How to Sew a Bathing Suit

Sewing your own bathing suit allows you to express your creativity while creating a suit tailored to your body. It also takes away the hassle and pressure of buying a suit in the store. A swimsuit can be made and tried on in your own home, allowing you to change it as you go and come up with a rewarding result. However, sewing a bathing suit can be difficult, since the fabric can be tricky.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sewing machine
• Serger
• Bathing suit pattern
• 1 to 1.5 yards fabric

1. Find a pattern in the style and size you want.

2. Choose a fabric for your bathing suit. Most suits take a knit fabric found in the dancewear section of the fabric store. This kind of fabric can be fickle.

3. Cut out your pattern pieces.

4. 

   Lay out your fabric and pattern pieces, and cut the fabric, pinning frequently. Bathing suit knits will often shift when cutting. Pin your garment in several places to ensure a precise cut.

5. 

   Choose a sewing machine needle designed specifically for stretch fabrics, and change your machine's settings to a short stitch length, such as 1 or 1.5. Because knits are slippery and prone to stretching, a tight stitch will make holes smaller and less frequent should the thread snap when the fabric is stretched.

6. Serge the edges of your fabric before starting. This will reinforce it.

7. Follow the directions on your pattern, making sure to keep your seam allowances at 5/8 inch, unless otherwise noted.

Tips & Warnings

• Pin frequently when sewing. While always true for sewing, it is especially important when sewing a slippery knit, such as those used in bathing suits.
• Do not forget to surge your edges. They add another layer of protection against thread breakage. If you do not have a serger, you can also use a finishing zig-zag stitch along the edge of your fabric.

Resources

• Get your feet wet making this bathing suit: DIY Life