Design & Make Your Own Bikini

I plan to make a top too, but thought I would share my results with the bottoms.  The easiest way to do this project is to use a pair of your existing bathing suit bottoms or panties that you like and fit well.  This is what I did, and then cut them at the side seams.  Mine had elastic along the edges so I simply stretched the bottoms across a piece of card board and pinned them down along the elastic lines.  At this point, you can trace a pattern and make any design modifications you want.  I like doing it this way because you are ensured a perfect fit and one that you already like!! 

This is the pattern I came up with.  Pretty basic, but it's my first try and I was going for the basic.  You will also want to make an additional piece for the crotch lining. 

This elastic was easy to work with.  Make sure as you sew that you do not stretch the fabric or the elastic.  Start by pinning the crotch lining to the panties and then you can begin applying the elastic.  I used a zig zag stitch.  Your machine may have a specialized zig zag for stretch fabric and you could do this as well.  This is actually what I did because I don't own a serger.