Repairing Swimming Costumes

peb

Hello all - possibly not the best time to open a new thread with the forum being closed tomorrow but I keep prevaricating.

I have a swim suit which has hardly been worn - bought in May but is my number 3 choice! Part of the fabric of the costume has started to come away (rip tbh) from the strap - now as this is at the back around the shoulder area and there is a hole (designed round the upper back) I don't worry too much about it as I don't see how it would become indecent; the ripping can't go any further than the hole. I am tempted to take a needle and thread to it and try and sew up the rip but would this be counterproductive on this type of material? I normally stick to replacing buttons and sewing up the occasional hem so this is out of my league/

Any help appreciated!

Addiscomber

Swimming togs are made of stretchy fabric for a reason (to keep them close to the body for decency's sake - they are actually made smaller than the measurements for the stated size). The difficulty with repairing this rip is that you will need to try and make your stitching stretchy too. Otherwise when you wear it the stitching will not grow with the fabric and you will get a bigger rip, because something is going to have to give, and it is unlikely to be the thread that you use. There are stretchy threads available, but they are usually only available from specialist outlets and may prove a bit expensive for what you need.

saverstacey

if you bought in in may, i would be tempted to take it back to the shop where you bought it. i would expect a swimming cossie to last a lot longer than 3/4 months- they should replace or refund it.

peb

Thanks ladies; I'll leave it as it really isn't cost productive to repair it if I have to buy new thread. I hadn't thought of the thread being stretchy but I did wonder if the holes caused by stiching would cause problems.

SS; I don't think it is fair in this case - I put the cossie on awkwardly and feel it is my fault it ripped - it seems to have a high back. I tend to wear it once a week if that because of the fit. Not as bad as by bargain £3 cossie from M& S which I don't think is designed to be worn in the pool - larger ladies should not buy halter neck tops; I keep thinking that my chest area will fall out!

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Do you have access to a sewing machine? If you do, you can zigzag the rip closed - the zigzag will 'give' with movement and not tear out.

HTH
Mrs F