swimsuit sewing hack – side panel

Inside: Learn how to hack a swimsuit pattern to create a fun contrasting side panel. This swimsuit sewing hack can be used with my Girls Basic Suit or any suit pattern you own. Add a cute side panel to your next swimsuit.

Today I’ve got another fun hack for you in the line up of swimsuit sewing hacks. I released the Girls Basic Suit pattern a few years ago, and since then have created so many variations to the pattern using fun sewing hacks. In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to add a side panel to the swim suit. Below you will also find all my other sewing hacks for this same pattern.

SwimSuit Sewing Hack – Side Panel

How cute is the side panel in this swim suit? The color combinations are endless! Both of these fabrics were from the swim fabric stash and I think it made a pretty cute suit.

I didn’t make any other changes to the rest of the suit, so this is the original silhouette and shape, just with a pop of color on the side. I think I could even have gone down a size on the width and up one more on the length… Hard to tell until we get in the water.

How to add a side panel to a swimsuit pattern-

Here are the basic steps I took to add a side panel to this swim pattern. Adjust as you need for your fit and style. Of course see the original pattern and tutorial for the details on sewing up the rest of the swimsuit. Download and print the pattern, then trace off the size you need. My suit here is a combination of size 10 length and size 8 width.

NOTE!! Before editing to the suit to create the side panel, cut the lining fabric from the full and complete suit piece. We will not be changing up the lining.

Then take your front and back suit pieces and line up the side seams. There will be a curved open area in the middle.

Place a piece of paper or tissue under the side seams. Tape all three pieces together as one.

I cut 1″ on either side of the original side seams. You can cut more for a wide side stripe.

Carefully fold so that the two original lines come together. This eliminates that extra fabric that we would have if we left the middle section. Make sure to mark the front, back and top, bottom.

Cut the side panel from fabric. You will cut two, making sure you add seam allowance to the sides where you cut it from the suit.

Cut out the main front and back pieces as well, adding seam allowance on the sides where you cut off the panel.

Line up the front of the panel with the front of the suit and sew with right sides together. Make sure to keep the top/bottom in the right place as well. Place the back on top of the front and put the right sides of the suit and panel together. Sew, then finish suit as directed in pattern tutorial.