Swim Style Celeste Bikini

Last year I made my first ever swimsuit and decided it was so much fun maybe it should be an annual thing. Pretty excited to share this years swimsuit with y’all!

I originally planned on braving the french and making this free pattern from Wear Lemonade. That was until I discovered Swim Style Patterns. They make very cool and modern swimwear patterns for women and girls. I immediately fell in love with their Celeste Bikini pattern because of its deep V front, low scooped back and sporty look. I did make some changes to the construction of the pattern but overall I found the pattern well fitting, and instructions easy to follow. I already have my eye on their Heiress Bikini for next summer!

I sewed up an XS in the top and a S in the bottom. I knew the cut of the briefs was going to be way to cheeky for me so I immediately came out about 1″ on the back bikini curve. I also added 1/4″ elastic on the seam allowances around the legs to help keep everything in place (the pattern calls for no elastic there). I only sewed the elastic to the seam allowance to keep the seamless look of the bottoms. I ended up having to take up the shoulders about 3/4″ to make the top fit more secure. Lastly, construction calls for the waist and bust bands to be sewn to the suit and the elastic threaded through. To me that sounded like a twisty elastic mess. So I used 1 1/4″ elastic, folded the waist & bust bands around the elastic and serged everything together into the suit, so the elastic is caught in with the serging.  A little bulkier but to me a much more sturdy.

I didn’t have a specific plan for the fabric originally. I was thinking maybe stripes. But I found some fabric I needed from Fabrics & Fabrics for my Roksi Trio samples and decided to see what they had to offer for swimwear as well. I immediately fell in love with this crosshatch navy plaid. I am really happy with the end result and the way this print looks with the pattern. I also am glad that even with a white background it maintains its opacity when wet. Unfortunately I don’t think this fabric is available any longer.

Have you made a swimsuit yet!? What are you waiting for?? They are pretty easy to construct and very rewarding.

See the suit in action here:

SKIP TO THE END?
Pattern: Celeste Bikini by Swim Style
Size Sewn: XS in top, S in bottoms
Fabric: Nylon Spandex from Fabrics & Fabrics
Notions: 1/4″ elastic and 1 1/4″ elastic
Difficulty: Intermediate
Adjustments: Added elastic to leg openings, took up shoulders 1″, sewed bust and waistband elastics all in one with suit instead of threading through casings
Finishes: Bottoms are seamless finished with lining, tops are turned and stitched with 1/4″ elastic and a zig zag stitch

Happy Swimsuit Sewing!