Create the swimsuit you actually want to wear 🌺✨ The Kaia Swimsuit is already brimming with ways to make it your own ~ from bikini to longline, one-piece to high or low cut ~ and colour blocking takes it even further, letting you create something totally unique. We’re starting to dream of warmer days ahead… and sewing the perfect swimsuit for them ☀️🌊 Make your own with the Kaia Swimsuit sewing pattern online at www.papercutpatterns.com #kaiaswimsuit #papercutpatterns #slowfashion #sustainablefashion #memade #handmadewardrobe #sewingpatterns

A Kaia swimsuit by @tookiethings ~ ready for that dreamy European summer holiday☀️ Paired with the Skye shorts by @peppermintmagazine, and made up in the stunning Carnation & Clove swim jersey from @wearethefabricstore 💐 Kaia swimsuit Pattern available via our website ✨ www.papercutpatterns.com #kaiaswimsuit #papercutpatterns #slowfashion #sustainablefashion #summersewing #memade #handmadewardrobe #handmadeswimsuit

Ongoing @papercutpatterns #kaiaswimsuit a thon… So the first photo is the short bikini top and @sewoverit #zahraswimsuit bottoms, second photo is the one piece… I used lovely quality swimwear lycra from @wearethefabricstore - the neon citrus was actually the reason I decided to have a go at swimwear because I loved the colour so much I added 1 inch to the length of the one piece and self lined it Definitely have plans for more (including snakeskin) but these swimwear sews use ALOT of elastic and I’ve run out for now. Back up choppering in as I type… Never mind, the weekend is now open for another hurdle I never thought I’d cross…stay tuned 😉

I had been hunting for a new swimsuit for our upcoming European vacation but had no luck finding anything I liked or that wasn't hugely expensive. Eventually I decided to make my own and I'm so glad I did. This is the #kaiaswimsuit from @papercutpatterns with the #peppermintskyeshorts from @peppermintmagazine in carnation and clove swim double jersey from @wearethefabricstore Firstly the patterns. This was my first time making swimwear so I was a bit apprehensive, especially as I would have preferred to make a toile first to check the fit , but I didn't have anything to make it out of. I needn't have worried about the construction of the swimsuit as the Papercut pattern instructions were so clear and detailed. I had no problems at all. I used the 2 different zigzag stitches recommended in the instructions and it came together really well. I love the twist neck detail and I've always loved their colour blocked version so I copied that. I like to wear shorts over my swimsuit and the Skye shorts were perfect for this. I omitted the pockets and left the hem raw. With an elasticised back waist they're super comfy and I love the wide legs. I bought the fabrics in the Fabric Store sale earlier this year. They're a four-way stretch and were easy to work with and feel so lovely to wear. Unlike my current swimsuit that feels a bit like a wetsuit to get on and off, these just glide over your skin - so nice. So now I'm beach ready 🏖 . . . #papercutpatterns #wearethefabricstore #peppermintpatterns #SewOver50 #SoOver50 Apr #NZsews #makersmovement #sewingcommunity #memadesummer #So50Visible

The Kaia Swimsuit - who else loves a color block?! 🤩 #kaiaswimsuit

This is where I spent most of the afternoon.... the little hotel I am staying in here is delightful with this lovely pool and the friendliest of staff. New swimmers for this trip sewn by me in a mad rush -- pattern is @papercutpatterns Kaia Swimsuit and the fabric is Liberty bought on sale a while back from @wearethefabricstore. I made this swimsuit three pieces with a cropped rashie top option as well for less bewbs/more sunsafe days. I was cursing myself for deciding I needed to sew a whole new swimsuit before going on holiday, but we got there. Pretty happy with how the swimsuit turned out, though I had to make some big fit adjustments to the top. #plussizesewing #fattravel #ChiangMai #kaiaswimsuit

Today was a good day for a beach trip to test my new #kaiaswimsuit and get brave and take photos….mostly from a distance! Forgot my tripod but found that a sneaker does the trick. The water was even warm, although I didn’t go fully in as there was a giant seal quite close to the flagged area at st kilda beach. Will try out a swim test another day. The verdict, very comfy, with this lengthened bikini top and bottoms it’s basically like wearing togs so I think I will feel quite comfortable wearing it this summer. And remember if you have a body and it’s at the beach…you have a beach body! And don’t forget your sunscreen southern folks! And your crochet. Pattern: #kaiaswimsuit @papercutpatterns longline bikini top and high waisted bottoms size 4 no mods Fabric: Liberty daisy swim fabric @wearethefabricstore had a 0.8m remnant and also made the low cut bikini bottoms from this (not pictured) Lining: nude stretch lining from @spotlightstores #bikinisewing #bikinisewingpattern #papercutmotm #swimsuits #swimwear #beach #swim #summer #takingphotosinpublic

Summer chic, sorted ✨ Crisp white Tulas layered over the Kaia swimsuit ~ an effortlessly elegant combo for those easy summer days 🖤 ⁠ Both patterns, Tula Pants & Kaia Swimsuit available now via www.papercutpatterns.com #kaiaswimsuit #papercutpatterns #slowfashion #sustainablefashion #memade #handmadewardrobe #sewingpatterns

While we’re layering up down here in the southern hemisphere, we’re thinking of your dreamy summer moments up north ☀️💛 A little sunshine throwback ~ the girls styling their Marnie and Kaia One Pieces, paired with a tied Ashling Blouse in cotton voile, and breezy wide-leg Tula pants in a luxe white linen. What’s currently on your sewing list? #marnieswimsuit #kaiaswimsuit #ashlingblouse #tulapants #papercutpatterns #slowfashion #sustainablefashion #memade #summerwardrobe

The colour combo that I love… Wow this is a great pattern! @papercutpatterns #kaiaswimsuit - this is the longline bikini top version I used lovely quality activewear/swimsuit fabric (made from recycled plastic bottles!) from @maaidesign (she sent me a little swatch with a previous order and then I saw that she had red AND pink!! I sewed the elastic around the legs and bottom of the bikini top differently to the pattern but it’s a very straight forward and fun sew. Double layered. Love the splice options with this design and I reckon a black and white number is on the cards… I originally sewed the size 3 for both top bottom but the bottoms were very tight on me and I had enough fabric to make a 4 so, 30 minutes later…it’s such a quick sew Going to have a go at the one piece version today and will grade from a 4 bottom to 3 top… Sparkie wants to go to the beach now so have a great long weekend friends xxx

Next up on the holiday makes in the @papercutpatterns Kaia swimsuit. This is one of three handmade swimsuits it took with me and probably my favourite. I'm not brave enough to post a photo of the whole thing so just showing the top. This is a fantastic pattern and I enjoyed making it. Although not shown, I used a white lining for the bottoms which can peak through to the outside so if I made again, I would self-line like the top is. Swimwear fabric was from @rainbowfabrickilburn #papercutpatterns #kaiaswimsuit #rainbowfabrics #dressmaking #sewingcommunity #sewover40

I’ll take better photos (hopefully!) on holiday but I am totally in love with the bikini I just made and had to share it! This is the @papercutpatterns #KaiaSwimsuit and despite its intricate looking neckline, it came together so easily and has such a great finish to it! The fabric was a remnant I picked up in a sale last summer: I honestly can’t remember where from but it was less than 1m. This means the front facing is in a plain fabric which just about matches colour wise and the bottoms are lined (as instructed) in swim lining. I think I’d be tempted to slightly shorten the straps another time but I am genuinely thrilled with this! #papercutpatterns #IMadeMyClothes #MeMadeSwimwear #RedWSews2024 #SewingKeepsMeSane #SewOver40 #YorkshireSews #LeedsSews

Sunsafe version of my Liberty swimsuit trio. Rashie top is a lightly modified @munaandbroad #tarleetshirt. Fabric is Liberty swim from @wearethefabricstore. Bottoms (you can't see) are from the @papercutpatterns #kaiaswimsuit. It is scorching hot here in Krabi. This hotel has great views but is a bit weird. I got a room with direct access to the pool but there is no ladder so I had to put the deck chair in the pool to climb out 😂. It is only 10 minutes from Ao Nang but also weirdly isolated and there is no food available at the hotel or surrounds. There's some kind of abandoned amusement park next door to the hotel. And then there is heaps of barbed wire just behind the stylistic breeze blocks which kind of kills the casual beach vibe they are going for. It had extremely high review scores though. It was pretty affordable. Only here for a few nights anyway and the views are great. Ao Nang didn't impress me, it's giving Kuta energy. #plussizesewing #AoNang #Krabi

This is my #kaiaswimsuit dress hack that I made to try out the pattern. It’s similar to the #aaltodress but with knit instead of woven. I used the swimsuit pieces then extended from just above the waist to create an a-line skirt. I kept the shelf bra pattern and also put in a layer of powermesh for more support in this rib knit. Love the lines of the top half and also the swishiness of this rib fabric found on the sale table at @lincraft. You can find me swishing around my house and garden in it this summer drinking numerous cups of tea. I may make another short one out of some sunflower knit I have in my stash. Thanks for a great pattern @papercutpatterns Swipe to the end for a wee whoopsie while videoing…nearly ended in the garden… #youcanhackit #summersewing #crossoverneckline #knitsewing #papercutmotm #papercutpatterns

My outfit for @wellingtonfrocktails Minus the socks 😁 Dress is @papercutpatterns #aaltodress made in a tencel from @missmaudenz Jacket is the #vestemetropolis from @maisonfauve made in a gorgeous wool from @harmerandhuff Had a great time sewing this Jacket if I got stuck I watched the YouTube sew along. All the bits like shoulder pads buttons etc came from #missmaudes and the lining is a one off from my @sewhayleyjane subscription box I also made the short bikini top #kaiaswimsuit #papercutpatterns to wear under the dress. Supplies from @nelliejoans #lovetosew #iphone15pro #sewover50 #sewhayleyjanemakes #nzsews

INTRODUCING... our new collection, 'Slow Down' 👙🌴⁣ Two swimsuit patterns and a brand new dress 😍 We are so excited to finally share these with you!!! This three piece collection is now available on our website, papercutpatterns.com 😍 Patterns come in both our standard and curve size ranges and are available for you to purchase now. We've been working on these patterns for a while now (some of you clever folk guessed what our next patterns were going to be when we sneak peeked our latest photoshoot a few weeks ago!) and they have been an absolute labour of love. We couldn't be prouder to announce them to you all today! P.S. Don't forget about our 20% off sale that is running this weekend only. Yes, it includes our new patterns! We can't wait for you to get your hands on these x

Kaia My new bikini set #kaiaswimsuit @papercutpatterns is probably one of the most useful #lastminute makes ever, as I have been wearing it daily throughout our trip to Sweden. I absolutely love the design as well as the fit and it’s also highboard approved (swipe to the video 😏). For the top I made the short bikini version in size 2 and used the low rise, high waisted bottoms, though I shortened the waist by 3cm. Bought the swim Lycra from @vandomburgtextiel . . . Ich hab mich schon gefragt, ob es wirklich nötig ist einen Tag vor Abreise in den Urlaub noch ein Nähprojekt zu starten, nach einer Woche Sonnenschein in Schweden bereue ich aber nichts! In meinem neuen Bikiniset #kaiaswimsuit @papercutpatterns fühl ich mich pudelwohl, ich liebe das Design und auch die Passform (hält auch dem Sprung ins Wasser stand ➡️). Ich habe das kurze Oberteil in Größe 2 und die low rise high waist Hose in Größe 3 gewählt, man kriegt im Schnitt viele Versionen und er macht zudem Lust auf Colour Blocking. Stoff ist ein Badelycra, den ich bei @vandomburgtextiel gekauft habe. . . #papercutpatterns #sewing #imakemyownclothes #jecoudscequejeporte #ichnähmirdieweltwiesiemirgefällt

Most of my travel wardrobe was made by me and I'll list the patterns at the end of this post for anyone interested. Further details are on the grid. After 8 weeks of travel, here are my top tips: ■ Use a Wise card - so easy to use and to convert between currencies. Just be aware that our NZ bank didn't transfer over the weekend or public holidays, so make sure you pre-empt those times ■ Packing cubes are handy. First time I've used them but it helped to store some items in separate compartments for easy retrieval ■ The Uniqlo mini bag holds way more than you would think, is lightweight and quickly replaced the larger bag I had brought with me ■ Use the street view icon on Google maps to start you off in the right direction. My son had to show me this feature and it does come with a warning. Avoid holding your phone up too obviously on busy streets in cities - there are people watching and waiting to steal your phone which almost happened to us ■ Carry blister bandages with you - we walked and walked and walked ■ Write a detailed itinerary. My husband did this for us and it helped to have everything on hand for travel dates, flights etc ■ And finally, if you've been teaching for 20 years or more in NZ, do consider applying for sabbatical leave. It's an amazing opportunity to take time out for your own reflection and professional learning and most importantly for rejuvenation Pattern details: 1#LeniTop dress hack, 2 #TessutiRobbie + #ARSaintShirt, 3 #TSRflowdress, 4 #mmetta, 5 #127Burda072015, 6 #TessutiRobbie, 7 #AeolianTee dress hack, 8 #kaiaswimsuit + #peppermintskyeshorts, 9 #ARkaftandress #travelwardrobe #SewOver50

Ready for beach days! I’ve really been loving colour-blocked swim lately and I wanted to really go for it with this suit. The management of the cut pieces was a nightmare (at least for me) and trying to figure out which colour went on which side brought me right back to my human anatomy exam in undergrad where I had to imagine everything on myself to be able to wrap my head around it 😵‍💫😅, but I’m so pleased with the outcome! As soon as Allison from @fabricandflow teased this honey gingham swim I fell in love 🥰. And she’s paired it so nicely in a swim kit with this rosemary green 🍯🌿***swoon*** Fabric - Honey gingham and rosemary green from @fabricandflow (my fave source for swim!) Patterns - @papercutpatterns #kaiaswimsuit bottoms and @edgewaterave #edgewaterharley top

It's Autumn here in Queensland, which means... well, not much. It's still pretty hot. So this idea of using our Skye Shorts as swimwear has us ready to jump into the deep end! 🏊🏼⁠ ⁠ This fabulous set is by Ryn of @TookieThings: ⁠ ⁠ "I had been hunting for a new swimsuit for our upcoming European vacation but had no luck finding anything I liked or that wasn't hugely expensive. Eventually I decided to make my own and I'm so glad I did. This is the #KaiaSwimsuit from @PaperCutPatterns with the #PeppermintSkyeShorts from @PeppermintMagazine in carnation and clove swim double jersey from @WeAreTheFabricStore ⁠ ⁠ Firstly the patterns. This was my first time making swimwear so I was a bit apprehensive, especially as I would have preferred to make a toile first to check the fit , but I didn't have anything to make it out of. I needn't have worried about the construction of the swimsuit as the Papercut pattern instructions were so clear and detailed. I had no problems at all. I used the 2 different zigzag stitches recommended in the instructions and it came together really well. I love the twist neck detail and I've always loved their colour blocked version so I copied that.⁠ ⁠ I like to wear shorts over my swimsuit and the Skye shorts were perfect for this. I omitted the pockets and left the hem raw. With an elasticised back waist they're super comfy and I love the wide legs.⁠ ⁠ I bought the fabrics in the Fabric Store sale earlier this year. They're a four-way stretch and were easy to work with and feel so lovely to wear. Unlike my current swimsuit that feels a bit like a wetsuit to get on and off, these just glide over your skin - so nice. So now I'm beach ready." 🏖⁠ ⁠ Grab the pay-what-you-can pattern, created in collab with @MakeWithMandi, from the link in bio!⁠ ⁠ #PeppermintPatterns #PaperCutPatterns #WeAreTheFabricStore #SewOver50 #NZsews #MakersMovement #SewingCommunity #MeMadeSummer #So50Visible

Wasn’t expecting to be testing this swimsuit so soon, but the gorgeous weather seemed the perfect opportunity to take it for a spin in the lido! Swipe for a picture of this beautiful spot I think I will make a few changes when I make this again. ⭐️shorten the straps slightly to provide a little more security - not too much as I suspect the centre front will just gape more ⭐️ narrow the waistline a little ⭐️ trial using wider elastic at the waistline instead of the 6mm one for the feel of more stability But they’re all minor improvements and overall I’m still thrilled with it! @papercutpatterns #kaiaswimsuit #sewingswimwear #imademyclothes #sewingkeepsmesane #sewingforsummer #summerinyorkshire #yorkshiresews #leedssews #sewover40

//sewing kaia// my first (sucessful) bikini sew. This is the @papercutpatterns kaia swimsuit, theres a few different options and i went for the longline top with high waist, low cut bottom bikini pants. I hadnt been excited by many swim patterns til i saw this one- i love the top detail and i think it works well too as a crop top paired with high waist trousers or skirts. I stuck to the size charts and it seems spot on for me- i found the bottoms to be a fast easy sew and i love that they are reversible- i used black on the reverse to match a RTW black bikini top. The top was more challenging for me as i got quite confused on the method towards the end of attaching it all together and ended up sewing my straps upside down, at that point it was easier to cut them off rather than unpick so much, so they definitely arent the neatest finish but i know fof next time, i think id also make the reverse from a different colour next time too to make this step easier for me as i got so confused as to what was what I did really enjoy making this though and would definitely make it again, the only sizing adjustment i'd make is to increase the rise and inch or two for personal preference- i'd love to make a colourblock version to show off the pattern better too Green fabric is @newcrafthouse and a clearance section bargain Black fabric is @sewmesunshine.uk Hat @nikkimcwilliams (best hat ever)

We're in the full swing of summer months here in NZ but we now so many of you aren't in the same boat! Where are you based?! Tell us below! #kaiaswimsuit

I’m ready for summer with my new #kaiaswimsuit @papercutpatterns . This is my first swimsuit and this pattern is incredible….the construction, fit and style lines are just perfect. I first made a dress hack using some ribbed jersey to figure out the construction methods and I’m glad I did as it was a bit complex! I also didn’t read carefully about where to put the elastic but figured it out by the time I got to my bikini. When I searched the hashtag for this swimsuit there was nothing except the original papercut posts and there is also no sew along yet so I was using my instincts to construct this. So, some details. I made a straight size 4 with no alterations except shortening the straps 2cm, a common adjustment for me. I used #libertyswim fabric @wearethefabricstore and struggled to figure out the correct needle. My stretch ones weren’t even stitching and ballpoint skipping stitches. I ended up using microtex which worked fine as long as u used gutermann thread. . I used nude swim lining and swim elastic 8mm. The pattern has you construct the front and backs separately , add elastic within the seam allowance then perform some kind of magic to get it to all come together. Some things to note, it was important to finish the elastic 1cm before the end of the seam so that it’s not bulky when joined. The shelf bra inserted in between the top and bottom sections works really well and feels really supportive but I had to read the instructions carefully to figure out how this worked. I cut my lining on the fold for the front bikini pants for comfort. If anyone would like a sew along I could possibly make one as I really enjoyed sewing these:) Am I brave enough to post modelled pics? Maybe. From a distance? We will see:) let me know if you are considering making this pattern. #papercutmotm #bikinisewing #libertylondonfabric #wearethefabricstore #summersewing #petitesewist #sewingismysuperpower #stretchsewing