Swimwear Sewing Tips!!

So now you've made the decision to make your own swimwear, let's share some Top Tips!  

If you have a rotary cutter, this is the perfect time to use it! 

 Lay the fabric on top of the lining fabric (wrong sides together) and lay the pattern on top.  

You can use the pattern of the fabric to line up the pattern pieces.

Cut round the pattern pieces & then pin & machine tack (or overlock) the layers together (fabric & lining)  

You can now treat the layers as one piece of fabric.

Measure the elastics but don't cut them to size, having a bit extra gives you something to hold on to whilst sewing!

Line up the start of the elastic, before or after a seam, so the overlap doesn't bulk up the seam.

Position the elastic just in from the edge of the fabric, so when it's folded in, the elastic won't show.

Using a zig zag stitch, just a bit narrower than the elastic, stitch the elastic to the fabric, stretching the elastic but not the fabric.

Line up the end of the elastic, as measured, with the beginning of the elastic and overlap by 1/2 inch.

Make a couple of reverse stitches to hold the join in place.

The elastic is attached now, so just needs folding in and stitching again with a zig zag, to cover it.

You're almost done!!