Hello! I’m Duana from Duana Studio and I’m on vacation with my family! When I go on vacation, I love sewing swimsuits for my daughter and I, so I did just that! These swimsuits were super easy to make and took me just a few hours. We have beach day coming up and I am excited to wear it! I actually self-drafted our swimsuit patterns using old swimsuits and undergarments that we already have. Make sure to add a 3/8” seam allowance.
Supplies:
-Fabric (1/2 yard of swimwear fabric and lining)
-Self-drafted swimsuit patterns
-Scissors
-Clover Wonder Clips
-1/4” elastic
Cut out the fabric using the patterns that you create. I love using wonder clips on stretchy fabric because it helps keep the fabric from sliding around. It is important that you have 2 front pieces and 2 back pieces of each pattern piece. One would be the main fabric and one would be the lining. You can use the main fabric as the lining as well if you have more than enough fabric.
I started with my daughter’s swimsuit. First, separate the front pieces from the back pieces. With right sides facing, stitch together the armhole neckline and leg area. Keep the top of the shoulders, crotch area, and sides free from stitching. (See wonder clips for location of stitching. The left pieces are the front and the right pieces are the back. Do the same with the back.)
When swimsuits get wet, they tend to lose their elasticity, so in order to prevent a loose fitting swimsuit, add elastic to those same areas you stitch together. You can simply do a zig-zag stitch on top. Make sure to leave a small 1”-2” opening anywhere that you stitch so that you can turn your swimsuit right sides out at the end.
Turn one of the pieces right sides out. The piece with the opening will need to be wrong sides out.
Turn right sides out through the small opening. You can seal the opening with a slip stitch and we are done. This can be applied to any one piece bathing suit, including other styles and adult sizes.
Next up is my two piece swimsuit. I recreated this swimsuit from another swimsuit that I drafted to summers ago. I really liked it and wanted to wear it again this summer with a new print. The great thing about any swimsuit, is that the steps are mostly the same, give or take a few steps depending on the style.
I started with the my bikini top. It is so simple! Match up the front pieces right side facing and the back pieces right sides facing at the top and bottom. I added elastic to those pieces as well. Don’t forget to leave an opening. I had to unpick a small section to recreate an opening.
Turn one piece right sides out. Slide the piece without the small opening on the inside and stitch at sides. Turn it all right sides out with the small opening.
Repeat steps again with the bottom pieces. You are going to stitch the leg area and the top of the waist area, but not the crotch and sides. Slide one piece into the other through one of the openings and stitch matching sides together. See wonder clips for where to stitch.
Turn everything right sides out through the small hole and you’re all done!
It’s now time to go to the beach! Happy sewing and stay cool!
