Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Tonya from The Crafty Mummy shows how to make these folded and tucked fabric coasters. They look like they’d be difficult but they’re actually very to make. And quick, too. The top is made from 4 squares of fabric. She used the same fabric for all of them, but you could also use 4 different fabrics for a scrappier look. A set of these coasters would make great teacher or neighbor gifts! Go to The Crafty Mummy for the tute.
[photo from The Crafty Mummy]
Sewing your own bikini sounds like one of those projects that belongs in the “maybe when I’m braver” pile, right next to jeans, bras, and anything involving slippery stretch fabric. But honestly, once you understand the basics of swimwear fabric, elastic, lining, and fit, making your own bikini is much less terrifying than it looks.
And let’s be real: shop-bought swimwear can be a bit of a fitting circus. The top fits but the bottoms don’t, the bottoms fit but the top is doing something alarming, or the whole thing costs more than a small sewing machine. Making your own bikini gives you the chance to choose the coverage, support, rise, straps, colours, and fabric that actually suit your body.
This roundup of free bikini sewing patterns and swimwear tutorials is perfect if you want to try sewing swimwear at home without committing to an expensive pattern straight away. You’ll find bikini tops, bikini bottoms, high-waisted styles, simple triangle bikinis, swimwear hacks, and beginner-friendly ideas for learning how to sew Lycra or spandex.
If you’re completely new to swimwear sewing, you may also like our guide to tips for sewing your own swimsuit, which is a handy starting point before you dive into cutting up that lovely stretch fabric you’ve been saving.
Before choosing your bikini sewing pattern, it helps to gather the right supplies. Swimwear is not hard, but it is a little fussy about materials. Ask me how I know. Regular cotton elastic and quilting cotton are not going to survive chlorine, salt water, stretching, and summer sunscreen.
For most bikini sewing projects, you will need:
Swimwear fabric such as nylon spandex, Lycra, swim tricot, or four-way stretch fabric
Swimwear lining
Swim elastic or clear elastic
Polyester thread
Ballpoint, stretch, or jersey sewing machine needles
Clips or pins
A zigzag stitch, stretch stitch, or serger
Optional bra cups, swim cups, power mesh, or underwire supplies
If you are buying supplies online, look for fabric labelled specifically for swimwear. A good stretch and recovery is important, especially for bikini bottoms. For beginner projects, a stable swim knit is usually much kinder than a super slippery fashion Lycra. You can often find swimwear fabric, elastic, bra cups, and stretch needles through Amazon, Etsy, or larger fabric suppliers. If you are already ordering sewing notions, it’s worth adding proper swim elastic to the cart rather than trying to “make do” with whatever is in the drawer.
The biggest mistake beginners make with swimwear is treating it like ordinary stretch clothing. A bikini has to stretch, recover, stay in place, and feel comfortable when wet, which is asking quite a lot from a few small pieces of fabric.
Always check the stretch percentage required by the pattern before cutting. Swimwear patterns usually rely on negative ease, which means the finished garment is smaller than your body measurements so it hugs properly when worn.
Use a stretch needle and test your stitches on scraps first. A narrow zigzag stitch works beautifully on many home sewing machines, and you do not need a serger to sew a bikini. A serger is lovely, of course, but not essential. The fabric police will not appear at your door.
Baste the fit before finishing the elastic. Bikini bottoms especially can change dramatically once elastic is added, so it’s worth taking your time here. If you are between sizes, measure yourself properly and compare your measurements to the pattern size chart rather than guessing based on shop-bought clothing.
For more summer sewing ideas, our sewing archives are full of practical makes like free sewing patterns and beginner-friendly tutorials, especially if you like projects that can be made from smaller pieces of fabric.
Mood Fabrics has a growing library of free swimsuit sewing patterns, including bikini-style options, one-piece swimsuits, and beachwear patterns. Their free patterns are especially handy if you want a more fashion-forward swimwear look rather than a very basic triangle bikini.
The Reed Swimsuit free sewing pattern includes slightly high-waisted bottoms and a twist-front top, which makes it a good option if you want something with more style detail. Mood also has a full swimwear sewing pattern section where you can browse one-piece swimsuits, bikinis, and beach cover-up ideas.
These patterns are lovely if you already have some garment sewing experience. Beginners can absolutely try them, but I would start with a simple fabric and avoid anything too slippery for the first attempt.
If you are specifically looking for modern bikini sewing patterns, Edgewater Avenue’s free patterns are worth a look. They offer several free bikini top downloads, including simple swim tops with a boutique-style feel.
This is a good place to browse if you like minimal, trendy swimwear shapes and want to practise sewing smaller swim pieces before tackling a full swimsuit. Some styles are skimpier than others, so check the photos and pattern details before choosing one.
Emerald Erin is well known in the bra-making and swimwear sewing world, and her tutorials are useful if you want more structure and support in a bikini top. Her Black Beauty Bra swimsuit hack shows how a bra pattern can be adapted into a swim top.
This is not the most beginner-beginner option, but it is a brilliant read if you have ever wanted a bikini top with proper support. Anyone with a fuller bust knows the struggle of cute swim tops that look adorable on the hanger and behave like dental floss in real life.
Emerald Erin also has a bra and swimwear supply shop where you can find specialist supplies, which is helpful if you are sewing swimwear with hooks, bra cups, underwires, or more supportive construction.
For a simple classic bikini shape, the free bikini pattern from Melly Sews is often recommended by sewists because it covers a wider size range than many older free swimwear patterns. It is a useful option if you want a clean, basic bikini that can be made in a fun print or solid colour.
Simple bikini patterns are also great for learning how to apply swim elastic neatly. Once you understand the basic construction, you can play around with contrast bands, reversible pieces, colour blocking, or matching cover-ups.
High-waisted bikini bottoms are a favourite for good reason. They offer a little more coverage, they feel secure, and they pair beautifully with retro-style tops, bandeau tops, halter tops, or even a cropped rash vest.
A high-waisted bottom tutorial is a good choice if you want a bikini that feels a bit more vintage and less “will this survive one wave?” The extra fabric also gives you more room to adjust fit, which is handy if you are still learning how swimwear behaves on the body.
A triangle bikini top is one of the simplest swimwear projects to try because the shape is straightforward and easy to adjust. You can make the cups wider, taller, lined, padded, gathered, or reversible depending on your preference.
This style is best for light to moderate support unless you add extra structure. For lounging, sunbathing, or wearing under a beach shirt, it can be a quick and satisfying project. For actual swimming, make sure the straps and underbust ties feel secure.
A bandeau bikini top can be a lovely beginner swimwear project because it has fewer seams and no complicated cups. It is also a good project for using a bold swimwear print because the fabric gets to be the star.
The important thing with bandeau tops is stretch recovery. If the fabric stretches out and doesn’t bounce back, the finished top may not stay put. This is where quality swim fabric really matters.
Bikini bottoms are an excellent first swimwear project because they use very little fabric and teach you the essentials: stretch seams, lining, elastic application, and fit. Look for patterns that clearly show where the elastic goes and how much to stretch it as you sew.
If you’re nervous, make a test pair from inexpensive swim fabric before using your favourite print. It feels a bit annoying in the moment, but it saves heartbreak later. We’ve all had that “why did I cut the good fabric first?” moment.
Reversible bikinis are a little more work, but they are fantastic for holiday sewing because you get two looks from one project. They also hide seams nicely and can feel more polished.
The trick is choosing two swim fabrics with similar weight and stretch. If one fabric is firm and the other is very soft, the finished bikini may twist or fit oddly. Keep the fabrics compatible and test them together before cutting.
Ruffle bikini tops and flounce styles are sweet, feminine, and forgiving if you are still learning swimwear sewing. The extra layer can hide minor stitching wobbles, which is always a bonus.
These styles are also lovely for tweens and teens when made with appropriate coverage. Just make sure the ruffle fabric is also swim-friendly so it doesn’t sag when wet.
If you prefer coverage and comfort, look for sporty swim tops, crop-style bikini tops, or rashguard-inspired swimwear patterns. These are practical for swimming, paddleboarding, chasing children around the beach, or generally moving without constantly tugging at straps.
A sporty swim top can also double as an activewear top if made in the right fabric, which makes the pattern more useful beyond the pool.
The best bikini pattern is not always the trendiest one. It is the one you will actually wear.
If you like more coverage, choose high-waisted bikini bottoms, boyshort bottoms, tankini tops, or crop-style swim tops. If you need more bust support, look for wide straps, underbust bands, cups, power mesh, or patterns designed from bra-making principles. If you want something quick and simple, a triangle top and basic bikini bottom are a good place to start.
For plus size swimwear sewing, check the size range carefully and look for finished garment measurements where available. A pattern with cup options or bust support details can make a big difference. Swimwear is so personal, and that is exactly why sewing your own can be such a win.
Do not use regular elastic unless the pattern specifically says it is suitable. Swim elastic is designed to handle chlorine, salt, and repeated wet-dry cycles.
Do not skip lining. Lining helps with comfort, opacity, and recovery, especially when the fabric gets wet.
Do not stretch the fabric as you sew unless the instructions tell you to. Stretch the elastic, not the main fabric, unless you are deliberately easing pieces together.
Do not choose a pale fabric without checking opacity. Wet white swim fabric can become unexpectedly revealing, and nobody needs that kind of surprise at the community pool.
Do not panic if the first bikini is not perfect. Swimwear sewing improves quickly with practice because each piece is small and teaches you something useful.
A few supplies make bikini sewing much easier. A rotary cutter and cutting mat help keep slippery swim fabric from shifting around. Sewing clips are often better than pins because they do not leave holes in delicate stretch fabric. A walking foot can also help if your machine wants to eat Lycra for breakfast.
For fabric and notions, look for swimwear fabric, swim lining, swim elastic, bra cups, power mesh, stretch needles, and polyester thread. Etsy can be useful for niche swimwear prints and small-shop supplies, while Amazon is handy for basics like stretch needles, clear elastic, rotary cutters, and sewing clips. If you already sew garments regularly, these supplies will not be one-project wonders.
Making your own bikini is not just about saving money, although it can help if you already have supplies. The real magic is fit and choice. You can make a top in one size and bottoms in another. You can raise the waist, widen the straps, add lining, choose more coverage, or use a print that feels like you.
And yes, it may take a little fiddling. Swimwear is one of those projects where the first attempt teaches you more than any amount of reading ever could. But once you’ve made one, it opens up a whole new corner of sewing. Suddenly those tiny pieces of bright swim fabric in your stash start looking very useful indeed.
So pick a simple free bikini sewing pattern, make a test version, and give it a go. Worst case, you learn a new skill. Best case, you end up with a handmade bikini that actually fits — and that feels like a small summer miracle.
I, too, have been making these for years(about 20). I just wanted to add a few ideas that I have done over the years: I use 6 squares, not 5. Lay one face down, add batting or insulation, if needed, one face up then the four folded pieces. Sew, trim, and turn inside out.
Instead of folding the 4 pieces into rectangles, you can fold them into triangles and then do all of the other steps.
Also, you can make these smaller for decorations and larger for hot holders, with proper insulation between the two squares.
And finally, you can make these using circles. Hope this jump starts some fun sewing!
PS: I recently sew these being used as wine glass holders, just slip the bottom of the wine glass in between the folds. It stays on, and can be used as an identifier, if each one is made differently.