Free Sewing Pattern – Womens Swim Cover Up

I live in my swim suit during the summer. With this free sewing pattern and swim suit cover up I can wear my suit all the time and still be presentable when needed. {ahaha} I made a womens swim cover up pattern a few years ago, but the style was less like an actual dress and I don’t see myself wearing it anywhere but the pool or beach. This free swim cover up can be thrown over your suit and allow you to stop at the store or run an errand on your way home from the pool.

Free Sewing Pattern – Swim Cover Up PDF pattern

This free sewing pattern comes in sizes xs-xxl and is the more adorable {and useful} swim cover up. Check out all the fun photos and then go to the next page to download your own free pattern to sew up a cover up of your very own.

Just like the free toddler suit pattern that I shared a few weeks ago, I was able to take photos of this swim cover while we were on our Spring Break trip to Vietnam in March. Both at the pool and beach this cover up was perfect. I’m going to try an make it from a lighter fabric next time and see how that works as well. Find fun summer knits and French Terry fabric on Fabric.com I used a french terry for this swim cover up version.

The oversized hood is a fun feature and perfect for covering up messy beach hair!

The optional front pocket is great for keeping sunglasses or other items that are sometimes easy to lose.

Super cute right? Okay – it’s time for YOU to try this swim cover. On the next page you will find the size chart {xs-xxl}, link to download the pattern and the full photo tutorial for putting it all together. Enjoy! Join the FB group for support and to show off your photos!

If you like this idea, but don’t love this style check out my other free cover up pattern Here. 

Sew a DIY swim cover up for beach or pool –

Okay, so you want to sew up a swim cover! Here is the size chart to check out which size to make! Remember you are making this from knit fabric so it will stretch. If you’ve made my easy summer tank – the top design is the same so fit will be the same.  Any fabric with stretch will work.

Go DOWNLOAD and PRINT the free cover up sewing pattern by clicking below:

The link has been updated.. it no longer takes you to craftsy/bluprint it now goes to my own shop for you to download the free patterns.

Trim the edges and tape together. The layout will look like this. You will need 1.5 yards of 60″ wide fabric to sew this swim cover and the seam allowance is 3/8″. If you have more narrow fabric you will need 3 yards.  You will also need ribbed knit for the arm/neck bindings.

Alrighty, let’s get started. Cut the fabric as described on the pattern pieces. Cut an extra strip of 1.5″ wide ribbed binding for around the hood. We will measure the exact length later. Sew the shoulder seams with with right sides together.

Fold the arm binding in half and pin to the arm opening. I pin to both sides, find the middle, then stretch and pin evenly.

Sew to the opening, make sure to sew through all three layers, 1 layer of top and 2 layers of binding. Top Stitch with desired method. I use a double needle as described here in <THIS POST>

Repeat on the other arm.

Sew the curved edge of the hood with the right sides together. 

Find the center of the back tank and and center seam of the hood. Pin there and then work towards the front on both sides. Sew the hood to the neckline.

Measure the neckline from one side of the hood, around the hood, and around the front neckline. Cut your 1.5″ wide ribbed knit to 80% of this measurement. You may need to piece together 2 pieces of ribbed knit. I did. 

Here’s how I sewed the two pieces of ribbed knit together to get the combined length I needed. 

I put one seam on the front center and one on the center of the hood. You could also put the 2 seams on the sides. Stretch and pin the binding around the hood and front neckline.

Sew and topstitch as you did the arm openings. 

Sew the pocket together, right sides touching at all sides except one to turn.

Turn through the opening. Pin closed the opening by turning in the sides and pin.

Top-stitch the 2 curved sides of the pocket. 

Pin the pocket to the front of the swim cover. Sew the top, sides and bottom to the front. 

Sew the sides seams and tack down the under arm seam allowance at the arm binding as shown. 

Try on for length and then hem. I turned up a 3/4″ hem and sewed with my double needle. .. I thoght my striped were lined up until I saw the photos of my wearing this cover up… OPPS! The lines and the hem do not match… I still love it though.