint triathlon, so I bought a pair of goggles and hit the pool.

I looked up the race online and learned I would only need to complete 15 laps (with 1 lap being down and back) in my pool since the swim part of the race is only 300m.  I don't even have to do a wall flip because they're not allowed!  So I dove in and took off, with my coach alongside keeping me at my paces.

Sometimes, especially when your dog can't really give you tips, it helps to have a video of what you look like when swimming, running, etc in order to fix some flaws in your form.  For example, in this video, the first thing I noticed was that I need to keep my feet underneath the water and not splash around so much.  I also really need to work on taking breaths every 3 strokes instead of 2.  Most importantly, I just need to relax while in the water, that way I don't expend more energy than I need to and I won't be gulping for air every time I turn my head.

So I guess my next step will be to keep working on my form, just like I did when I began running.  Any advice will be greatly appreciated!  Shadow doesn't have much to say.

0 comment(s)

Posted by Ali B at 3:48 PM