Swimwear Fabrics

Not sure where to start when it comes to choosing fabrics for swimwear – here are our top tips!

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 dance or active-wear, as these garment styles require the same nylon and spandex properties.

Tech 1 Modelo Fabrics

ELASTIC

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 Oeko- Tex environmental standard 100 to avoid harmful substances. It comes in a wide range of colours so there will be one to match your swimsuit.

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.

Tech 1 Modelo Fabrics

DECIDE WHAT YOUR SWIMWEAR IS FOR?

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.

Tatian reversible bikini from Sirena Patterns

USE THE RIGHT FABRIC

Swimwear patterns need a special type of fabric and it’s recommended 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 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.