DIY Ruched Bikini

August 15, 2012 by Domestic Ingenuity 5 Comments

I don’t know what it is about bikini bottoms but the majority of them (especially solid colors) are just not that flattering. They create the dreaded ‘mum bum’ or they pancake a poor bum to nothing. So I was browsing online at some cute bikini’s and I fell in LOVE with the teal Victoria Secret bikini pictured below. However I cannot justify over $40 for only half a bikini so I set out to design my own interpretation. I loved the results so much that I think I might have to re-style all my old bikini bottoms. AND if the ruche look isn’t in style next year….. well that’s just too bad because I’ll wear it anyways.

You will need:

• bathing suit bottoms
• similar colored thread
• scissors
• sewing machine
• elastic tape (I used a wide tape but a narrower one will work just as well)

Step 1.  Cut the elastic tape to your desired length. When you stretch out the tape it will represent the length of fabric it will gather. The amount I cut is  enough to ruche just over half way down the bikini. Start by placing the elastic tape at the top of your bikini and secure in place with a back and forth stitch.

Step 2.  Gently stretch out your elastic tape as far as possible and pin in place.

Step 3.  Hold the end of the elastic tight so it doesn’t bunch up while you feed it through the sewing machine. You may need to slightly pull the top of the bikini through while sewing.

Step 4.  When you get to the end of the elastic secure again with a back and forth stitch. Ta-da! You’re done!!

A girl in a bikini is like having a loaded pistol on your coffee table – There’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s hard to stop thinking about it.

– Garrison Keillor