Judi Mecklenburg
Suits Me Swimwear

Dear Judi:

I will give you a full account of how I have managed. My hands are my chief problem; all my fingers are permanently bent, and I have very little strength for holding things. To put on the tankini top, I get it in the form of a ring of fabric, and put my head and arms together into the ring, then pull down on the shoulder straps to get the whole garment down to form a ring around my waist. I then put my arms down into the arm-holes, and use my arms as levers to raise the straps over my shoulders. To take it off, I reverse the process. I also have an unconventional technique for the bottom. To put the bottom on, I put in my feet, then raise it to my waist with my hands closed into fists used as levers, and to take it off, again I put fists down inside the elastic, and push. I am telling you this because it is possible that I will subject the swimsuit to unusual strains. The shoulder straps are fine now, but I wonder whether they will start slipping off my shoulders after being stretched too much by me. * The bottom is manageable, but a bit difficult taking off wet. I think I would be better with looser-fitting shorts, with the lining only attached at the top, and separately elasticated around the legs. But this swimsuit is so much better than anything else I have tried, I do not want to send it back to you. Please will you make me a second swimsuit. If you can modify details to accomodate my limitations better, use the same paisley fabric, and I can then mix and match the 2 suits. Otherwise, I would be perfectly happy with a swimsuit similar to the first, but in a different fabric (black, or crocodile, or the green which I have not seen, I do not mind).

Thank you again,
Judy Butland

* The straps will remain the same length because they are polyester.

Addendum
12/03/07
Dear Judi
On an impulse , I just looked to see whether my picture still appeared on your website, and there I am in my crocodile swimsuit, photographed over three years ago. Since then, we have moved to live by the sea. I still swim every morning (not in the sea), wearing that crocodile swimsuit. It is still as good as new and I am very stisfied with it.
Thank you.
Judy Butland