How to Create a Bathing Suit

Bathing suits are a major fashion item that have continuously grown in popularity over the past hundred years. Today, there are dozens of designers and brands, like Gottex and Rosa Cha, that specialize in creating unique bathing suits, and coming up with new styles and trends. However, you don't have to shell out upwards of $100 to purchase a beautiful suit; with sewing skill and personal design for your ideal bikini, you can create your own bathing suit and be the belle of the beach.

Things You'll Need

• Bathing suit pattern
• Fabric
• Sewing kit
• Fabric marker pen
• Sewing machine (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Design your bathing suit. Choose the color, style (whether you want it to be two pieces or one), and fabric (most bathing suits are a nylon/Lycra blend). Sketch your design on a piece of paper. If you are designing a bikini, consider whether you want it to be tied with strings or have hook closures.

2. Purchase fabric and a bathing suit pattern that closely resemble your design. Purchase the amount of fabric indicated on the pattern package. Purchase, needles made to work with stretch fabrics and any other supplies and notions listed on the pattern package. Sewing tips for stretch fabrics: Use a size 10 needle for thin stretch fabrics, and a size 14 needle for thick stretch fabrics. Use nylon instead of cotton thread when working with stretch or knit fabrics. Do a test run with a scrap piece of the nylon/Lycra fabric before you sew the entire bikini. Loosen the tension on your sewing machine, and sew on a small piece of fabric. Inspect the seams; if the seams pucker, you may have to tighten the tension a little bit. Ideally, the seams should lay flat with a slight raise when sewn, so adjust the tension on your sewing machine until you have achieved this.

3. Cut out the pattern pieces carefully. Leave half an inch for the seams: you should leave space for the outside seams as well as the part where you will be sewing the individual pieces together. (Note: many patterns actually already have the seam allowances so you may not have to worry about leaving space for the seams). Lay the cut-out pattern pieces flat onto the fabric and trace them onto the cloth with a fabric marker pen. A bikini will probably come out to be about four triangular pieces of fabric: two triangular pieces for the bikini top and two triangular pieces for the bikini bottom. A one-piece bathing suit will only yield about two pieces of fabric that will look like mirror images of each other. Finally, cut out the traced-out pieces of fabric and set aside. Note: You can also pin the fabric onto a clothes dummy, then pin the pattern pieces and cut around the fabric instead of using the fabric marker to trace the patterns.

4. Construct the bathing suit using your sewing machine or needles and thread. First, sew the front end of the bikini bottom to the back end at the seams. Fold the half inch seams that you had left on the fabric in step 3, and sew them together.
   If you are creating a string bikini, take the piece of string you'd purchased in step 2, and lay it flat at the very bottom of the individual bikini cup. Fold the half inch seam over the piece of string and sew it shut. Repeat this process on the second cup. This will hold the string inside the bikini top, while still allowing the cups to slide on the string and be adjusted to your liking. These strings will be tied around your back. Attach two more pieces of string at the top of the bikini cup where they will be tied around your neck.
   For a one-piece, simply sew the front end to the back end. Sew the crotch at the seams then sew the sides. Finally, sew the top of the straps. You can also sew strings at the top of the one-piece suit and tie them around your neck to secure.

5. 

   Add embellishments to the finished bathing suit. This is optional and depends on your design, but it can make your bathing suit stand out. You can add a trim of lace to the bikini top and bottom. You can sew in sequins or beads for a glamorous look. You can sew on ruffles for a bit of flair.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't feel confident with your sewing skills, enlist the help of an experienced seamstress. Work with a pattern for best results; you can purchase one at any fabric store.

Resources

• Free Bathing Suit Pattern from Burdastyle