r a e w m i Sw FABRICS
Not sure where to start when it comes to choosing fabrics for swimwear – here are our top tips! DECIDE WHAT YOUR SWIMWEAR IS FOR?
STRETCH AND RECOVERY A swimsuit should be like a second skin so it’s important that the fabric is durable and has a degree of stretch that’s controllable. Look for fabrics with a strong recovery – this means that when stretched, it returns to its original shape and offers resistance. Look at fabrics for danceor active-wear, as these garment styles require the same nylon and spandex properties.
ELASTIC
This seems a silly question but is it for mainly sunbathing or is it for water sports? These questions will help you decide how you construct it.
FUN PRINTS
Elastic for swimwear needs to be resistant to chlorine and the UV rays. Normal elastic will rot or go brittle.
THREAD Opt for a polyester thread that won’t be weakened by the chlorine and salt water and won’t snap. Scanfil is a universal sewing thread, which is 100% polyester. It comes in familiar spool size and most importantly it’s compliant with OekoTex environmental standard 100 to avoid harmful substances. It comes in a wide range of colours so there will be one to match your swimsuit. To find out more about Scanfil Thread – click here.
NEEDLES Use a ballpoint and/or stretch needles.
STITCH TYPE An overlocker uses three or four threads to produce an entwined stitch that’s stretchy and ideal for swimwear. Don’t worry if you don’t have an overlocker as you can use a stretch or triple straight stitch and a walking foot.
LININGS Linings come in a variety of thicknesses and usually in neutral colours like beige, white and black so they don’t show through. If you are looking for more control in your swimsuit, you should consider lining it with a power mesh.
To view the Tech 1 range of swimwear fabrics from Modelo – click here
Tatian reversible bikini from Sirena Patterns
USE THE RIGHT FABRIC Swimwear patterns need a special type of fabric and it’s recommend that you make them with synthetic fabrics such as nylon that have at least 10-20% Lycra or spandex/Elastane. These fabrics are stretchy, lightweight and come in bright colours but can be slippery to work with. It is colourfast, resistant to chlorine, easy to look after and dries quickly so it’s the perfect choice PLAIN COLOURS for swimwear. These fabrics should have either a two-way or four-way stretch. Four-way stretch means it will stretch equally horizontally and vertically. They also come in a wide range of plain colours and fun prints. You can also look for polyester blends with the same percentage of spandex.
