Spring is here, and summer is right around the corner, so there’s no better time to start thinking about updating your swimwear wardrobe. With a quick pattern hack, I will show you how to stay on-trend during this warm weather season. Mood Fabric’s Marlowe swimsuit-free sewing pattern is the perfect starting point for creating a stylish swim dress!
This swim dress makes an excellent option for those who want to feel comfortable and confident while enjoying the water. Try using Mood’s supple Santorini Plus recycled swimwear tricot collection. They have UV protection, are chlorine resistant, and are available in over 30 vibrant colors.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 2.5 yards of Santorini Plus Peach Flower Tricot
- 1 Spool of Coral Rose Sew All Thread
- 2 yards of White Elastic Trim
- MDF314 – The Marlowe Swimsuit Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
Pattern Hack Adjustments:
- First, I mirrored my pattern piece onto a piece of pattern paper.
- Next, I split the pattern at the waist to separate the top from the bottom. I dropped the neckline by about 2.5″ for the top and blended the curve into the front extension to create a surplice neckline.
- Then, I added the seam allowance to each piece at the waist, as shown in the photos below.
- I cut out my fabric pieces for the top and bottom as follows: Top front – cut 4 out of fabric mirrored pairs. Top back – cut 2 out of fabric. Bottom front – cut 1 out of fabric and back cut 1 out of fabric. I double-layered the top half of the swimsuit, so it has a self-facing.
- Next, I completed the sewing for the swimsuit’s top and bottom. I used the Mood Fabrics circle skirt calculator to draft a 3-quarter mini skirt. The skirt length measures 6.5″ from the waist to the bottom edge, and the added ruffle is 4″. The skirt is slightly rounded at the ends to mimic a wrap skirt.
- After I attached the ruffle edge to the skirt, I pinned the skirt between the top and bottom half, sewing through all layers.
- Lastly, I made a waist tie that measures 1″ x 65″ and hand-sewed chain stitch belt loops to keep it in place.
Tip: Stitch down the inner half of your seam allowance to keep your facing from rolling.
8 comments
Hi! Am i understanding right that this design uses the same fabric as the “lining” as it does for the “exterior”?
Hi! You are correct. 🙂
omg this is fabulous! I seriously want to make one.
Hello, This is beautiful and thank you for the free patterns. This may be just the beginner in me but are all pattern pieces cut out on the right side of the fabric?
Hi Melissa! You can do either, just make sure that once you choose the side, you remain consistent. If there are two pieces, cut right sides together.
I love Moods I wish there was one in the Bay area
Hello! What a great hack! Can you please guide me on how to make the ruffle?
Thanks
Hi Karine, we’re sorry for the delay in responding to your question! We get dozens of comments and questions each day, and so many questions get buried and, unfortunately, unanswered. We are now focusing user support on patterns 2 years and newer. We hope this will prevent questions on our more current patterns from going unanswered. Although this is late, we wanted to respond in case anyone else has the same question: We used the Mood Fabrics circle skirt calculator to draft a 3-quarter mini skirt. The skirt length measures 6.5″ from the waist to the bottom edge, and the added ruffle is 4″. The skirt is slightly rounded at the ends to mimic a wrap skirt.The ruffle was slightly tapered off at the end towards the speech opening.