How To Replace Swimsuit Elastic With An Elastic Band

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The sun is shining so bright here in the Netherlands. Hotter Spring than ever before. It’s time to bring out our pools and making swimsuits. Today’s tutorial is to show you how to replace the top bottom elastic and the Basic Bikini Bottoms waist elastic of our L&K Swimsuit with an elasticised band for extra length and comfort.

How gorgeous is this version of The racerback Top/ Basic bikini bottoms by  miss_maakt ?. Visit her blog to hear what she thinks about it.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

As you guessed already, we will  be using our L&K Swimsuit. View:  Racerback Top and Basic Bikini Bottoms (Dutch version or English version) for this tutorial. Both patterns are on 25% discount for 48h only.

Shall we begin?

YOU WILL NEED

A sewing machine or a serger/overlock, 1″ (2.5 cm) swim suit Elastic for the waistband and top bottom band, thread that’s the same colour as swimsuit, extra fabric for bands 2″ (5 cm) wide and length according to the measurements provided in the CUT section of the pattern instructions (English or Dutch).


How To Replace Swimsuit Elastic With An Elastic Band

STEP 1: CONSTRUCTING THE RACERBACK BIKINI TOP

With RS together, align main front piece to main back piece at the shoulders and sew with a zigzag stitch or a serger/overlock using 1/4″ (0.5 cm) seam allowance. Grade or clip the seam allowance to reduce bulk. Repeat this step with the lining.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

STEP 2: SEWING THE NECKLINE

Place the main and lining pieces RS together. Align the raw edges around the neckline and sew with a zigzag stitch or a serger/overlock using 1/4″ (0.5 cm) seam allowance.

NOTE: Do not stretch the neckline while sewing to avoid gaping.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash Turn your piece RS out.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

STEP 3: SEWING AROUND THE ARMHOLES

To sew around the armholes we will use a burrito method. Please find tutorial in this link. This is how it will look after (see picture below).

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

STEP 4: SEWING THE SIDE SEAMS

Open up the bodice so both the main and the lining are RS facing up (see pic below).

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

Flip the back bodice so its sitting on top of the front bodice RS facing each other.

Align the side seams of the front and back main pieces and the front and back of the lining pieces. Pin. Sew up the side seams of the main piece and continue on to the lining with a zigzag stitch or a serger/overlock using 1/4″ (0.5 cm) seam allowance. Grade the seams, turn and press. Baste the bottoms of the main bodice and lining together so attaching the band is easier.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

STEP 5: CONSTRUCTING THE BASIC BIKINI BOTTOMS

Place your main front piece RS up.  With RS together, place your main back piece on top of the main front piece.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash Now place the lining back piece on top of the mainback piece, WS together.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash Then place the lining front piece on top of the lining back piece RS together.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash We are going to enclosed the crotch seam. Pin at the crotch. Sew with a zigzag stitch or a serger/overlock using 1/4″ (0.5 cm) seam allowance. Clip and Grade the crotch seams. Then sew the side seams of lining and main separately with a zigzag stitch or a serger/overlock using 1/4″ (0.5 cm) seam allowance. Turn only the lining inside out.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

STEP 6: ADDING LEG ELASTIC

To add leg elastic to the bikini bottoms you will follow this tutorial.


How To Replace Swimsuit Elastic With An Elastic Band

Now the fun part, let’s add the bands to the waist and the bottom of the racerback top!

STEP 7: CUT

Cut 1″ (2.5 cm) elastic and 2” (5 cm) wide band for the racerback top bottom as well as for the bikini bottoms waist.  Use the measurements provided in the CUT section of the instructions to cut the recommended length.

I used size 8 measurements for my daughter since her measurements fall in that size. So for the top bottom elastic I cut 1″ (2.5 cm) elastic of length  21″ (53 cm). I used the same length to cut the top band but this time I cut 2″ (5 cm) wide.

For the basic bikini bottoms, I cut 1″ (2.5 cm) elastic of length  21″ (53 cm). I used the same length to cut the waistband but this time I cut 2″ (5 cm) wide.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

Fold the waistband and top band pieces each in half RS together, so the short ends meet. Sew using a zig zag stitch or serger/overlock with 1/4″ (0.5 cm) seam allowance.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

How To Replace Swimsuit Elastic With An Elastic Band

Secure both the elastics at each end using a wide zigzag stitch to create a loop. Divide the elastics, waistband and top band into quarters using pins.

Fold the waistband/top band in half widthwise, lining up the raw edges, WS together. Insert the elastic into the waistband/top band, lining up the quarter pin marks. Pin.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

Take the bottom waistline and bottom of top into quarters. Place the band over the bottoms and top bottom, so that the raw edges line up. 

Sew using a zig zag stitch or serger/overlock with 1/4″ (0.5 cm) seam allowance. 

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

LK swimsuit by Sansahash

Flip the bands so the seams are pointing towards the bikini. Topstitch onto the seam using a zig zag stitch or twin needle.

LK swimsuit by Sansahash And that’s it! Here’s how it looks close up!

LK swimsuit by Sansahash Happy Sewing

Mgeni of Sansahash


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