How To Make A Swimsuit Coverup Out Of Vintage Towels

Sew Much 2 Wear
by Sew Much 2 Wear
4 Materials
$10
2 Hours
Medium

When you step out of the water, whether it's at the beach or pool -- you grab a towel.


This project is going to give you a new way to dry off after hot summer day. It's a hands-free towel coverup dress!


This is the perfect upcycle for those vintage towels that have been at the back of the closet for the last few years. Their unique design and prints can make this coverup a real statement piece!

This is what I started with. Two matching vintage bath towels that originally belonged to my grandmother.

My towels were quite long so I opted to cut one fringe end of each towel to eventually create sleeves. Luckily, there was a straight line in the print of the pattern right where I wanted to cut so I was able to just follow that to ensure each piece was the same size.

My plan was to sew both towels together at the top, leaving the middle open to slip over my head. To make sure I made the opening wide enough to slip over my head I first pinned the towels together, than did a quick test.



Once I knew I would fit in, I sewed the top corners together with a straight stitch until I reached the middle open section I had previously marked.

Once the two towels were attached I folded one of the towels in half horizontally, and used a ruler to mark a V-neck line that would be even on both sides.



Using scissors, I cut along that line I created.

I then just turned that v-shape in on it's self, pinned and sewed it into place with a straight stitch to finish the raw edge.

On the backside of the swimsuit cover up, I simply turned over the top edge to finish that edge as well.

Once I had my neckline finished, I opened up the two towels and spread them out. I lined up the two pieces of extra fringe I cut earlier and sewed them to two big pieces.

Once the sleeves were attached I sewed a straight stitch along the bottom edge of the sleeves to finish them and also sewed up the sides of the dress.

To create a drawstring waistline I used a piece of old bias tape and sewed it to the inside of the cover up dress where the waistline would be to create a tunnel to thread a cord through.


Once I had the tunnel created I simply cut two small holes into the exterior of the towel dress to to thread the cord through so I could tie both sides together and create a cinched waistline for shape.

Unfortunately I don't have better pictures of the end result because I made a major mistake after I had completed the sewing portion of this project.


I attempted to dye the entire coverup with blue RIT dye because the white and pink was a little too light for my skin color. (I would not recommend dying your towel coverup. Mine came out terribly. So terribly I couldn't save it.)


Please let me know what you think of this project idea and if you might give it a try in the future.


I can't wait to find more vintage towels and try again. This time I'll stay far away from the dye.


For more upcycling projects, visit my youtube channel.

Suggested materials:
  • Towels
  • Sewing machine
  • Cord
See all materials

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Sew Much 2 Wear
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  • Roberta Roberta on May 24, 2023

    Kudos to you for posting even though you were disappointed with the result. It is a great way to use a treasured vintage piece and personally, I found it inspiring. Your pics were helpful also.

  • Jenthewren Jenthewren on May 25, 2023

    Great idea, going to try that as I dry off naturally with a towel tied at the front. This will stop it slipping off.

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