Bathing suits are generally known as swimsuits. These suits are appropriate for swimming. It makes the participant feel comfortable while carrying out this activity. A bathing suit has a lot of benefits for individual participants. For instance, it protects the skin from sunburn.
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You’re probably well aware that bathing suit tops aren’t usually adjustable. Your options for a snug fit are limited to the size on the label, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do if your top is too tight.
Even though we tend to believe that bathing suits are not usually adjustable, we can still apply some logical ways to make them adjustable. Making a bathing suit top bigger is much easier if you can follow the necessary steps.
You can make your swimsuit bigger by altering the top yourself, either by adding extra fabric or elastic to your swimsuit. You’ll notice that your bathing suit no longer feels like a sausage casing, and you’ll still be able to keep up with your friends in the pool.
How to Make a Bathing Suit Top Bigger
- Get a panel
- Change the one-piece swimsuit to a two-piece swimsuit
We feel your pain if you’ve ever purchased a bathing suit that fit perfectly in the dressing room but was later revealed to be too small. It happens all the time, especially if you don’t try together on the top and bottom (which is never a good idea).
It’s essential to avoid buying a swimsuit that’s too tight. A small bathing suit is likely to stretch out over time and tear and can be more uncomfortable. Bathing suits shouldn’t hurt or restrict your movements. So what do you do if your swimsuit top ends up too small? Here are some options.
1. Get a panel (a larger fabric)
One of the ways to make a bathing suit top bigger is to use a larger size fabric. I recommend using a pattern for a larger size to see what the finished garment looks like. You can also add material on the sides and front or back. Then add a bow.
Adding a lace panel to the side can make your bathing suit bigger. The majority of swimsuits have no sewing allowance. It is difficult to sew out the initial measurement to expand it.
The lace panel will be added to the side to expand it. It will create more space to make it more fitting. After adding a lace panel to each side, ensure you shape it to your exact size by using your body’s actual measurement.
2. Change the one-piece swimsuit to a two-piece swimsuit
Another way to make your bathing suit bigger is to change it from a one-piece swimsuit to a two-piece swimsuit. Before you make any cuts, put the swimsuit on and use the fabric chalk or washable marker to draw a line where you want the two pieces to separate. This will usually be around the waist but could be higher or lower depending on your personal preference and the design of the swimsuit.
After marking your line, remove the swimsuit and lay it flat on a clean work surface. Use your fabric scissors to cut along the line you’ve drawn. Be careful to make your cut as smooth and straight as possible.
Afterwards, you’ll need to sew a hem to prevent the fabric from fraying and give your swimsuit a finished look. Turn the edges of the fabric under about a half-inch and use pins to hold the hem in place.
Using your sewing machine or a needle and thread, sew along the pinned hem on the top and bottom of your swimsuit. Remove the pins as you go.
How to Make a Bathing Suit Bigger Using Elastic
- Cut the elastic to the appropriate length
- Pull taut while sewing around the rest of the bathing suit top
- Stitch over any parts that look loose or need to be reinforced
- Once you reach your starting point, sew the elastic shut with a straight stitch
The first two mentioned methods are the standard technique that may be employed to enlarge their bathing suit. You only need elastic, measurements, and a sewing machine to make it bigger.
1. Cut the elastic to the appropriate length
If you want to make a bathing suit top bigger, first think about how much bigger you need it to be. If the size that would fit your body is unavailable, consider buying one size up and having it professionally altered. However, if the next larger size is still too small or you don’t want to pay for alterations, there are ways you can stretch out a swimsuit yourself.
One way is to soak the top in water and gently pull at it until dry. Another approach is to sew elastic into the swimsuit’s straps and threads between each row of stitches in its cups.
While both methods take time, they’re easy ways to expand a top just enough so that you can wear it comfortably. Next, sew the elastic to one side of the bathing suit using a zigzag stitch and a long stitch length.
2. Pull taut while sewing around the rest of the bathing suit top
Hold the two sides of the fabric close together with your bathing suit top on while you pull the bottom elastic taut. Keep pulling until you’re satisfied with how tight it is. Repeat this process for all elastic pieces on one side of your bathing suit top.
After you’ve pulled taut all of the elastic pieces around one side, sew them in place by following along at their edges with your sewing machine or needle and thread.
3. Once you reach your starting point, sew the elastic shut with a straight stitch
Once you’ve reached your starting point, sew the elastic shut with a straight or zigzag stitch. If you’re doing a zigzag stitch, set it to wide width and long stitch length. If you’re using a sewing machine, make sure to keep the elastic taut as you sew.
4. If necessary, stitch over any parts that look loose or need to be reinforced
This is also where you could add holes for attaching strings if required. Using a zigzag stitch, sew the elastic to the inside of the swimsuit top.
Make sure you’re sewing over the elastic with every stitch. Use a long stitch length as you go around, but be careful not to make it so long that your stitches will come undone in the water! You’ll want to use straight stitches at each end to prevent stretching and keep your work secure.
If necessary, stitch over any parts that look loose or need to be reinforced. This is also where you could add holes for attaching strings if required.
How Do You Fix a Swimsuit Top That Is Too Small?
Fixing a swimsuit top that’s too small can be a challenge, and it largely depends on how the swimsuit is too small. Is it too tight around the band? Are the cups too small? Are the straps too short? Here are a few possible solutions:
1. Expand the band
If the band is too tight, you can add an extension. You’ll need fabric that matches the swimsuit (or complementary fabric if a perfect match isn’t available), a sewing machine or hand-sewing needle, thread, and possibly a new bikini clasp.
Measure the additional length you need for the band to fit comfortably, then cut a strip of fabric of that length and width that matches the band. Sew this extension onto the ends of the band, either by hand or using a sewing machine. If necessary, you can attach a new bikini clasp to the ends of the band.
2. Enlarge the cups
If the cups are too small, you can try adding fabric. This is more complicated and might not always be possible, depending on the design of your swimsuit.
Similar to the process of expanding a triangle bikini top mentioned in the previous response, you would cut pieces of fabric that can be sewn onto the existing cups to increase their size. Remember to cut the fabric larger than needed to allow for seam allowance.
3. Lengthen the straps
If the straps are too short, you can extend them. Cut pieces of matching or complementary fabric, then sew these onto the ends of the existing straps. Another option is to replace the straps entirely with longer ones.
4. Use a swimsuit bra extender
If the problem lies mainly in the band, there are products called bra extenders that might help. These are additional pieces of band material with clasps on them that you can use to extend the length of your band.
How to Make a Triangle Bikini Top Bigger
1. Measure the width and the length
Determine how much larger you need the bikini top to be. You’ll want to measure both the width and the length to understand the size of the fabric you’ll be adding.
2. Cut the fabric
Cut two pieces of your additional fabric in the shape of triangles based on the measurements you’ve taken. You’ll want these pieces to be slightly larger than your desired increase to account for a seam allowance (usually around a half-inch).
3. Pin the additional fabric
Pin the additional fabric to the inside edges of the triangle bikini cups, ensuring the fabrics’ right sides (the side you want to show) face each other. You’ll sew along this line and then turn the fabric inside out.
4. Sew your bikini
Use your sewing machine, needle, and thread to sew along the pinned lines. Be sure to leave a small gap (an inch or two should be enough) along one edge so you can turn the fabric inside out.
5. Turn and close
After sewing, remove the pins and turn your fabric inside out through the gap you left open. This should leave you with a clean seam along the edges of the cups. Lastly, close the open gap by folding the fabric inward along the line of the seam and hand-sewing it shut.
Conclusion
If you find that making a bathing suit bigger doesn’t create enough cleavage for you or makes the suit too big overall, then consider making the top smaller by tying it together and sewing some stitches into it after putting it on over a shirt so that way it’s perfect for when you’re wearing just by itself.
