June 21, 2022

Your Guide to Sewing Swimwear

There's nothing to be afraid of when sewing your own swimwear, especially if you got one of our fabulous boxes. The complicated part really is finding the right fabric and notions, but if you got one of our subscription boxes or standalone kits, you're in luck. We've done all that hard work for you!

But now that you've got the kit on your sewing table, what to do? We've put together our favorite tips, tricks, and tutorials to guide you through the process. So here they are!

SEAMWORK BASICS

Seamwork Magazine did a great in depth dive into Swimsuits all the way back in August 2015. It covers types of fabric, elastic, swim cups, lining, and even underwires. A definite must-read for swimwear making! 

Swimwear Celebration

HELEN'S CLOSET'S TIPS

We love a list and Helen's Closet has the Top 10 Tips for sewing your own bathing suit. From needles to elastic to machine settings, these are the things to keep in mind when you start your swimwear project.

LOVE TO SEW PODCAST

If you prefer to listen to tips and tricks, Love to Sew did an episode a few years back that covers all the ins and outs of swimwear. Plus, they discuss body positivity for when the swimsuit is done and you want to wear it out in the world. 

CASHMERETTE TUTORIALS

Cashmerette doesn't have many tutorials on their swimwear, but they do offer a tutorial on adding a shelf-bra into their Ipswich Swimsuit. They also offer a Tankini Expansion Pack if you want to add a peplum to your swimsuit. 

MEGAN NIELSEN TUTORIALS

Megan Nielsen provides a full tutorial for their Cottesloe Swimsuit, and you can definitely use it for other swimsuit patterns. It covers cutting, lining, elastic insertion and even adding foam swim cups! 

ONLINE CLASSES

Cashmerette and Closet Core Patterns both have online courses to make swimsuits. They are specific to the Ipswich and Sophie Swimsuit patterns, but they contain invaluable tips and tools for any type of swimwear making.

OTHER RESOURCES

YouTube is a treasure trove of instructional videos on sewing swimwear; there's no way we can cover all the resources out there. And you can always email us at info@needlesharp with questions!

Disclaimer - We have no affiliation with these links and provide them simply for instructional purposes

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