How to Make Bikini Bottoms With Side Ties - Beginner Swimwear Sewing

Tools and materials:

• Kendall bikini bottom pattern
• Swimwear fabric
• Swimwear elastic
• Pattern
• Clips
• Rotary cutter or scissors
• Sewing machine

1. Get the pattern ready

Because of the shape of the pattern and the straps, you will end up using more fabric than usual for a typical pair of bottoms. If you’d like to save fabric, you can sew the straps separately, but in this tutorial, I’m going to stick to how the pattern was made.

2. Cut the pieces

First, you’re going to cut your pieces. If you want to make your bottoms reversible, make sure to have two different fabrics to use. In total, you’ll cut two of the front piece and two of the back piece.

3. Match each front with its corresponding back 

Then, match the lining and the outer pieces with right sides together. Align the gussets for the lining and the outer pieces, and then sew across to secure the gussets in place. B

ut with the lining piece, you’re going to leave about a ½ inch to ¾ inch (1-2cm) hole in the gusset. Later on, we’re going to use this hole to take the bottoms to the right side.

4. Sew the edges

Once the gussets are sewn, you’re going to open up the lining and outer pieces, so they are laid flat. Then, match them against each other with right sides touching.

Now it’s time to sew every open edge and attach elastic.

Before you do this, I recommend either sewing a basting stitch or using plenty of pins. This way, you can ensure the fabric won’t slide around while you’re sewing.

With pieces that have long straps like this, this can definitely be an issue, and that’s a great tip to help.

5. Add the elastic

Once you’re ready, sew along every open edge and attach elastic as you sew. You’re going to attach the elastic everywhere except for the ends of the side-ties where it’s not necessary.

If you have an elastic foot on your sewing machine, you can use that. If you don’t have one, you can break the process into two steps and first sew the fabric together and then go back and attach elastic.

6. Turn right side out

All the seams are now sewn, so it’s now time to take the bottoms to the right side. Using the hole we left in the lining gusset, take everything through that hole and to the right side.

Now all that’s left is finishing off the hole. You can either use a topstitch, or you can use an invisible stitch.

How to make bikini bottoms with side ties

Here are the finished bikini bottoms! They are super cute, and I’m sure you’ll agree, very easy to make.

I only used one color fabric in my design, but as I said, you could use two different fabrics, and then you’ll have the option of which way round you want to wear them.

The design also has three different coverage options, which you can choose from when you download the design.

Let me know what you think of this tutorial in the comments below.