With swimwear season upon us, everyone wants their wardrobe to be beachy keen. However, such a vital wardrobe must-have can be a real struggle to find on a retail level. With our newest free sewing pattern, unflattering fits and guessing games are a thing of the past. The Cordia Swimsuit features a halter neckline, multiple cup sizes, and beautiful lines, for a gorgeous fit every time. Keep cool and covered with our Aloe-infused UV protective tricots, or give one of Mood’s many neoprene options a try! However your Cordia Swimsuit comes together, your new beach look is sure to go over swimmingly.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 1 yard Bananas and Leaves UV Protective Compression Tricot with Aloe Vera Microcapsules
- 1/2 yard White UV Protective Compression Tricot with Aloe Vera Microcapsules
- 1/2 yard Nude Shaper Power Mesh
- 3/8″ Cotton Swimwear Elastic
- White Triangle Bra Cups – Size 06
- MDF153 – The Cordia Swimsuit Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
CLICK HERE FOR TIPS FOR SEWING TRICOT & SWIMWEAR
Since the swim top is a little more complicated than the bottoms, we’ll begin there. Start by attaching the center bodice/strap piece to the curve edge of your side bodice. Be sure to use a stretch stitch, like you see in the lower right-hand image. After the seam is complete, trim your seam allowance and attach both front bodice pieces at the center front seam.
Repeat with your power mesh lining layer.
Attach the upper back band to the front of your bodice at the side seams. Repeat with your lining, and then form your lower band like you see in the lower right-hand image. Attach the lower band to the upper portion of your swim top, lining up the princess seams on the cups with the seams on your band.
If you’re using a contrast strap like I did, attach it to the top of your cup lining like you see below. Tack your bra cups into place at the top, and zig-zag stitch along the bottom of your cups to secure.
Attach your lining to the main layer of your bodice along the top edge and straps, with the fabric faces together. Trim your seam allowances, turn right-side-out, and edge-stitch.
Lastly, fold the raw edges along the lower edge of your top inward, pin like you see below, and close with a stretch stitch. Your bodice is now complete!
To get started on your swimsuit bottoms, sew your side panels to either side of your front panel, like you see below. Repeat to add your back swimsuit panel. Be sure to use a stretch stitch.
Attach your front and back waistband pieces together at the side seams, fold in half along the length, and then attach to the waistline of your shorts with a stretch stitch.
Cut two pieces of swimwear elastic three inches shorter than the length of your leg hole openings. Stretch the elastic along each leg hole, pin along the face of the fabric, and secure with a stretch stitch.
Fold the elastic inward toward the inside of your garment and hem with a wide stitch, stretching as you sew to be sure that you don’t lose any stretch.
Will you be giving The Cordia a try? Take a look at Mood’s tricots and let me know in the comments which ones you’ll be using!
23 comments
super sympa le maillot de bain ,très jolie, merci
I love this pattern! That banana print is adorable but it was completely sold out, so I ended up picking up a sort of similar print, the banana leaf one! Really excited to try it out–I just started sewing about 7 months ago and have never made a swim suit but I’m excited for a new challenge!
I loooove the banana leaf one!! Be sure to tag Mood when it’s all done – I’d love to see how it comes out!
Hey Courtney! So I’m finally sitting down to make this and one thing jumped out at me. The center top bodice and strap piece, cut at size 4/6 measures about 40″ in length (and longer if you were to cut a larger size than that), but the recommendations on this tutorial only call for 1 yard of fabric, so 36″–it appears to be one continuous piece parallel to the Grainline in the pattern but I don’t see how it’s supposed to fit within a yard of fabric.
Thank you for the pattern!
ThX sooooo much for this second version, I like the first idea and I will try quickly . I’m so exciting to tempting mine because this model is really a great and beautiful swimsuit
I will try it with pink crocodile fabrics… and silk (sure that’s an homewear version…. ) SORRY for my English but I hope you will understand my happiness. Congratulations and happy new year to Mood Sewciety Wonderful Dream Team❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for the pattern!!!
Just downloaded and print this pattern…thanks! I have searched everywhere for good free swimsuit pattern and this is perfect!
I totally agree with Ceegee. Thank you for posting!!!
I’m excited to start with project! What type of thread is best for the Tricot material?
Hi Katharine! I’d recommend polyester thread for tricot. 🙂
On the mannequin these look like boy shorts. Are they or will they have a higher leg cut on a human body? thanks!
Hi Jennifer, these shorts do cover a bit more than your typical high-waisted bikini shorts.
This pattern is beautiful! I’m trying it with a mermaid scale spandex paired with a satiny gold spandex. I’m also adding an open skirt around the shorts and some slim pockets to the side panels of the shorts to make my dream ultra mermaid swimsuit! I’m super excited and I love the boy shorts look. This design looks Much better for active rough and tumble swimmers than anything I’ve ever seen in retail, and is so stylish! As they say on Project Runway, Thank you Mood!!
Excited to be making the bottoms of this and modifying the top to a shape I prefer.
Finding the crotch is quite wrinkled, any suggestions?
I had this same issue and ended up adding an extra seam from leg to let in front of the crotch area, it’s still a little bunchy but much better. I did use a rather loud patter of fabric so maybe that helped as well in hiding the seam.
This looks like a perfect athletic suit! My daughter is seeking high-waisted bottoms and this may do the trick. Excited to share this with her. Thank you for your free pattern!
I had no idea there were free patterns, I’ll be making this bathing-suit with a striped white and blue fabric with royal blue sides.
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern for free!!!
Thanks so much for the free pattern! Also, the fabric I got from you to make this is AMAZING and so nice to work with!
I really struggled with this pattern- I would recommend adding the contrast fabric strap piece to the actual pattern- I had cut mine out of the power mesh per what was written on the pattern, and by the time I realized at this step “If you’re using a contrast strap like I did, attach it to the top of your cup lining like you see below.” I did not have enough of my contrast fabric to free-style cut out another one. The instructions also never tell you to seam your crotch. and the top bottom band had about 4″ of extra fabric on the size 12. The top is pretty cute, but the bottoms have no shaping and sit a little weird. I am going to see if I can add some seams like other posters. Thank you again!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS LOVELY SWIMSUIT
Is seam allowance included?
Yes, a 1/2″ seam allowance is already included! 🙂
I think the ‘lower band’ for the suit top includes the space where the center front band or bodice extension goes. I plan to cut mine with that in mind.
I plan to make my suit as a tankini… lowering the waistline of the bottoms and taking advantage of elastic in my source fabric, a tan through wrap. And, adding length to the lower band and center front band to loosely cover my torso. Maybe I can use the finished edge of my wrap for that, too. I also plan to cross the straps in back and sew them to the back of the top and will probably need to piece them anyway.