June 18, 2013

D I Y / Neoprene Bikini

 photo loveaestheticsDIYneoprenebikini.jpg

 photo loveaestheticsDIYneoprenebikini02.jpg

 photo loveaestheticsneoprenebikini03.jpg

Neoprene is one of my favorite fabrics; it feels so high tech and structured when wearing it. And it is also such an easy material to work with; it can be cut without having to be hemmed, doesn't wrinkle, stays in shape. I've made some clothes with it; but never used it for its intended purpose before; being in the water!
Below are the instructions to make this bikini (it is actually much, much easier than the long text suggests).

/bikini top
Here are some basics to creating a fitted strapless bralette-bikini top. 8 steps, corresponding with the 8 images, save and zoom in to see it more detailed. Just pretend that the little piece of paper is your neoprene fabric and you'll get it!

01/ You can do this on a piece of paper to draw out the pattern first, cut it out and trace it on your fabric. Or you can do it like me and directly draw the pattern on the fabric. Cut a rectangle, measurements; width of the broadest part of your bust, height mine is 18cm high but you can do whatever you want.
02/ fold it in half
03/ sketch a vertical line marking the center of your breast. distance from the fold to the line should be the distance between the centre of both your breasts divided by two. sketch a horizontal line also marking the broadest part of the bralette, the broadest part of your breast. The rectangle should already be this measurement where these two lines cross, is probably where your nipple is.
04/ Now you're going to need two more measurements that are narrower than your fabric is now. With a measuring tape, measure the top of your breasts. Not sure what this measurement is called. Basically just put the measuring tape around your back, under your armpits and above your breasts. Divide it by two, because the fabric is folded of course, and you've got measurement A. Measurement B, will stay the same; the broadest part of the bikini top. And then for measurement C, put the measuring tape underneath your breasts, also divide this by two.
05/As you can see on the image, there is now a space between A and B, and between C and B. 'Move' these spaces to the middle of the pattern where the arrows are, because that is where you want to get a curvy shape.
06/ Now your pattern should look a bit like this, with four points.
07/ Connect A and C with a straight line. And connect B and D with a curved line that touchesthe streight line at horizontal sketched line.
08/ Cut it out, and you've got your pattern.
Then sew it all together and put in the zipper. Make sure the zipper is made out of plastic for swimwear, a metal zipper can get really hot in the sun!

/bikini bottom
This was a whole lot easier: just traced one of my favorite panties.
Was done in under 10 minutes.

what you'll need:
neoprene fabric
plastic zipper
sewing machine/needle&thread

51 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow ! Amazing

Xx
www.Lauralexo.com

Eva (Creativity and Chocolate) said...

I love the idea but I'm not sure if I would wear it while swimming...xx

ENTER MY GIVEAWAY
www.creativityandchocolate.com

Unknown said...

girl, you got skills. absolute awesomeness. would love to see that number on you


http://www.vasilievablog.com

Anonymous said...

totally agree, you should wear this and show us how amazing it looks on you :)
I'm sure it's ever better then!
lots of love from Poland xx

Unknown said...

I continue to be blown away by your incredible diy ideas and skills. This bikini is seriously insane!
-Kate
bleached mort

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Karoline said...

Would love to see how it looks on a person! Nice DIY

Jade Elise said...

I've been dying to make one of these! Just trying to find the fabric...
It looks great!!

Unknown said...

Seriously, you can do no wrong! This is such a cool DIY!

xx T (lefanciulle)


Alissa said...

Awesome tutorial! I love this type of swimwear!

I was a bit confused with some of your instructions. In step 5 you said there is a space between A and C but the measurement isn't to A. Are you referencing D (which is unlabelled in the image?). Also, when you move C and D towards the bust point, do you split it right in half at the line or is there a specific ratio?

Anyway, great design, I can't wait to make one for myself!! :)

Looking forward to your next DIY!
Cheers!

MILEX said...

I need it.

Unknown said...

have been loving this material for swim wear!

http://www.styleandshades.blogspot.com

Off Color said...

that looks crazy!!!

we finally released the second issue of our online magazine! make sure to check that out!! i bet you gonna like that a lot :)
www.offcolor.de

Shelly said...

Now this wonderful! All I am waiting for is how you style up this beautiful pair!

bythewear.blogspot.in

Adelajda said...

Stunning!

Anonymous said...

Perfect!!!
where you buy neoprene?

Unknown said...

Honestly amazing!
I love a fab and clever DIY, your blog is amazing!

Anne xox

www.4theloveofpancakes.blogspot.com.au

Lynn said...

Gorgeous! Thank you for showing the DIY!

Unknown said...

Hi Ivania! I'm planning on doing a similar bikini using neoprene and I'm wondering what thickness of neoprene you used?
I guess a few millimeter difference doesn't matter that much but I'd love to have your opinion.

DREAMY said...

Brilliant. So simple.

Eline said...

Het is echt geweldig!
Ik kan alleen op de laatste foto niets van die lijnen (?) zien..

Unknown said...

That is thoroughly awesome.

Joana Sousa said...

This is soooo awesome! Definitely going to give a try! Thanks!

theclosetopener said...

This is absolutely stunning. I can't believe you can even make bikinis timeless too.

SABINNA and DAVID said...

this is fabulous! can't wait to see u wearing it! :)

xx, Sabinna and David
Broken Cookies

Unknown said...

Interesting concept! I would love to see how this bikini looks on a model to get an idea of what it would look like! Unfortunately it may be difficult to alter this pattern to include underwire!

Hanna said...

What a cool bikini! It reminds me a bit about Marie Fernandez`s bikinis. Where did you buy the neoprene fabric? I want to make a similar bikini myself :)

TeuntjeVDW said...

<3 xx.

FASHION SNAG said...

Amazing! I would love to see it on a model.

www.FashionSnag.com

Agata said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Agata said...

looks fantastic.
i would love to see how it fits when wearing it

Anonymous said...

It looks fantastic - very future like kind of bikini!!! However, I don't think it's easily wearable. The material is quite thick so you'll get very sweaty when sunbathing,walking around etc, plus it'll leave your skin smelling like...well, neoprene!
(I simply know bc my diving gear is made our of neoprene...very distictive smell!) :)

LOVE AESTHETICS said...

To Alissa: yes you are right, I totally meant between C and B, correcting that now!
and yes exactly you split it in half :)
you totally got it! despite my mistake
good luck making one
X

Sharon (Style-Chameleon) said...

Wauw, wat gaaf zeg!

Ik ben heel benieuwd hoe de bikini je staat! Al snap ik wel als je dat niet op het internet wilt zetten :p



www.style-chameleon.com

Michelle said...

This is just too cool!!! ^0^b

http://sheeravenue.blogspot.com/

Tanja Jojic said...

This is brilliant =^.^=
tanyaminxy.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Finally!! Been looking for a bralette tutorial for sooo long!

The Thinking of a Teenager said...

This looks sooo awesome!!
Where did you get the neoprene?
I've been looking for it some time now, but I can't really find something...
Thanks

KMA said...

i can't write more than: You're a just a pure genius. and You keep me surprising every time i open your diy post.
thanks <3

Unknown said...

I must write it! I want to see u in this swimwear! It will be pretty picture:)
kisses from Poland!

Whitney said...

YES~ please wear it! I'd love to see how it looks on you

Oroma Roxella Rukevwe said...

Bookmarking this definitely!


ORR's BLOG

Unknown said...

Love this, seriously need to get my hands on some neoprene!

www.beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
www.beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk

Anonymous said...

You're such a true inspiration! Lovin' neoprene fabric too!

racheeng
http://racheeng.wordpress.com/

Vani said...

OMG, in love with this DIY! Thanks a lot for sharing!
xx

Trend Anatomy

Hilde said...

Hi Ivana,
I was windering if you could please help me out with something?
I also love to make clothes, but I live in Norway, and the selection of fabrics avaliable here is completely hopeless. I've been searching for white neoprene (just like this, with black inside) for a long time, but can't find it anywere. Do you know a store where I can find this fabric, that ships internationally?
If you have any tips I'd appreciate it a lot! :)

Btw. The bikini looks insanely cool! :)

Anonymous said...

Ivania, you make a pair of bikini looks like a piece of art!

http://ainihapsari.wordpress.com/

meme büyütme said...

Thanks for great pcturess

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Pinkoolaid said...

found your blog through vivi <3 this is so awesome! <3 I wanna try this soon :) thanks so much!

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