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.
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.
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.
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).
STEP 4: SEWING THE SIDE SEAMS
Open up the bodice so both the main and the lining are RS facing up (see pic below).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Flip the bands so the seams are pointing towards the bikini. Topstitch onto the seam using a zig zag stitch or twin needle.
Mgeni of Sansahash
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