07/3/11
DIY Bikini #2- Upcycled Teekini
…And- we’re back!
Hi guys! We had an amazing vacation in Mexico. Thanks for sticking through our week-long digital diet and coming back to see us! As a little ‘thank you’ (by popular request!) we have put together another bikini tutorial for you all! An upcycled Tee-kini this time. We hope you like it!
Come back soon for pics from our trip, and don’t forget about the Mississippi Riverboat print giveaway we have going on until Monday!
Thanks to our BFF Shannon for modeling with Faith!
You’ll need:
1 big, old t-shirt
Scissors, Needle, Thread, Pen
A bikini top and bottom that fits you well
Optional: lace
TOP
1. Find an old t-shirt (not too transparent) – the bigger the better.
2. Lay your t-shirt out flat.
3. Cut off the bottom hem of the t-shirt
4. Cut off two more 1.5” wide strips from the bootom that will be used to as straps.
5. Lay out and pin your existing bikini top out onto the front of the t-shirt (make sure not to pin it through to the back!). T shirt Fabric does not need hemming. It will not fray after it’s been cut. Should you however chose to hem your suit add a 1” seam allowance on all sides of the pattern.
6. Now outline the pattern onto the t-shirt. Once you are finished, cut the shape out of the front of your t-shirt.
7. Remove the bikini from the t-shirt fabric. You’ll notice that your top has very short straps. Cut out 2 strips at least 6 inches long, from your leftover scraps. NOTE: Feel free to use a different stretch or jersey fabric for the strips to add color or flavor!
8. Hand sew each strip onto the short ties of your bikini op so that your straps are long enough to tie in a bow. TRICK OF THE TRADE: Once the straps are sewn on, tug on them to make them more string- like.
9. We added a lace detail and dyed our bikini top, use your creative energies and add your own flavor.
BOTTOM
1. Find an old t-shirt (not too transparent) – the bigger the better.
2. Lay your t-shirt out flat.
3. Cut off the bottom hem of the t-shirt
4. Cut off two more 1.5” wide strips from the bootom that will be used to as straps.
5. Lay out and pin your existing bikini bottom out onto the front of the t-shirt (make sure not to pin it through to the back!). T shirt Fabric does not need hemming. It will not fray after it’s been cut. Should you however chose to hem your suit add a 1” seam allowance on all sides of the pattern.
6. Now outline the pattern onto the t-shirt. Once you are finished, cut the shape out of the front of your t-shirt.
7. You will notice that your bottoms have very short straps. Cut out 2 strips at least 6 inches long, 2” wide, from your leftover scraps. NOTE: Feel free to use a different fabric for the strips to add color or flavor!
8. Hand sew each strip onto the short ties of your bikini bottom so that your straps are long enough to tie in a bow. TRICK OF THE TRADE: Once the straps are sewn on, tug on them to make them more string-like. Fold the bottoms in half lengthwise and tie side straps to fit.
I think if you sewed the bottoms it could make really cute underwear, too.
yes! cute idea melina!
Wow, um, do I get to have that body too? lol. Great idea! I would love to try this idea for my kiddo. I think it’d look cute!
Love the opportunities here using everything from tie-dyed to advertising prints and various degree of sheerness (I actually do like mine thin and more on the transparent side). Also, love the idea of using cotton, very excited about the bottoms, they seem very comfortable. I’ve seen similar style pre-made cotton bikinis sold on the Internet that were very expensive. I also notice that many websites sell topless bikinis for European style beaches and here’s an opportunity to just make the bottom and have it match an oversized full T-shirt top to wear as a wrap or dress on the way to the beach.
@Chantale. I hear ya! That’s my sis… if we could all be so lucky!
@Sheila Ann the bottoms *are* really comfy- great idea to just make the bottoms!
whoa!! NO WAY! .. this is pretty amazing!
Hi! I was wondering….would these not be a bit impractical to use as a bikini since they’re thin and not made of swimsuit-like material? Just curious! So cute!
Hi Gracie! The material does soak in the water quite a bit, but I’ve used these bikinis two summers in a row and when it’s hot out– they work great!
What about the see-through factor?
dying the fabric helps with this!
T shirt fabric tends 2 roll up at the edges wen cut.does this happen wit the swim suit bottoms cuz I really dnt want my crotch outside?
Our didn’t roll up, but if you’re really concerned you can hem the edges to ensure no rolling.