Categories: Fashion Accessories, Bags and Totes, Summer, Outdoor

Nothing beats a trip to the beach or pool in the dog days of summer and why not bring along the world’s cutest waterproof swimsuit bag to keep your wet stuff away from everything else?! This tutorial will walk you through how to use Shield interfacing to create a waterproof swim bag and also tips on what interfacings to use if you venture into making your own swimsuit! Let’s get to it. Fun awaits.

What you need to make this project

Materials: 1/2 Yard Shield Liner Fabric; 14"-16" All Purpose Zipper; 1/2 Yard Main Fabric; 1/2 Yard Lining Fabric; 1/4 Yard Support Foam (optional); 1/4 Soften Interfacing (Optional for swimsuit)

Supplies: Standard Sewing Supplies; Iron, Sewing Machine, Zipper Foot, etc.; Spool of Matching Thread

Instructions

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 1

Step One

If you are making your own swimsuit, I highly recommend using SUPPORT interfacing for the foam cups. They keep their shape but stay soft. If you need to create a seamless look, as pictured, use a glue stick to glue the two pieces side by side. It helps when you start sewing but the glue will wash away.

You can also use SOFTEN interfacing for the top cradle. It gives the swimsuit support while also staying soft and supple.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 2

Step Two

If you have made your own suit or already have one, we can start making our fabulous swimsuit bag. Begin by cutting your fabrics in the following way:

Cut 2 pieces sized 16″ by 13″ in your main, lining and shield fabric
Cut 4 pieces in main fabric sized 1.5″ by 2″
Cut 1 piece in main fabric sized 2″ by 24″

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 3

Step Three

Prepare Strap:

Fold 2″ by 24″ strip of fabric in half and sew at 2/8″ seam allowance down the long side
Turn right sides out and iron flat
Sew three even lines along the strap.
Fold it in half and sew raw edges together

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 8

Step Four

Attach Strap to main fabric by sewing the edge of the strap down 1″ from the top of the main bag fabric. Set aside.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 5

Step Five

Prepare Zipper.

Sandwich the zipper in between two of the tab fabrics and, using your zipper foot, sew along the ends to secure it in place.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 6

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 4

Step Six

Fold the fabric over to uncover the zipper and topstitch.

Note: If you find you need to decrease the length of your zipper to get the correct length, simply zigzag stitch over one end and then sew the tab over that zigzagged area (shown in second picture). Your needle should be able to easily sew over it.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 7

Step Seven

Prepare the lining. Place SHIELD, the soft side against the wrong side of the lining fabric and sew all along the edge. From here on out, you will behave as if this is one piece of fabric with the right side of the fabric being the print and the wrong side being the interfacing.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 9

Step Eight

Sandwich the zipper in-between the lining fabric and the main fabric with the right sides facing and the top of the zipper touching the main fabric.

Sew, with a zipper foot, along the twill tape edge of the prepared zipper.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 10

Step Nine

Repeat for the other side of the zipper.

Flatten and iron to press both sides in place.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 11

Step Ten

Open up the zipper you just stitched in place.

Place the right sides of the main fabric facing each other and the right sides of the lining facing each other. This will create a rectangle with the zipper in the middle. Sew around the perimeter of this rectangle, leaving a 6-7 inch opening at the bottom of the lining.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 12

Step Eleven

Through the opening, turn everything right sides out. Poke out the corners and sew the opening shut.

Swimsuit Bag With Shield Interfacing And Swimsuit With Support Interfacing A HAPPY STITCH 14

Step Twelve

Place the lining inside of the main and you are done! Hit the beach!

Waterproof Swimsuit Bag (plus Swimsuit Making Tips!)