3 Best Ways to Finish Swimwear

When finishing the edges of your swimsuit, you have a couple of options. But there are three ways that you will see a lot. These finishes can be found on their own or mixed and matched. We Love the clean finishing. However, zigzag and coverstich have their place. We love to use zigzag on rib fabric and coverstitch to understitch the lining. When sewing swimwear, it's essential to use stitches that will hold up to the rigors of being in water and being stretched and pulled. All three of these finishes are stretch stitches and provide comfortable ease around leg openings and the waist. Clean finished has the most stretch capabilities, with zigzag being next, and coverstitch has the least amount of give.

Before deciding which Stitch to use, experiment and test them on scrap fabric before starting your project to ensure you pick the right one for your design.

Here are the three best ways to finish swimwear:

• Clean Finish
• Zigzag
• Coverstitch

Clean Finish

This is our favorite way to finish swimwear. It has a low profile and is completely clean on the outside. There is no visible topstitching, so this method can be used to create reversible swimwear. This finish is achieved by finishing the edges and leaving a hole in the crotch lining seam, and pulling the suit through so that its right side out. For those with sensitive skin, this is the best clean finished is the way to go. Because it doesn’t have any stitching on the outside, you avoid the threads from the topstitching rubbing against your skin and creating irritation. Additionally, a clean finish can elevate the swimsuit as it is a higher-end and more expensive finish.

As the name says, it’s the cleanest and most smooth option for your swim project. And in our opinion, the most comfortable.

Zig Zag

Although this stitch is usually used on lingerie, it is a stretchy stitch that can be used for swimwear. This is a stitch to use when you want visible stitching but still want your suit to be feminine. Zig-Zag is a stretch and flexibility stitch that allows the fabric to stretch without breaking the stitches. It also looks fantastic on textured fabrics like a rib.

First, the elastic will get overclocked on, then turned back toward the lining and zig-zagged down. On the inside of the swim, the stitching will be visible. But it will not cover up the edge of the fabric the way a cover stitch will.

Coverstitch

The double-needle coverstitch is a great option for a sportier look. Using coverstitch on swimwear is very traditional; you will see it used more than zig-zag. Unlike Zig zag, the coverstitch has a looper on the back, creating a nice clean finish on the inside. It tends to be used for hems and edge finishes, making it highly durable.
It’s sewn the same way the zig zag is the elastic gets applied to the edge and then turned back toward the lining and coverstitched down.