What you will need:
1. The Ava High Waist Panties Pattern - you can find it in my Sewing Pattern Shop.
2. Swimsuit fabric - this is fabric made of spandex / Lycra with 2 or 4 way stretch. You can use either or, but 4-way stretch fabric will yield a higher-waist bottom (because it will stretch!). You can find swimsuit fabric at many online retailers, like Fabric.com, or the Fabric Fairy.
3. Swimsuit Lining - Swimsuit lining is a thin, knit lining that generally comes in white, black and beige and is made of polyester, or another synthetic. This fabric is quick drying and will help give your swimsuit body and opaqueness (really important for light coloured fabric). It will also prevent the exterior fabric from clinging to your body when wet. We don't want to show off ever lump, bump, nook, and cranny. Swimsuit lining, or stretch lining is sold at most major fabric stores.
4. 1/4" Swimwear Elastic - any elastic that is chlorine friendly. I am using a 1/4" knitted elastic. You can use clear elastic, or any elastic you like, as long as it is about 1/4" wide.
5. Thread to match
6. Twin Needle - Optional, but creates a more professional looking finish.
Instructions:
1. Cut out the front and back in your swimsuit fabric as well as your lining. You now have a Front Self, Front Lining, Back Self, and Back Lining piece.
2. With wrong sides together (right sides of fabric facing out), baste your Back Self to Back Lining. This now gets treated as one piece.
3. With Right Sides facing together, sew your Front Self along the curved crotch seam to the Back Self & Lining. Seam Allowances are 1/2".
4. With right sides of lining facing, pin the Front Lining to the Back Lining & Back Self piece. Your Back Lining and Back Self get sandwiched between the Front Self and Front Lining at this point. This gets a little confusing... what we are working towards is encasing the crotch seam between the lining and exterior fabric.
5. Clip and Grade back the crotch seam allowance, then fold your lining forward, towards your Front Self. You'll now see that your seam allowance is hidden between your lining and exterior fabric.
6. Baste the Front Lining to Front Self around the outer edge. We can now treat this as 1 single piece.
7. Stitch side seams together. I'm using my serger, but you can use a zig zag stitch if you wish.
8. Apply elastic around the waist and leg openings to the wrong side (lining side) of the garment. I'm using a serger to apply my elastic, but you can also zig-zag stitch it on.
9. Turn the elastic under, and top stitch down using a twin needle.
And there you are... ready for some fun on the beach!
This set is adorable!!!
ReplyDeleteI am soooo into that suit. Always wanted to be Ariel, but would need a purple top. :) When I decide to get on the swimsuit train, I'll be well prepared with your complete tutorial set! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy inner mermaid is ecstatic! So cute!
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe at how easy this seems to be! Perhaps even I could take the swimsuit plunge with these bottoms... and I love that mermaid-y scale print.
ReplyDeleteThis is so easy. I want that pattern! :)
ReplyDeletewww.thefancyfashioncastle.blogspot.com
Where can I get the pattern
ReplyDeleteRight here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175084880/high-waist-panties-sewing-pattern?ref=shop_home_feat_3
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThis may be a dumb question butI bought the pattern and for some reason I get so confused putting the front self and back self together at the curve. The curve is not meant to line up is it? The back should curve up and the front should curve down? Do you just use a serger to cut off excess?
Thank you!
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThis may be a dumb question butI bought the pattern and for some reason I get so confused putting the front self and back self together at the curve. The curve is not meant to line up is it? The back should curve up and the front should curve down? Do you just use a serger to cut off excess?
Thank you!
My english not so good but if it helps you.. you put your fRont and back selfs facing together and with the back lining behind back self, you saw these 3 pieces and just cut excess, i understand they (3) curve up.
DeleteThe front lining piece curves down because you sew it to the other 3 right side of front lining facing right side of back lining.. this way you get a hidden seem allowance (or whatever it's named) you may cut off excess and you just need to move the front self with its lining partner.. and there you have ready to continue with sides..
I don't know if that responses your question.