Sewing Level
The Zahra Swimsuit & Bikini is an Intermediate swimwear sewing pattern.
Fancy some extra help?
The Zahra Swimsuit & Bikini sewing pattern is available as part of our Intro to Sewing Swimwear online Masterclass. This class comes with hours of video tutorials to guide you through every stitch of your swimwear. You can purchase the class individually, or get it for free as part of a Premium Stitch School subscription.
Fabric Suggestions
Light to medium weight swimwear fabrics such as 4-way stretch Lycra or polyamide with 50% cross-wise stretch, as well as swimwear lining (ideally 100% nylon). You will also need 8mm wide rubber swimwear elastic. If you want to add elastic into the waistbands of the bikini, you’ll need 12mm swimwear elastic.
If making version 1, you will also need a set of 20mm plastic or coated metal strap adjusters (bare
metal may rust in chlorine).
Sizing & Fabric Requirements
The Zahra Swimsuit & Bikini is sized between UK sizes 6-30 and split into two different blocks: sizes 6-20 (B cup) and sizes 18-30 (D cup). See the size chart (last two images in the gallery) for details on fabric requirements.
Like all our patterns, the sizes are nested to make it easier to grade between the sizes, depending on your measurements.
What will I receive?
The downloadable pattern file contains:
- printable pattern (in both tiled print-at-home and copyshop format) in all sizes
- fully-illustrated printable instruction booklet
- copyshop permission letter
The Zahra Swimsuit sewing pattern is either 37 A4 pages, 40 US letter pages or 3 A0 copyshop pages (sizes 6-20), or 52 A4 pages, 54 US letter pages, or 3 A0 copyshop pages (size 18-30).
The Zahra Bikini sewing pattern is either 40 A4/US letter pages or 2 A0 copyshop pages (sizes 6-20), or 45 A4/US letter pages, or 3 A0 copyshop pages (size 18-30).
You can get your Zahra pattern printed on large A0 paper sheets with our Copyshop service, where you can choose to only print the Swimsuit, the Bikini or both versions. Order your copyshop prints here.
So what is a PDF pattern?
A PDF pattern is a downloadable pattern that you print yourself at home on A4 or US letter paper. Alternatively you can choose to have the copyshop files printed on large A0 paper, and posted to you at home. If you’re using the A4 or US letter options, simply download, print at home, tape together and let the sewing begin! When you print the pattern, print at 100% (you might have to uncheck the scale box). Print page 1 first, the square should measure 10cm x 10cm.
Never used a PDF pattern before and would like some help? Learn everything you need to know in our handy Guide to Assembling PDF Patterns over on our blog!
Layered PDF pattern
The Zahra Swimsuit & Bikini PDF pattern files are layered, meaning you can choose to print only the size(s) you need when printing at home. Find out more here.
