Whether buying or making your competition bikini, picking the right fabric is critical. There are so many choices out there, though.
SO LET’S TALK FABRIC
Competition bikinis should always be made with 4 way stretch spandex. (Learn more about fabric stretch HERE) Unlike 2 way stretch, which only moves in one direction, 4 way stretch spandex stretches both cross-wise and length-wise. This enables the fabric to move with you and be pulled taught around a fixed object {like your top inserts} without the print “cracking”. If you pull a 2 way stretch fabric in a direction it does not stretch, the ink used to print the fabric will appear to crack, losing its elasticity and showing white or black lines through the print.
I source all of my fabrics from Spandex House. They have tons of 4 way stretch spandex options in nearly every color imaginable, and at really reasonable prices. I used their Avatar print in Turquoise and Black on my last suit, and have the same fabric in Black/Silver, Black/Purple, Black/Royal, and Black/Kelly as options for my next suit {I’m only a little indecisive…}. I also picked up the Scattered Mini Dot fabric in Red/Black as an option for my next suit.
Before ordering, request a sample card. Spandex House will send you a cutting from up to 10 different fabrics for free so you can check them against your skin tone and ensure they’re the color you want.
When you’re ready to order, call them and refer to the numbers on the sample cards to ensure you get the exact same fabric. You’ll only need a yard, which should cost about $13.
If you’re not going the DIY route, you can still request fabric swatches from the company you’re purchasing from. Take advantage of this! I’ve had several fabrics show up differently in person than they look on screen (royal blues that were actually navy, maroons that were really orange, etc.), and the last thing you want to do is spend hundreds and receive something that looks different than you expected.
LINING THE SUIT
Stretch spandex can be itchy, so you’ll also want a liner fabric. The liner will also enable you to stuff your top {shhh everyone does it!} and keep everything covered on the odd chance you pick a light fabric that is a little transparent when stretched. I did use a standard cotton I already had on my first test suit, but it jammed the machine a few times so now I stick with the thinner fabric designed for lining suits. Spandex House has several options – I usually stick with nude for versatility across several different suits. 1 yard of liner will run you $4.50.
You can find a full list of everything else you’ll need to complete your suit HERE.
And just in case there’s any confusion, you’ll need access to a sewing machine for this project. You don’t need anything fancy or heavy duty. I’ve had my Singer Stylist for about 5 years and am still in love with it. The straight stitch and zig zag stitch come in handy when working with elastic. We’ll cover some alternatives when we get to instructions, though, if you can only run a straight stitch.
If you’re doing the math, we’re at just under $44 in materials for construction of the suit (not including the sewing machine). The savings are already adding up!
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[…] wrote a post back in February about selecting the perfect fabric for your competition bikini – and your feedback was great. Since that post, I’ve […]