Color Blocked Swimsuit Hack

inside: Learn how to create a color blocked swimsuit with this easy sewing hack. Use my swimsuit pattern or any you already have. 

I shared a brand new swimsuit sewing pattern last week. {you can buy it here!} This fun color blocking hack can be used with my new swimsuit pattern OR any other swimsuit pattern you already have. This hack is included in the printable pattern with full instructions {a bit more than here} but I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peak at this fun sewing hack… and it can actually be used with any swim pattern. 

Color Blocked Swimsuit Hack

Have you tried sewing swimwear? It’s really not as hard as you think! I’ve come to love it and have sewn four suits for my daughter just this spring. You can also check out my first experience with sewing swim here. This version of my new suit is one of my favorites!! I took my one piece suit pattern and split it to make a two piece. 

Want to buy my new pattern? It includes a printable pattern and tutorial plus three videos to help you get the perfect fit for every body type!!

This version of the suit also shows off the great fit of my new swim pattern. It was important to have a suit with great fit and coverage for playing hard all summer long. 

I had some of the fun mermaid fabric in my stash from last summer, but not enough for this suit. To have enough fabric I used some of this blue sequin fabric to add to the suit. The result is a fun color blocked swim suit hack. I also added the cute Ariel embroidery to the front to complete the mermaid look. 

In addition to the color blocking on this version of the suit I also tried my cover stitch machine for the top-stitching. I like the sporty look, but a zig-zag stitch works great too. 

The Ariel embroidery on the front added a cut fun detail to this suit. This photo also shows the side panels. 

Sewing Tutorial for color blocking

Ok! Let’s talk the how to for this suit hack. Some swim suits come with a side panel like this but if yours doesn’t {or if you are using my pattern} here’s how to easily create a side panel for a second fabric color. 

**TIP** if you are lining the suit, cut the swim lining fabric from suit pieces BEFORE cutting them apart for color blocking. This will make sense in a couple of steps. 

I first cut my pattern into a top and bottom and removed about 2 inches from the middle of the suit. Place the front and back suit pieces together lining up the side pieces. I taped the sides together with a small space between them {to create the seam allowance} I cut about 1.5″ in on either side of the side seam. 

You now have three pieces for the suit top. Repeat the same process with the suit bottom {or use this method for a one piece suit as well}

Now cut your three pieces of fabric. Remember to add seam allowances to both side so the side panel and the edge of the front and back pieces. 

Because I put the embroidery on the front piece I couldn’t really fold to cut on the fold. I just placed the fold edge in the middle of the embroidery and then flipped the pattern and cut the other side. 

Sew both side panels to the front of the suit, and then sew the back to both sides. 

Here are what the side panels looked like for the bottom of the suit. I sewed the side panels to both sides of the front, then sewed the back to these sides. 

Here is where the lining tip comes into play. You can see that my lining is just “normal”. It has side seams only. I sewed the bottoms together with the color blocking, then the lining together as normal. Place these two wrong sides together before attaching a waistband {details in my pattern} and leg elastic as detailed in your swim pattern. 

The top part goes together, except for the shoulder seams. Sew the color blocking on the side seams and sew the lining sides as normal. Then connect the two pieces when sewing the shoulder seams together. Place the lining and suit main with wrong sides together. 

I was so excited about how this suit turned out. And Rose loved it too!! Hopefully the tips in this post can help you create a fun swims suit as well. 

Other fun Swim Posts-

Girls Basic Swimsuit Pattern

Womens swim cover – printable pdf if many sizes

Fun swim suits for kids

Womens Board shorts for swim