Bali girls one-piece swimsuit sewing tutorial
Before sewing
For sewing a swimwear we recommend fabric mostly made from nylon, with at least 10-20% Lycra or spandex. You can also look for polyester blends with the same percentage of spandex.
For sewing, use special needles marked STRETCH 65.
Supplies
For sewing you will need:
- Main fabric, with a width of 150 cm (59,1″) – 50 cm (19,7″) for all sizes;
- Lining fabric for gusset
- Latex or silicone elastic band (width 8 mm (0,3″)
- Threads
- Needles for sewing machines and serger.
Specification
Main fabric
| № | Patterns |
Number of patterns |
Number of pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Front | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Back edging and straps | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Leg hole edging | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Front upper hem edging | 1 | 1 |
Lining fabric
| № | Pattern |
Number of patterns |
Number of pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Gusset | 1 | 1 |
Attention! All our patterns already contain 1 cm / 0.39 in seam allowances.
Description of tailoring
Cut out all the details from the main fabric.
Cut out the gusset detail from the lining fabric.
Fold the gusset detail in half and press.
Fold the front and back details together with the right sides.
Pin the gusset with the right side to the bottom hem of the front. Pin the gusset, front and back together.
Pin another side edge of the gusset with the right side to the back, as shown.
Serge or use zigzag stitch on sewing machine. Turn the gusset to the right side and press.
Then press the gusset to the front panel.
Pin the front and back with the right sides together along the side edges. Serge it.
Baste the gusset to the front along the side edges.
Measure the leg hole, so you can sew the latex elastic band.
For the swimwear choose latex or silicone elastic band. IMPORTANT: do not use elastic made of fabric.
How to determine the length of latex elastic band: (example) the girl is 110 cm height (43,3″), the leg hole is 32,5 cm * 0,95 (coefficient) = 31 cm + 1 cm allowance = 32 cm (12,6″)
Make 4 markings; divide leg hole into 4 equal sections.
Do the same with the latex elastic band.
Pin the latex elastic band to the leg hole, aligning the markings.
Sew in place using sewing machine. This step will make easy to serge the elastic band.
Now serge it.
Fold the serged edge inward and topstitch using zigzag, 3-4 mm (0,12-0,16″) from the edge.
Pin the front upper hem edging to the front panel with the right sides together. Sew in place.
Press the seam allowances to the edging.
Fold the edging over the front upper hem to the wrong side, overlay the seam. Topstitch using zigzag by 0.1 cm (0,04″) from the edge. Trim excess allowances.
Back edging (edging and straps) pin along the armhole and back with the right sides together, aligning the notches. See the picture.
Sew in place.
Fold the edging over the stitch line on the wrong side. Topstitch using zigzag by 0.1 cm (0,04″) from the edge.
Trim excess allowances.
Press.
Mark the straps place (4 cm (1,57″) from the center back for each strap).
Sew in place using zigzag stitch. Bend the strap up and make one more zigzag stitch.
The swimwear is ready!
