Dive into creativity: my favorite swimsuit patterns

I love sewing. The joy of transforming a piece of fabric into a useful piece of clothing with my own hands, the thrill of making one-of-a-kind piece, and the creative process of combining fabrics are all reason why I adore sewing. But, you know, fabric can be expensive. Making your own clothes is definitely not necessarily cheaper than buying them at the store. But let me share a little secret with you: swimsuits are the perfect solution because they allow you to combine fabrics and be creative while requiring minimal fabric!

This is the third summer in a row that I make swimsuits for my girls. They love it because they get to pick their favorite fabrics and chose their style of swimsuit as well. After I shared my tips about sewing with swim fabrics I had a few people ask me about my favorite swimsuit patterns. So, I decided to go ahead and share my favorite with all of you!

I love making swimsuits for several reasons: 1. they don’t require a lot of fabric, 2. I can mix and match fabrics, and 3. we use them a lot!

It was hard to pick but these are my favorite swimsuits/bikinis to make for girls. There we go:

1.- Hoya Swimsuit by Wild Seeds.

This swimsuit is my most recent discovery and I love it because it has the cutest back ever! Also, because you can mix and match up to 4 different fabrics. It’s fun to select the designs and it’s easy to sew! I would say, it’s my current favorite.

2.- Mini Cottesloe by Megan Nielsen: Swimsuit or Bikini.

This is a classic one piece or bikini. You can also make a retro-inspired piece with the high-waisted bikini pattern. I love the back of this swimsuit and the fact that you can make it a swimsuit or a bikini. I like it so much that I got the adult pattern as well. It does a great job explaining all the necessary steps, so I would say it’s great for beginners.

3.- Catalina Swimsuit by Violette Thread Fields.

This swimsuit is adorable. It’s the very fist swimsuit I ever made. I would say it’s a bit complicated but doable. Violette Thread Fields always does an incredible job at explaining every single step in their very detailed explanations with incredible images as well. So, I would say it’s doable but you might want to start with something a little bit easier.

4.- Laguna Bikini by Little Lizard King.

This bikini is absolutely perfect and it comes with so many options. With just this one pattern you have enough options to cover your entire summer wardrobe. This playful pattern offers three bottom, three bikini top, and three tankini top variations. The possibilities are endless, and you can create multiple combinations from just a few yards of fabric.

5. - Reversible Swim top and bottom by Lowland Kids.

I love this reversible swimsuit because you can pack just one bikini and combine it in multiple different ways. It’s super easy to make and you won’t have to worry about the elastic bands!! (if you read my previous post, it’s probably the hardest part about making swimsuits)

6.- Pollywoggles by Fathom Five (swim shirt).

One LAST pattern, I promise. This is actually a swim shirt that you can make as short or long sleeve. It’s truly handy to avoid sun exposure for the little ones. Truly easy to make and not need to worry about elastic bands either. And you can combine a couple of different designs or solid fabrics!

Depending on the pattern I might just order 2 or 3 half yards (for bikinis) of fabric to mix and match or a yard if I am making a one piece swimsuit (since one piece swimsuit pieces tend to be longer). Also, keep in mind the age of your kids. For the little ones half a yard of fabric should be enough for one piece swimsuits as well. Swim fabric is usually 4-way stretch which means you have more flexibility to accommodate your pattern pieces.

Sewing swimsuits is fun, creative, rewarding, and buget-friendly! With just a yard or two of fabric, you can create an array of designs that will make heads turn at the beach or pool. Embarking on a swimsuit-making journey is not only a budget-friendly choice but also a fantastic opportunity to explore your creativity. With my favorite swimsuit patterns, you can sew unique pieces that stand out from the crowd. So, grab your sewing machine, unleash your imagination, and dive into the world of swimsuit sewing. The joy of creating personalized swimwear for yourself or your loved ones awaits!

Get ready to rock your handmade swimwear with confidence and make a splash wherever you go!

Happy sewing,

Ana