DIY Bathing Beauty

I know that I am far from alone when say that I hate bathing suit shopping. I just don't understand how I can look good in my underwear and not a swimsuit. This makes no sense to me.

Despite my reluctance, I was in need of a new suit this season. All of my pre-baby suits were either too big or too easily displaced by all of the toddler wrangling that happens on the beach. 

I spent last summer in my maternity bikini that was clearly too large and in need of covering up...with this shirt.

What I needed was an "I'm a mom, but still young and cute" suit. 

Yeah, right.

I tried on enough suits to make me sick of it. My mind kept going back to a suit I had in college, it was a tube-top tankini and would be perfect. Yes, I have pics. No, I'm not sharing.

 Alas, that suit is long gone and all of my shopping (argh) wasn't producing another. 

I settled on this gray two-piece that was close to what I wanted. It had a good bottom piece but was still too matronly on top. 
So, with a little encouragement from my facebook friends I decided I could do this myself.

Taking scissors to a brand-new swimsuit is not my idea of a good time, but it had to be done.

Good bye tent shaped top, hello figure.

I did find this tutorial that was incredibly helpful, here. Also, a hint from my swimwear designer cousin to use a ballpoint needle, helped take a lot of the fear away.

Honestly, it wasn't really hard at all. I'm so glad I took a leap into a material I don't normally work with.

Here's the finished product!

I have to say that I'm quite pleased with my efforts. 
It is the exact amount of coverage I was looking for this season.

As for my comfort: I am happy to report that, with the neck strap, my suit is totally toddler-proof!!!