Updated to fix my usual grotesque grammatical errors and to add a You Tube movie on how to make a sewing pattern.
TYR just came out with a new techsuit called the AP12. I am not crazy about the graphics but what do I know?
TYR just came out with a new techsuit called the AP12. I am not crazy about the graphics but what do I know?
One of the arguments made in regards to banning techsuits was that lower income families could not afford them. I actually believed that argument and was concerned as well. Subsequently, like many others, I was apparently bamboozled into believing it.
Have you seen the prices on racing jammers for men? $395.00 for a LZR Fastskin3 Elite, $240.00 for TYR Tracer B. These are not prices, their penalties.
Why is it that both ASCA and USA Swimming are not jumping up and down complaining? ...Yeah, that was a rhetorical question - the answer is that prices never bothered them in the first place; they simply needed a wedge issue to manipulate the "unwashed masses" which is us and it worked.
Racing jammers that sell for triple-digit dollar-amounts are essentially criminal. I think FINA should pass a rule that a kid or a kid's mom et al. should be allowed to make their own swimsuits by sewing a FINA approved or designated fabric; (such as Lycra, Nylon/Polyestor, etc.), so a kid can race for less than their parents rent payment. FINA should mandate a racing fabric or fabrics that become a de facto standard so mom, or "Big Sis" can make a tailor-made suit for race day for under $15.00. A 80/20 nylon-polyester blend sells retail for about $12.00 for two-square-yards.That is like 4-pairs of jammers.
Below is a YouTube video on how to make a sewing pattern. This example is a bit over the top for what we would like to do but it covers the basics. YouTube has a zillion of these videos and I going to put up a pattern ASAP.
Below is a YouTube video on how to make a sewing pattern. This example is a bit over the top for what we would like to do but it covers the basics. YouTube has a zillion of these videos and I going to put up a pattern ASAP.
27 comments:
Not only low-income, middle income families could not afford the suit and still can't.
I like it - sew your own - if you can talk a star into wearing it - the concept could take off.
I am thrilled by your comment. Should I buy a bunch of jammers, undue all the sewing seams, trace the Folds and angles, and post it as a PDF online?
Is that how you make a pattern?
If so, I will take the time and do it.
When you trace the pieces you will need to add extra for the seam allowance.
Most pattern pieces allow for a 1/2" to a 5/8" seam allowance. The pattern shows a cutting line and a stitching line. After the pieces are stitched, the excess is cut off.
If there is no stitching line, then the fabric can be cut as is. (on the jammers I'm looking at, the edges of part of the lining are not stitched.)
jaja.. es un robo el precio de esos bañadores y tontos son los nadadores que los compran.
YES! It is a crime to buy a suit for that much, JaJa
I am really getting optimistic about this. There is no ethical reason why a child should be banned from wearing a suit they made for themselves, or was made by a parent or family member.
I am going to look up materials as well.
Make sure you get the grain of the fabric going in the right direction. It will make all the difference in the fit of a swimsuit. Also, better be careful what you use for thread. Wouldn't want it disintegrating after a couple of workouts or with a little stress on the seam.
It is not as easy as you make it out to be. I am very experienced with a sewing machine and I'm not certain I'd tackle sewing a suit for workouts, much less one for competition.
The high cost of rubber suits was never a compelling argument. Just look at what Speedo's earlier techsuits cost - FSII: $350, FS-Pro: $350. The LZR, which started the whole rubber suit thing, was $290-550.
The FSII and FS-Pro jammers were priced around $150-200, from what I can remember. Definitely not cheap, but they were clearly inferior products to both the full leg or body suits.
Hell, had the rubber suits not been banned, I'd expect their current prices would be much lower than these new textile techsuits, the FSIII and the like. From the outside, it didn't seem like the R&D costs behind the best rubber suits were very high - the Jaked and blueseventy suits seemed simple as hell. Definitely didn't need a collaboration with NASA to develop. One company deciding to sell a full body rubber suit cheaply would've caused the whole thing to have to come down. Would've been waaaaay too easy for Nike to start pumpin' rubber suits out for $100 less than everyone else and ta da! Cheaper, more effective suits for everyone.
And that would have been a good thing but, as we later found out, USA Swimming was a marketing arm for Speedo and had to kill them.
Anon - re: Seams.
Yes, good observation. Of course I have never done this or made a pair of anything before. I have never used a sewing machine either. I just want to set up a open community DIY for patterns and How-To's so as to make suits more affordable.
I've got a real bad feeling about homemade swim suits. Making a flannel shirt is one thing, that's not put under too much stress. A racing swimsuit can't break apart when you're swimming in it, can't let too much water in, it's gotta have some kind of drawstring...I don't know. Seems really hard to get right and even if you do, odds are it won't be too much better than a $12 grab bag jammer from SwimOutlet.
22 I've got a real bad feeling about homemade swim suits. Making a flannel shirt is one thing, that's not put under too much stress. A racing swimsuit can't break apart when you're swimming in it, can't let too much water in, it's gotta have some kind of drawstring...I don't know. Seems really hard to get right and even if you do, odds are it won't be too much better than a $12 grab bag jammer from SwimOutlet.
I use to make skateboards and bicycles as a kid. Hours and hours of work and moderate amount of failures.
I think it's a fun project and their may be craftsmen;(Craftswomen mot likely), out there that can do a marvelous job even if they are just training suits
junker23 said...
it won't be too much better than a $12 grab bag jammer from SwimOutlet.
jaja.. and why do U need a jammer? in panties is enough
Yeah, real men wear briefs, Jammers are are for boys.
Completely agreed - the last masters meet I swam at I was the only guy wearing one.
I also just bought the magenta version of this lovely suit, so I'm all about the bold briefs.
(Unrelated: I just got this as a captca for this post. Quite difficult.)
At 14, I sewed several bikini bottoms (my mom crocheted the tops). These lasted much better than the store bought suits.
When you sew your own, you can reinforce the seams. Not worth wasting time to sew a practice suit, but definitely worth the effort to attempt a pair of $200.00 jammers.
The racing jammers I'm looking at have fabric that stretches the same in all directions, therefore cutting the grain of the fabric in the right direction shouldn't be a problem.
Use a thread that stretches so when the garmet stretches the threading won't break.
Did my comment not go through the last time? I'm all about briefs - I was the only guy at the last masters meet I was at that wore one. Just bought the magenta version of this suit last month.
The pattern come this week - this is really good advice.
Maybe I should have a contest? $250.00 first prize?
When you take apart the jammers, note which materials are used.
The TY148656 jammers I have are coming unstitched in the crotch and the thread used does not stretch.
Does anyone know what they call elastic thread? Perhaps it's called elastic thread, I don't know?
Use a small zigzag stitch - it allows for stretch when using regular thread.
I'm not sure if this idea is the best. It would be impossible for swim meet managers to check every single bathing suit that every swimmer wears and ensure that it makes the standards. Not to most people aren't familiar with sewing to begin with.
If you are swimming in a brief does it really matter how it's made or what it is made of? Swimming is suppose to be fun an this makes it "funner"
No-one buys performance suits for training or low-level meets, they buy grab-bag suits for cheap. Performance suits are generally worn at higher end meets, where the FINA stamp of approval is going to be required.
I like the idea of make-your-own, but the practicality is limited.
It might be an option for the CIF swimmer instead of the coach calling friends to borrow a used suit.
The Marketing divisions have done their jobs - the swimmers feel disadvantaged if they are not wearing the most expensive suits.
And they are ordered to wear expensive suits. I think this would be great for summer league
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