Although it may seem a little counter intuitive for the beach, long sleeve swimsuits have been popping up more and more for the 2019 season. As someone who starts burning the second she goes outside (thank you, Irish ancestors), I’m a huge fan of the extra protection from the sun; and when paired with Mood’s UV protective and aloe-infused tricots, our new Abelia Swimsuit becomes a must-have for any beach-goer. You can even get a bit unconventional with a stretch lace or foil knit for a bodysuit that can easily transition into your Fall wardrobe! However you choose to create the Abelia, you’ll be ready to seas the day in elegant, summer style.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 1.5 yards Gold Coins UV Protective Compression Tricot with Aloe Vera Microcapsules
- 1 yard Black Neon Emojis UV Protective Compression Tricot with Aloe Vera Microcapsules
- Raspberry Sorbet Closed Bottom Plastic Molded Zipper – 6.5″
- Note: Pattern calls for a 9″-10″ zipper. I’ll show you how I adjusted for a shorter zipper below.
- MDF143 – The Abelia Swimsuit Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
CLICK HERE FOR TIPS FOR SEWING TRICOT & SWIMWEAR
Ideally you’ll have at least a 9″ plastic molded zipper to pair with your suit, but I spotted this one in Raspberry Sorbet and couldn’t pass it up since the color matched so wonderfully.
If you’re working with a shorter zipper, all you need to do is add a small rectangle of fabric at the end of it, just as wide as the zipper, and long enough that it reaches to the bottom of your center front bodice piece. (Note, this zipper opening is how you put your suit on, so the smaller you go, the more difficult it may be to get on. I don’t recommend shortening your zipper for sizes over 12.)
Next, place your zipper in between your center front bodice pieces and stitch with fabric faces together, like you see above.
You may notice that some of my seams have some additional piping sewn into them. This piping isn’t included in the pattern, but it’s not difficult to create your own. For this project, I wanted 1/4″ of the piping to show, which meant cutting 1.5″ strips of pink knit. Once full inch was for seam allowance, and the other 1/2″ is what you see as the piping. Folded in half, I was left with the 1/4″ I wanted!
Sew the top portion of your front bodice to your lower front panel, fabric faces together. If using piping, include it in between your fabrics when sewing this seam.
When adding your side front panel next, you can also include piping if desired. Attach the panel along the vertical seam first, like you see below. At the bottom corner, clip your seam allowance at a 45 degree angle toward your stitch line. This makes it easier to match up the bottom seam and sew.
The front of your suit has been completed!
Luckily, the back of the suit goes together much more simply. Attach your side back panels to the center back panel and it is complete!
Sew the front and back of your swim suit together at the side seams and shoulders before moving on to your collar.
Technically, you should attach one layer of your collar to your garment before facing it, but I wanted to be sure the scalloped were edged correctly before attaching.
Sew the two collar pieces along the scallops, faces together. Rather than your typical 1/2″ seam allowance, used 1/4″. Notch the seam allowance, like you see below and turn right side out. Attach one layer to the neckline of your garment and then edge-stitch around the scallops with a wide stitch. Slip-stitch the bottom of the collar facing down.
Connect your scallop facings at the side seams and then attach then to your suit along the scalloped hem, again using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Notch and turn right side out, like you did with the collar. Use a wide stitch to edge-stitch along the scallops. Finish the facing with a zig-zag stitch or serger and then tack to seams inside.
Set in your sleeves and finish your sleeve hems similarly.
Will you be trying the Abelia Swimsuit? Let me know what fabric combinations you’re considering in the comments!
23 comments
I love this! Totally going on my to do list!
FINALLY, an adorable, functional, super-cool-and-even-a-little-sexy swimsuit that won’t make me feel priggish and dowdy for being covered! Fellow redhead here, falling at your feet in gratitude.
very interesting pattern:)
Don’t you think of creating some patterns in children sizes? To create mama and me sets?
They have the crpress dress, but Id love some more as well
I just ran across this and would love to use just the top part as a rash guard. Would that be doable? How would I go about that?
Hi there! Yes, that would certainly be possible. Measure how long you would like your rash guard to be, and simply cut the pattern off at that length. You can then hem it using elastic or a piped finish. 😀
Never made piping before. But there is a first to.e for everything! Thanks so much!
Just finished mine! I love it! Thank you for the pattern!
I love it I can not wait o make it. what type of material is the facing.? Thank you
Thanks, Caroline! The facings are the same tricot as the rest of the suit. 🙂
Hi Courtney what size should I sew up if my bust is size 4 but waist is size 10? Thank you
Hi Caroline! It’s usually easiest to sew the size for your largest measurement and then take the garment in where needed. 🙂
I trying to determine how much fabric I need for various sizes. Which size did you make, so i can see how to size up fabric allowances, please? TIA!
Hi Sonja – I sewed a size 4 here. 🙂
Thanks! That helps!!
I sewed one as a rashguard top and I love it!!!! I will make another one and maybe leave out the piping and extend the front panel…thank you for the lovely pattern and the fit was awesome!!!
I love this silhouette! I’m wondering if this could be also done on a knit fabric for everyday wear as a bodysuit (it would look so good!). Do you think it could be done?
Yes, I think that would be awesome!
I can combine it with my mermaid fin too!
I’m trying to make this but I guess I’m not good a following directions. I don’t understand the facing especially at the bottom.and how to sew the seams, are they hidden seams? do you sew the facing and regular fabric together like in the how to video (bikini video).
Hello there!
Thanks for visiting the Mood Sewciety Blog! We’re proud to have released over 350 free sewing patterns, and we hope you’re enjoying them.
Behind the scenes we’re a dedicated team of three, and we want to be able to offer top notch support. We have exciting plans for our patterns on the horizon, and as we continue to grow, we’ve decided to focus our sewist support on patterns from the last 2 years. If this pattern hasn’t been recently reduxed or updated, we won’t be able to respond to technical questions on these older posts.
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Thank you for your understanding and happy sewing!
Best regards,
The Mood Sewciety Blog Team
Is there an easy way to not have the scalloped leg openings? I would like to make this suit for surfing and would like to use elastic at the legs. Would I even out the legs and add 1/2” for 1/4” elastic?
Yes, you can add 1/2″ to the bottom to create a casing for the elastic