Men's String Bikini

©1997 StitchBoy
www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Heights/3204/



 

Requires: 1-1/2 yards (1.37m) spandex; 1-1/2 yards (1.37m) of 3/4 inch (18mm) elastic; 1-1/2 yards (1.37) of 1/4 inch (6mm) elastic.
Level: Advanced

 
  • Place pattern on fabric as indicated.
  • NOTE THAT WAISTBAND IS NOT INDICATED ON PATTERN. See step 10 for measurment.
  • Trace pattern onto fabric with tracing wheel.
  • Use a ballpoint needle for spandex.
  • Use a stitch length of 3mm on straight seams.
  • Sew straight seams 1/4 inch (6mm) from edge.
  • Use a stitch length of 4mm on zigzag seams.
  • Use widest setting on zigzag seams.
  • Stretch fabric as you sew.
 

Before you sew: note that waistband is not indicated on pattern. See step 10 for measurment.

1) Arrange front pieces of fabric with right sides facing each other.

 

2) Sew straight seam 1/4 inch (6mm) from edge.
3) Sew a wide zigzag stitch around edge shown, being sure the outside of the stitch catches the edge as you sew.
4) Open pouch and lay flat.

 

 5) With right sides together, stitch back piece to front pouch at crotch using straight stitch, 1/4 inch (6mm) from edge.
 6) Sew a wide zigzag stitch on edge shown, being sure the outside of the stitch catches the edge as you sew.

 7) Cut 1/4 inch (6mm) elastic for legs as indicated for size:

Leg Elastic (2 pieces, 1/4 inch (6mm))

S = 17 inches (42.5 cm)
M = 18 inches (45 cm)
L = 19 inches (47.5 cm)

Stretch elastic equally from front to back and pin to wrong side of fabric.

 

 

8) Using zigzag stitch, sew elastic to edge of fabric, stretching elastic evenly as you sew. Make sure stitch catches the edge of fabric.

 

9) Fold right side of fabric over wrong at edge so elastic is hidden in fold. Sew a 2mm straight stitch along both sides of garment, stretching as you sew. If any ends of the elastic extends beyond the fabric, trim it so it is flush with the fabric edge.

 10) For waistband, cut 3/4 inch (18 mm) elastic and a 2-1/2 inch (6.3 cm) deep strip of fabric at length indicated for size. Make sure the greatest stretch of fabric is along the length of the strip.

S = 27 inches long (67.5 cm)
M = 28 inches long (70 cm)
L = 29 inches long (72.5 cm)

Butt ends of elastic to form a loop and stitch with a wide zigzag, using a 1 mm stitch width. Place right sides of fabric strip together and create a loop by sewing a 2mm straight stitch 1/8 inch (3mm) from edge.

 

11) Match seam of fabric loop with seam of elastic loop. Using a wide zigzag, attach elastic to wrong side of fabric loop as shown. Fold in half and mark with pins as shown.

12) Turn garment right side out and lay it inside the loop, so right sides of pouch and seat are touching right sides of fabric loop. Fold seat in half and mark with a pin. Unfold and pin seat evenly along loop, matching to back pin of loop. Pin center seam of pouch to front pin of loop. Measure distance A (from the chart below) of elastic from seat edge and pin the left and right sides of pouch to elastic as shown. Although the fabric will be loose (shown exaggerated in illustration), you will stretch it tightly as you sew in step 13.

Small: A=2 inches (5 cm); Med: A=2-1/2 inches (63 mm); Large: A=3 inches (75mm)

 13) Attach pouch to loop using a 3mm wide zigzag, stretching fabric flat against elastic. Attach seat to loop using a 3mm wide zigzag, stretching as you sew.

 

14) Fold fabric of loop up and away from bottom of garment. Turn garment inside out and lay flat.

 15) The elastic & fabric in the illustrations of the next 3 steps has been cut to show you better how to make the covered waistband. DO NOT cut the elastic or fabric as shown. Follow the written instructions and use the illustrations only as a guide.

Flatten the garment and loop so wrong sides are up and loop folds under elastic.

 16) Fold raw edge of loop fabric TWICE so the raw edge is entirely encased in the fold.

Fabric in illustration is exaggerated to show folding procedure.

17) Place folded fabric onto elastic and pin securely. Use several pins to enclose all raw edges of the loop inside the fold as you pin it to the elastic. Any raw edges of fabric that are not enclosed will fray when you wash the garment, so it's important to take your time with this step.
 18) Carefully sew a 2mm straight stitch (approximately 1/8 inch (3mm) from bottom edge) along ENTIRE piece of elastic, stretching as you sew.
 19) This will enclose the elastic entirely inside the waistband.

20) Finished garment.
 
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