DIY Bathing Suit Cover-up Tutorial (Free Pattern!)

It's exciting to finally be wearing flip flops, and planning trips to the beach! (At least for us New Englanders.) Some of you may have already been doing that. In this tutorial I'm making a simple tank top style bathing suit cover-up out of jersey knit fabric.

Download the Bathing Suit Cover-Up for Free!

  cover-up-pattern.pdf

Watch this video tutorial or read the steps below.

- Cotton Jersey (Robert Kaufman Hot Pink Laguna Cotton Jersey)

- Thread

- Fabric scissors

- Ball point pins

- Ball point needles

- An iron

This pattern uses the same pattern piece for both the front and back.

- First, fold the fabric over about 18".

- Take the pattern piece and pin it to the fold line.

- Pin around the pattern to help keep it in place, and cut.

- Fold the fabric over again, and pin the pattern piece to the fold line.

- Pin all around, and cut.

- Remove all the pins on the pattern pieces.

- Line the front and back sides up together and pin. This jersey doesn’t have a right side but if you’re using a fabric that does, match the right sides up together and pin.

- Start 1” in, and zig zag stitch with a 1” seam allowance on both sides. Backstitch at the beginning and the end. For a zig zag stitch on a stretch fabric, make sure your stitch length is 2.5mm and the width is 3mm. This stitch will help the thread stretch with the fabric.

- Pin the shoulders together and stitch with a 1” seam allowance. Start a ½” in, and leave 2” at the end. Backstitch at the beginning and the end.

- Take the inside seam allowance for the sides and shoulders and and trim it down to a ½".

- Fold the cover-up back to the right side.

- For the neckline and armholes, fold the edges over a ½” twice and pin.

- Use a regular straight stitch, and stitch a ½” in from the edge. Backstitch at the beginning and end.

- Fold the hem over 1” twice and pin.

- Sew 1” in from the edge. Backstitch at the beginning and the end, and your bathing suit cover-up is now complete!

You can also use lightweight fabrics like cotton batiste, or gauze that are breathable and comfortable. These are the fabrics you'll want for a cover-up in the hot summer months. If you're feeling fancy or want a fun print, chiffon or challis are great options as well.