Best Women's Swimwear Sewing Patterns

Today we're talking about one of my favorite things...sewing swimwear!! I know, I know, probably an intimidating topic for a lot of sewists, but I swear it can be learned! Anything is figure-out-able, I promise. If you need some help, there is a swim sewalong happening right now in the Fabric Fairy Facebook group. As part of the sewalong, I'm highlighting some of my favorite women's swimsuit patterns (I've made a lot!).

Cottesloe by Megan Nielsen

I normally don't gravitate to one-piece suits, but you can't beat the Cottesloe for a great, basic suit. And of course, there are bikini options too. If you've never made a swimsuit before, or if you've struggled with the correct length of elastic, I recommend this pattern. It gives exact lengths for everything. One word of warning that applies to all one-piece suits: make a quick mock up with your lining fabric. Torso length varies wildly!

The suit pictured above is actually reversible, and you can find more details here.

North Shore by Greenstyle Creations

Dare I make a wild statement and say I have a TNT swim pattern?? If I do, it's definitely the North Shore. There are TONS of options in this pattern to prevent you from getting bored. The bottoms can be made in different rises. The tops can have a variety of backs. So. Many Choices! But the directions are also great for beginners.

Butterfly suit, purple suit, stained glass suit.

Soma Swimsuit by Papercut Patterns

I'm sad to put this on the list, not because I don't love it, but because it appears to be out of print?! I'm including it anyway, on the off chance it gets reprinted soon (I hope!). I love swimwear with interesting lines, and the cute little triangles at the top of the bikini always get me. This pattern is a little more advanced but is fun to make and wear.

Edgewater Avenue

Okay so I'm cheating here. This is actually a pattern company, not a single pattern, but they only make swim patterns! I had totally forgotten about them, so I wanted to highlight them here. I love that they sell bikini tops and bottoms separately, so you can mix and match what you like. There are real life photos on all the listings so you can see the finished suits on many body types.

I'll admit, I've gotten a little addicted to these patterns! I've made a one piece and two bikinis in the last month. Yes, I am prepping for a trip to Hawaii, but that's still a lot of suits! I recommend watching their YouTube video on making a reversible suit before you dive in, as most of their patterns follow this method.

There you have it, a few of my favorite swimsuit sewing patterns! Don't be discouraged if you haven't found your swim BFF pattern yet. It takes a LOT of practice to get good at sewing swimsuits, but the flip side is that the stretch can make fit forgiving. Join us over in the Fabric Fairy Facebook group for more fun!

I am a member of the Fabric Fairy Promo Team and received some of this fabric for free in exchange for a review. Being on the promo team is an easy job because all the fabrics are fantastic! All opinions are my own.