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Sewing is a versatile activity and it involves a lot of minor to major tweaks that you have to cover. Once you know how to sew a dress, you cannot say that you have become a pro in sewing because some fabrics, materials, and patterns are quite different from sewing regular fabric like cotton.
When you think of moving on from sewing simple clothes and trying some complex job like coats, jeans, Birkin, or bathing suits, you may ask, can you sew bathing suit material by yourself?
It is known that bathing suit material is completely different from regular fabrics as they need to stay fit with the body while also having a stretch and special composition as well.
However, when you reach the end of this article, you will not only have all the information regarding sewing a bathing suit but you will be confident enough to do it immediately as well. You just need to learn a few tips and tricks and sewing a bathing suit will become as easy as sewing any other regular dress. So, let’s just dive into the article and get rid of this fear that is living in your heart for a long time.
Can you sew a bathing suit by yourself?
Yes, you can sew bathing suits by yourself. All you need is a little bit extra effort and focus as sewing a bathing suit isn’t much different than a normal dress but the stretchy fabric is what makes it a bit tricky.
Just concentrate on your work while choosing and cutting the fabric and keep the fabric stretched while sewing. This will mostly lead you to have perfect bathing suits made as a DIY project.
What fabrics are best as bathing suit materials?
Although people use varying fabrics for bathing suits, nylon, lycra, elastane, and spandex blend is considered the best suitable. The fabric should have characteristics like:
- 4-way stretch
- Spandex in the composition with an amount equal to or greater than 10% of the whole fabric
- UV rays resistance
Such fabric will make it easy for you to walk and swim and will also make the fabric stay in shape while being wet.
Why is nylon considered good for bathing suits?
Nylon has all that a bathing suit material should have. It is great in repelling UV rays which allows you to bathe under the sun without getting affected by its rays.
The structure of nylon is one of the best suitable to make a bathing suit especially if you are going on a day out at a beach and will be swimming for the whole day.
Another fabric that has even more UV rays resistance than nylon is elastane. Nylon is also stretchy and stays in shape quite beautifully.
What stitch do I use for a bathing suit?
As bathing suit fabric has a lot of stretch, the zig-zag stitch is considered the best. It provides strength to the suit to bear the extreme weight of water and too much movement of the swimmer as well. The stitch is done in such a way that it can stretch 3-times more than any other stitch done by a sewing machine.
If you ask a nearby tailor, about 9/10 will recommend zig-zag stitches for bathing suits, swimsuits, or any other suit made using a stretchy fabric. It is also recommended to stretch the fabric properly while stitching so that it doesn’t break down when you wear it.
How much does it cost to sew a bathing suit?
It depends on the fabric, patterns, and material you want to use in your bathing suit. However, it is estimated that a regular swimsuit will cost somewhere between $5-$25 to sew by yourself. However, this price can be as high as $100 or maybe even more if you use high-quality fabric and use paid patterns, etc.
This includes the cost of material as well as the time you will spend on sewing. All in all, we can say that you have the option to sew a bathing suit for $10 or $50 while the average price of a typical bathing suit in the market ranges between $30-$60.
How much fabric is enough to sew a bathing suit?
On average, 2-3 yards of fabric will be enough to sew a bathing suit while 1 yard will be enough to sew a simple bikini. The fabric can be decreased or increased depending upon the pattern.
For example, if you want to have fabric on your back, you may need extra fabric but if you want a backless bathing suit, it will decrease the required fabric to some extent.
Apart from fabric, you also need materials like swimwear-elastic, bust pads, thread, steel rings (if necessary for designing), etc.
How long does it take to sew a bathing suit?
A regular bathing suit can easily be sewn within 2-4 hours depending upon the skills and experience of the tailor. The time also depends on the sewing machine and tools you are using because an electric sewing machine will take less time than a traditional sewing machine.
If you are just a beginner, it may take a day but a skilled person can easily sew a swimsuit or bathing suit, maybe faster than 2 hours as well.
Can you iron a bathing suit?
Not at all. You should never iron bathing suits as they are mostly made of stretchy and synthetic fabrics such as spandex, lycra, polypropylene, nylon, and polyester.
Such fabrics are not good at resisting heat and can easily melt even at a low temperature. If you iron a bathing suit, it may lose its shape or in the worst case, may burn out completely.
Do you need a unique thread for sewing a bathing suit?
Yes, simple cotton or any other thread used in typical sewing projects is not suitable for bathing suits as they should have the ability to withstand constant exposure to water along with sun rays.
Wooly nylon and polyester thread are really strong and resistant when it comes to water and UV rays which means that your bathing suit will live longer while giving a good feel as well, while you are wearing out in the water.
Is it hard to sew a swimsuit?
It depends on the tailors’ experience and skills but overall, sewing swimsuits is difficult as compared to sewing any other typical dress. The first thing is that stretchy fabrics are used to sew bathing suits that are always difficult to sew.
Secondly, swimsuits need to be perfect in all aspects whether it is size, shape, design, patterns, and all these things make it a bit difficult. We can say it requires some extra focus and effort but it doesn’t mean that you cannot even sew a bathing suit at home.
Do you need special elastic for swimsuits?
Yes, there is a special elastic solely made to be used in bathing and swimsuits. The elastic is made with fibers that can efficiently withstand the harsh characteristics of chlorinated and salted water.
Mostly the fibers for swimwear thread are made using a combination of rubber and cotton. Such elastics are good for keeping swimsuits in their place and are long-lasting as well.
Does bathing suit material fray?
No. Bathing suits fabrics are strong and they don’t fray in most cases. This is the reason that most bathing suits have edges without any finishing as they stay perfect for a long time without fraying.
However, some people still secure the edges by sewing a simple polyester thread to make it stronger, reducing the chances of fraying, and for their peace of mind.
Do swimsuits become saggy?
Yes, swimsuits can become saggy over time, especially at the bottom and many factors can be the culprit. UV rays, heat, chlorine, fabric type, stitches, threads, elastic, and the time of swimsuits being worn are major factors that can lead the suit to become saggy.
The best thing is that you can fix it using various techniques but if you are wearing swimsuits for a long time now, it is better to just sew or buy another one.
What swimsuit material lasts the longest?
Polyester is probably the best as they are great for resisting the side effects of salt and chlorine in the water. They can hold their shape, strength, stretch, and color for a long time even if they are worn in water, daily.
A polyester thread is also considered a good choice to sew bathing suits because of the same reasons. The fabric and thread are also great in resisting UV rays which makes it an even better option to be used in sewing swimsuits.
Which is better for swimsuits, nylon or polyester?
Both fabrics are considered good for sewing swimsuits but polyester has an upper edge in various aspects over nylon.
The major factors include its resistance to almost all external factors that ruin the bathing suits and affect their longevity such as UV rays, salt, and chlorine. We can say that nylon is the second-best fabric while other fabrics of the same level are elastane and lycra/spandex.
How to fix a damaged bathing suit?
A damaged bathing suit can be fixed using a few techniques depending upon the damage and its intensity. Two of the best techniques to fix a damaged bathing suit are mentioned below.
- Sew a repair patch (if there is a small weave or hole on the suit)
- Apply glue or some adhesive material that is safe for the body and suitable for fabrics (if fabric is torn in a straight cut or pattern)
If you have bought the swimsuits instead of making them by yourself, you may look at the warranty card and take it to the store if the brand has a policy of repairing or exchanging damaged clothes. This is a good idea but only a few brands entertain this method.
How to fix the saggy bottoms of a bathing suit without sewing?
The best technique is to simply add an elastic waistband to your bathing suit. You may also opt-out of other techniques but that can add up to the total cost of a bathing suit.
- You may make a weave to add swimwear elastic around your waist or simply sew it on the inside of the suit.
- Make sure you keep the elastic length shorter than your waist so that it can stay fit while keeping the saggy fabric in place as well.
How to fix a hole in a swimsuit?
A repair patch is probably the best thing you can do to fix a hole in your swimsuits, swim trunks, shorts, or bathing suit. All you need is a thread, needle, small piece o fabric, or repair patch, and just sew it right on the whole.
It is better to sew patches from the outside so that it prevents holes from further fraying. For temporary usage, you can use glue or any other adhesive that can keep the hole shut while you’re swimming for a short time.
FAQs
Are bathing suits and swimsuits the same?
Yes, swimsuits and bathing suits are two different names for the same product.
They are worn by people while surfing, swimming, diving, sunbathing, or doing any other water-related activities under the direct UV rays of the sun. Although swimsuits or bathing suits are also used by men the term is mostly referred to and related to women as they are the biggest consumer of this clothing.
Can you sew plastic?
Yes, you can sew plastic but you need to make some tweaks and small additional tools as well. Also, keep this thing in mind that you can only sew thin plastic that is of the size of fabric at maximum.
