How to Make a Bathing Suit Top
Making a bathing suit can be tricky. It has to fit just right, and bathing suit fabric can be a little harder to work with than some other fabrics. Starting with a simple top is a good way to begin. The fit doesn't have to be as precise as that of a full suit, and a top is simpler to construct than a bottom is. You can make any size you like and you can find fabric to coordinate with a bottom you already own. You don't even need a pattern. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bathing suit lining fabric
- Pins
- Chalk
- Ruler
- Bathing suit fabric
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Ball point or stretch needle
- Matching thread
- Knit elastic 1/4 inch wide
- Safety pin
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Fold the bathing suit lining in half and pin together.
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2
Draw a triangle on the fabric with chalk, 10 inches on the bottom and 8 inches on the two sides.
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3
Measure down 1 inch from the bottom line with the ruler and make a mark. Draw a curve from one corner of the bottom of the triangle to the other corner, passing through the mark.
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4
Cut out the triangles with the scissors following the curve line at the bottom.
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5
Fold the bathing suit fabric in half with the right side facing itself and pin together.
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6
Lay one bathing suit lining triangle on top and trace around it with the chalk.
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7
Cut along the chalk line with the scissors.
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8
Cut two 1-inch wide strips of bathing suit fabric, 48 inches long. Cut one strip in half to make two 24-inch pieces.
Assembly
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9
Fold the strips in thirds lengthwise, with wrong sides together, and pin in place.
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10
Sew down the middle of the straps through all three layers with a zigzag stitch on the sewing machine.
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11
Place one bathing suit lining triangle face up on the wrong side of one bathing suit fabric triangle. Fold down the top corner of the triangle 1/2 inch.
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12
Sew one of the short straps to the folded corner. Repeat on the other triangle.
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13
Cut two 7-inch pieces of elastic and place them along the two straight edges of the triangle. Fold the edges over the elastic and pin in place.
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14
Sew the edges down using a zigzag stitch on the sewing machine. Repeat on the other triangle.
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15
Fold the bottom of a triangle up 1/2 inch and pin in place.
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16
Sew down close to the inner edge using a zigzag stitch on the sewing machine, leaving a tunnel for the bottom strap. Repeat on the other triangle.
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17
Attach a safety pin to the end of the long strap. Thread the strap through the openings at the bottoms of the triangles. Remove the safety pin and tie small knots in the ends of the strap.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure the elastic is meant for swimwear.
The best spandex for swimwear has a four-way stretch.
If your breasts are larger or smaller than average, add or subtract inches to the triangle to better fit your shape.
Use a ball point or stretch needle to avoid tearing holes in the bathing suit fabric.
Lay the bathing suit fabric flat when cutting to avoid distortion.
Do not stretch the fabric when sewing. It will cause the top to be become misshapen.
References
- Photo Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
