Toddler Bathing Suit Pattern – FREE

Looking for a cute toddler bathing suit pattern? Look no further! This free swim suit pattern is perfect for summer swimming.

We took a spring break trip to Vietnam, and before we left I made this toddler bathing suit pattern. I sewed it live on my FB show – detailing how I copied the pieces from an existing toddler bathing suit to make this pattern. I’ve now created pattern pieces so you too can make this suit. I’ll give you the measurements of my daughter and some ideas for adjusting so hopefully it will work for toddler girls for a few years. I’m participating in the SUIT UP FOR SUMMER blog tour today, so you can also find links to lots of other great swimwear inspiration at the bottom of this page.  There is also a GIVEAWAY!

Join my pattern group on FB for support! Make sure to check out all my Free sewing patterns here.

I sewed up a few new bathing suits for my kids before our spring break trip. I made a Cool Dude Board shorts for my son. {which you can buy here for just $1!} and then I made this cute little toddler bathing suit pattern for my daughter.. middle son got hand me downs {isn’t that the way life is! haha} We had the most amazing time at both the pool and beach on our trip. I love this suit becuase it has the cute ruffle AND I’ve added 2 strap options. I’m not a big fan of halter straps for myself { I don’t like the way it feels on my neck} but I made the first version with a halter strap becuase I reused the plastic snaps from the worn out suit… this is a GREAT way for getting swim hardware… I always snatch it off worn out suits and reuse on new ones… But unfortuntely we lost this yellow suit on a camping trip in April, so when I made the second suit I just made regular shoulder straps.. you now have the CHOICE!

Front and back of the regular strap version. I made a fun color blocked version so you could all see the indivdual pieces and to make the tutorial easier to follow.

 

Here’s the halter top.. You can buy the plastic clasps cheap HERE on Amazon.

Okay if you have a child that you think would fit this cute pattern you can click on the graphic below to download the pattern and fun the full tutorial. Enjoy! below you can find the giveaway info and all the other suit up for summer posts!! You can check out other suits I’ve sew by clicking this link <HERE>

Let’s get started on this free swim suit pattern tutorial!

You will need: 1/2 yard swim farbic {here are some great swim fabric options} Swim lining fabric is optional. You need the plastic clasp mentioned above if you want to make the halter top {plastic clasps cheap HERE on Amazon} You also need  2 yards elastic. I always just use regular elastic {not plastic swim elastic} Our swim suits get so much wear that they only last a season anyway, and regular elastic will last that long. You can find elastic here on FABRIC.com or AMAZON.  You also need 1 yard of 1″ wide FOE {fold over elastic} which you can buy online at either place I mentioned for the other elastic. Finally, you need the free toddler swim suit pattern! Go print the PDF by clicking the link below.

Print your pattern at actual size or 100% and trim edges. Tape together, it should look like this.

Cut out your pieces from fabric as described.. This pattern fits chest sizes of 20-21″. My daughter has a chest of 20.5″ and a shoulder to crotch length of 17″. You can easily add length if your child is taller…  The width is forgiving as the fabric stretches… NOTE: on the yellow suit I used all 3/8″ elastic. In these photos I used a thin 1/4″ elastic… after I was finished I did not like it, so I ripped it all out and put in 3/8″ for the final photos that were on the previous page… SO… use 3/8″ elastic, even though the photos have thinner {haha} 3/8″ Seam Allowance included on pattern pieces!

How to sew a swim suit –

I used a lining on the bottom only. If you use a lining for any part, just cut one with the same pattern piece, then place the 2 {lining and suit} together when you sew. Sew the side and croth seam of the bottoms with right sides together.

Cut a 1″ piece of elastic. Place it in the very center of your top front on the wrong side of the fabric. Move it 1/4″ down from the top, sew and STRETCH as you sew. I used a zig zag stitch. Also, sew the front and back together at the sides with right sides touching.

You now have a front center detail like this on the right side of the fabric.

Cut another piece of elastic. It should be 2″ SHORTER than the swim top front. This picture shows it centered with 1″ on each side.

Stretch and sew across the very top of front on the wrong side of  fabric. It should go almost to the very edge on both sides. I like to use a zig zag stitch.

Fold the top of suit over to the back side and stitch again to enclose the elastic. Use a zig zag or other stretch stitch.

Place the FOE elastic center on the back center. Stretch the elastic slightly and pin around to front on both sides. Fold the elastic over to enclose the raw edge of suit.

Sew on edge of  elastic to finish the suit top. Remember the elastic should be stretched, not the suit. You want this to support the top, so it needs to be pulled in just a bit. At this point add a plastic bra clasp for a halter OR go to next step for straps.

Try the suit on and mark the straps. Then sew in place.

For the legs, measure the elastic on your child. It should be snug as it will stretch out a bit. On the right side below you can see the elastic sew to the wrong side of the suit bottoms. Pin and stretch the elastic around evenly before sewing. Then fold over again to the back side of the suit and sew to enclose elastic like the left side of the suit.

I use a simple narrow zig zag for all stitching anf I think it looks nice, plus its super stretchy.

Place the skirt with right sides together and sew the two short sides of the skirt.

Place the wrong side of the skirt on the right side of the bottoms. Pin.

On top of that add the swim top. The right side of the top should be on the right side of the skirt. You may need to stretch the skirt just a bit to fit with the bottom and top. Match the side seams and ease the stretch from there. Sew around to connect the pieces of the suit together.

YOU ARE FINISHED!  Please let me know if you have any questions. You can head back to the first page photos HERE or one more link to download the pattern HERE.

Here are some other swim related posts you should check out…

Beach Bag Sewing Tutorial

Boys Board Shorts

Womens Swim Bottoms

Kids Swim Suit Pattern