How to Find Materials To Make a Bikini

Throughout the ages bikinis have been made out of just about every material imaginable. There were the crocheted bikinis of the 1970's to the $30 million diamond bikini that graced the pages of 2006's Sports Illistrated. In the end, the material most favored for a bikini contains Lycra because of it's ability to repel water and retain it's shape.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Find Materials to Make a Bikini

1. Know what you're looking for: You should have an idea of what you want the fabric to look like. You might have a specific print in mind or maybe just a color.

2. Take a trip to your local fabric store. You will be looking for swimwear fabric. This will most likely contain Lycra and may be a Lycra/Spandex knit mix.

3. Fiddle with the fabric: Once you have selected your fabric, you want to play with it a little bit before buying it. Is the fabric comfortable to the touch? You will be wearing it against your skin so you will want to make sure that it does not scratch your skin. Is the fabric waterproof? Make sure that the skein of fabric lists that it is suitable for use in water. Does the fabric stretch in the way you need it too? Does it stretch too much or too little? Does the pattern disappear when you stretch it?

4. Inspect the fabric and if it passes muster, buy it. Make sure to buy more then your pattern calls for. You never know when you will need a little extra.

5. Take your fabric home and start sewing.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not find the fabric you want at a fabric store you might want to search for the fabric on-line. The downside of this is that you will not be able to feel with the fabric to see if it is really what you want before you buy it.
• Do not forget to buy fabric for lining your bikini.
• If you are buying a patterned material you will want to get a little extra to make sure the pattern on the fabric matches when you put the suit together.