F R O M T H E D E S I G N E R
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The triangle top string bikini has always been my favourite bikini. To me, anything else was just a pretty bra and panty you could swim in, not something I would classify as a bikini.
The first bikini I made was a red Chinese silk brocade bikini. It was for my Fashion Technique and Design program’s final fashion show. I needed to put something under my leather garment. That little red bikini is what started it all. It was the beginning of Lopez String Bikinis. After that, every beautiful fabric I laid eyes on was turned into a bikini. However, it was the crochet bikini that quickly became the focus of my designs. I couldn’t find a crochet bikini anywhere that I liked for myself. So, I taught myself to crochet and used my original patterns to create them for myself, and soon after that, for family and friends, and friends of friends.
When I became pregnant with my son, I knew I wasn’t going to have much time to take bikini orders, nor did I want to, because I wanted to focus on motherhood. I also keep busy by working as a nurse in a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit caring for newborn babies. I decided to teach myself this funny crochet language and share my crochet patterns. I have two styles for the top, that was easy enough to include in the book. As for the bikini bottoms, I think I could easily fill this book with 101 patterns because every girl likes her bikini bottom to fit a very particular way. Originally, I included only my three signature bikini bottoms: The Conservative, The Daring and The Brave bikinis with only one style for the front and one rise. Instead, I’ve decided to include nine patterns for the bikini bottoms, with three different styles for the front and three different rises (a regular rise, a hip-hugger, and an ultra-low rise), each of them in The Conservative, The Daring and The Brave. My personal favourite is The Hip-Hugger Conservative Bikini Bottom Design #3B. I’ve also included instructions on how to customize your bikini bottom to ensure that it will fit just the way you like. I’ve even included instructions on how to make a bikini to fit a child.
I know these patterns are easy because I only know the basics of crochet, I can’t even crochet a Granny square, which is supposed to be very easy! I hope you enjoy crocheting your very own Lopez String Bikinis and I hope you have warmer weather than I have here in Toronto, so you can enjoy wearing your bikini often!
Thank you to everyone who helped me with this project and special thanks to my family and friends for your unconditional love and support. Hugs and kisses to my little Yuta Jackson, Mommy loves you so much!