Ingredients for swimwear

Sew Your Own Swimwear – Fabrics, Accessories & Patterns for Bikinis and Swimsuits

Want to sew your own bikini or swimsuit?

Here you’ll find everything for high-quality, self-sewn swimwear:

  • Swim fabrics & swimwear lining
  • Swimwear elastic
  • Rings and sliders for straps
  • Bikini clasps
  • Bra cups for swimwear
  • Foam for swimwear
  • Patterns
  • Complete sewing kits

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced lingerie sewer – with the right materials, you can create durable and well-fitting swimwear at home.

Which fabric is suitable for swimwear?

For bikinis, swimsuits, and tankinis, special swim fabrics made of polyamide and elastane are usually used. These fabrics are perfect for self-sewn swimwear because they:

  • dry quickly
  • are elastic and comfortable to wear
  • are resistant to chlorine and saltwater
  • retain their shape even after many swims

Many high-quality swim fabrics also offer a UV protection factor (UPF 50+). This helps protect the skin better from sun exposure — especially important for children’s swimwear, sports swimwear, or long days at the beach.

For more supportive models, powernet is often used additionally. It provides better support and more stability, especially for larger cups.

Difference between swimwear lining and powernet

Many beginners wonder when sewing swimwear: Do I need swimwear lining or powernet? The answer depends on how much support and stability you want.

Swimwear lining is used to make swimwear less see-through and more durable.

  • Soft on the skin
  • Bi-elastic
  • Increases durability
  • Prevents transparency when the fabric is wet
  • Ideal for bikinis and swimsuits

Powernet is much more stable than swimwear lining and is used for shaping or supportive areas.

  • Stabilizing
  • Ideal for larger cups
  • Supports shaping effect
  • Suitable for integrated bra solutions
  • Provides better support

Which elastics are suitable for bikinis and swimsuits?

Regular lingerie elastics are unsuitable for swimwear because they often don’t withstand chlorine, UV radiation, and saltwater for long.

Swimwear elastic

Special swimwear elastic is designed for water exposure and is therefore much more durable.

  • Resistant to chlorine and saltwater
  • Remains elastic even after many years and swims
  • Provides stable support
  • Ribbed surface makes sewing easier

Typical widths:

  • 6–8 mm swimwear elastic → for leg openings and bikinis
  • 10–15 mm swimwear elastic → for underbust elastic
  • 15 mm swimwear elastic → for straps and ideal for larger sizes and more support

Which bikini clasp is suitable for self-sewn swimwear?

A high-quality bikini clasp is the finishing touch for every self-sewn bikini. It ensures secure hold, easy putting on and taking off, and a professional finish.

The two-piece metal clasp with slide-in mechanism has proven especially reliable – it’s easy to sew, nickel-free, and resistant to salt and chlorine water. Our 27 mm silver bikini clasp is ideal for straps 27 mm wide and fits perfectly for bikini straps and side bands.

Bikini clasps are available in various widths (10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 27 mm, 38 mm) – matching your chosen strap width.

Which swimwear is suitable for large cups?

Many conventional swimsuits offer too little support for larger busts. That’s why self-sewn swimwear is becoming increasingly popular.

For large cups, we recommend:

  • Powernet for stabilization
  • Wide underbust elastic
  • Wider straps
  • Integrated bra cups or bra shells
  • Well-supportive patterns like the Brigitte swimsuit

Complete sewing kits are especially practical, as all materials are already coordinated. This makes it easier for beginners to get started and saves time searching for materials.