How to Make Bikini Lace

Sew lace to the hem on a plain bikini to add a feminine touch.

Add a feminine touch to any swimsuit by attaching lace trim around the hem. Lace trim is available in a variety of styles. However, elastic lace trim is ideal because it conforms to the stretchy material of a bathing suit and is less likely to get damaged by swimming in harsh chemicals and conditions. Sewing lace to a bikini is a relatively simple task that can be done using a sewing machine for convenience.

Things You'll Need

• Elastic lace trim
• Polyester thread
• Needle
• Pins

Instructions

Lace Bikini Bottoms

1. Preshrink lace and swimsuit by hand-washing in warm water and air-drying. Measure and cut a length of lace trim long enough to wrap around the top hem of the bikini bottoms.

2. Release the original hem stitching in the swimsuit. Use the original hem crease as a guideline for pinning and sewing the lace. Turn the swimsuit bottoms inside out.

3. Starting at the center back of the bottoms, pin lace to inside crease of hemline. When you reach the center back, overlap the ends and pin the lace layers together. Unpin a small portion of the lace on either side. Use a narrow zigzag stitch to attach the two layers together. Cut off excess lace and pin the lace to the inside hem.

4. From the inside of the bottom, attach the lace trim using a narrow zigzag stitch on the bottom edge of the lace. Trim the excess of the original hemline as close as possible to the stitching.

Lace Bikini Top

1. Preshrink lace and swimsuit by hand-washing in warm water and air-drying. Measure and cut two pieces of lace long enough to cover the length of the inner "V" of the bikini top.

2. Release the original hem stitching in the swimsuit. Use the original hem crease as a guideline for pinning and sewing the lace. Turn the swimsuit top inside out.

3. Starting at the top of the "V" nearest to the neck strings, pin the lace to the inside crease of the hemline. When you reach the center of the "V" pin, fold the bottom edge of lace trim towards you. Continue pinning the other side of the "V."

4. From the inside of the bikini top, attach the lace trim using a narrow zigzag stitch on the bottom edge of the lace. Trim the excess of the original hemline as close as possible to the stitching.

References

• Sewing for Dummies; Janice Saunders Maresh
• More Fabric Savvy; Sandra Betzina