It's swimsuit season! (Or so I've heard.....we DID just get another dumping of snow earlier this week.) Last year we didn't actually have a new swim pattern and it felt a little weird so this year we decided to make two: The Minnow and the Pike! You can read more about the Pike Swimsuit on the blog post HERE. Or keep reading below to learn a bit more about Minnow.
![Two new swimsuits with one or two piece options and lots of colour block choices.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-09.jpg?w=577)
LEFT: Jasmine made a Tankini Pike and Flounce 2pc Minnow
RIGHT: Kayt made a Crop Minnow, and Crop Pike
I first drafted and muslined Minnow as a one piece suit; but in the back of my mind was the hope that I could make it work as a two piece as well because who doesn't love options!?!?!? I had to tweak a couple things from the original design but in the end it worked and I'm really happy with the final look and function of having both options.
![Line drawings for the Minnow swimsuit from Sofiona Designs.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/minnow-line-drawings.jpg?w=870)
The front of the suit can be made in one solid fabric, or pieced together with an elegant curved design.
![Simple one piece swimsuit with one shoulder or two shoulder options.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-01.jpg?w=576)
RIGHT: Uma's daughter is rockin' this sleek and solid one shoulder suit
![Elegant piecing on one piece swimsuit. One or two shoulder options.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-02.jpg?w=576)
The two piece suit features a good coverage bikini bottom (with either a solid or pieced back) as well as either a cropped top or a cropped top with added flounce for more coverage.
![Flounce peplum 2 piece swimsuit from Sofiona Designs.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-03.jpg?w=576)
![Pieced flounce on 2 piece swimsuit.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-04.jpg?w=576)
![Crop colour block bathing suit/swimsuit with fun back straps.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-05.jpg?w=576)
Both used the piecing options to combine some pretty awesome fabrics into one even more awesome suit!
Both the one and two piece versions can be made as a one shoulder suit with a fun statement strap in the back, or with the statement strap as well as an optional skinny strap over the opposite shoulder.
![One and two shoulder options for the one-piece Minnow swimsuit.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-07.jpg?w=576)
![Flounce 2 piece swimsuit with unique back straps.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-08.jpg?w=576)
![Back strap options for swimsuit.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/collage-06.jpg?w=325)
This suit does use a number of different pieces of elastic for the various straps and openings, so to help keep things straight I've included a labelled drawing to go with the cut chart. (It didn't fit on the same page, so make sure you don't miss it on the page right before the cut chart.)
![](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/cut-chart-diagram-04.jpg?w=1024)
Both our Narwhal and Pike swimsuits feature a higher waist bottom so I decided to make the Minnow bottoms with a lower rise. I'm absolutely loving the idea of mix-and-matching the various tops and bottoms of these suits for a whole swim-capsule though. Throw in a Rasberry Cover-Up and you're set for a beachy/pool-y(?) summer!
![Pike and Minnow bathing suits in solid colour blocking from Sofiona Designs.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/blog-10.jpg?w=600)
![Mix and match set of the Minnow and Pike swimsuits in stripes and florals.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/blog-20.jpg?w=506)
![Mix and match set of the Minnow and Pike swimsuits from Sofiona Designs.](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/blog-12.jpg?w=900)
![2 piece cropped one shoulder bikini with swim cover up](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/blog-11.jpg?w=600)
We hope to have you join us and share your own swim creations over in our Facebook "Sofiona Sewing Group". Or tag us on Instagram @sofionadesigns . We love seeing what you create!
![2 piece swimsuit with flounce](https://mamidesofiona.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/blog-19.jpg?w=600)