Introduction
Let me introduce you to one of the easiest swimwear projects you could ever dream of — the Swimsuit “Jadore” Sewing Pattern. This one’s a total favourite among BusinkaMania makers because it takes only 3 simple steps and doesn’t even need an overlocker. Yes, you read that right — no fancy equipment, no stress, just pure sewing joy.
If you’ve never made swimwear before, don’t worry. This pattern was designed exactly for you — beginners who love quick, satisfying wins (and gorgeous results). Once you make your first Jadore, you’ll understand why it’s such a community darling.
Materials & Tools You’ll Need
You’ll be thrilled to know this project requires very few supplies — just two main materials and a few essential tools. It’s minimalist sewing at its best.
Elastic — the soul of stretch
For this project, you’ll use fold-over elastic — the real secret to neat, flexible edges. When I made my Swimsuit Jadore, I used a 2 cm-wide elastic. You can also go for 1.5 cm or even 2.5 cm if you prefer chunkier borders.
Here’s the trick: if you want bold contrasting borders (say, black fabric with white elastic), go with 2 cm. If you prefer a subtler finish, choose 1.5 cm. A quick way to test: fold the elastic in half, place it over your fabric edge, and see what looks more balanced to your eye.
Fabric — your swimsuit’s personality
Any stretch fabric works beautifully — think 4 Way Stretch Polyester, Leopard Print Lycra Fabric, or even Printed Swimwear Fabric Elastane Blend. Spandex, polyester, or lycra will all give you that perfect fit and comfort.
I personally love pairing leopard print with black elastic — it creates that soft contrast and sleek outline that looks amazing on the body.
Threads & Needles — the real power couple
To keep your stitches flexible and smooth, go with polyester thread — it stretches just enough for activewear and swimwear. Pair it with 75/11 needles, the perfect size for lightweight stretch fabrics. Even if your machine isn’t a professional one, this combo will do magic.
Cutting & Marking Tools
A few essentials make all the difference here: use chalk to trace your pattern, pins or clips to secure fabric layers, and sharp scissors for cutting. If you prefer skipping the tracing, grab a rotary cutter and healing mat — it saves time and keeps edges clean.
And for a full guide on your essential gear, check out Top 10 Sewing Supplies for Making Women’s Underwear (And Why You’ll Fall in Love With Them) — it’s loaded with tried-and-tested favourites.
Assembly Tips
Your Swimsuit Jadore pattern prints easily on A4 paper — don’t use Letter or any other size, or the scale will be off. Print at 100% scale and double-check the 5×5 cm test square.
Once printed, you’ll notice triangle markers labelled 1A, 2A, 3A, and so on (for the front), and 1B, 2B, 3B (for the back). Match the same codes together — A1 with A1, B1 with B1 — to assemble your pattern pages.
When taped, you’ll have your full front and back pieces. There’s also a little mini layout guide on the PDF to show how pages connect, plus a size chart based on your hip measurement. Don’t stress if you’re a few centimetres off — this pattern is forgiving. Thanks to its front tie design, you can adjust it easily for a snug or relaxed fit.
SIZES YOU WILL GET:
UK4 / XXS (Hips 84cm)
UK6 / XS (Hips 88cm)
UK8 / S (Hips 92cm)
UK10 / M (Hips 96cm)
UK12 / L (Hips 100cm)
UK14 / XL (Hips 104cm)
UK16 / XXL (Hips 108cm)
UK18 / 3XL (Hips 112cm)
UK20 / 4XL (Hips 116cm)
Preparation Tips
Now that your pattern’s ready, let’s move on to cutting. Fold your fabric in half, place the front and back pattern pieces on the fold, and outline them using chalk.
Cut two front pieces and one back piece — that’s all you need. If you’re using scissors, keep your lines neat; if you’re using a rotary cutter and healing mat, you can skip the outlining altogether and just glide around the edges. Simple, fast, and precise.
How to Sew Jadore
Assemble the crotch seam
Start by placing one front piece face up. Then lay the back piece face down on top of it, aligning the crotch edges. Finally, add the second front piece face down over everything — creating a little “fabric sandwich” with the back piece in the middle.
Pin the layers together and sew along the crotch seam. If using a regular machine, do a few back-and-forth stitches for strength. If using an overlocker, one clean pass will do — though this pattern doesn’t require one at all.
Once sewn, flip the front layers right side out — the seam will be neatly hidden between them. Trim any tiny fabric triangles to smooth the crotch edge before attaching elastic.
Sew the fold-over elastic
Now for the fun bit — finishing edges. Pin the two front layers together lightly so they don’t shift as you sew. Then take your fold-over elastic and align the fabric edge with the centre fold line in the elastic.
Fold it over, place under the machine foot, and start stitching around the neckline first. Then continue along the side front edges, around the leg openings, and up to the back. Sew one entire side, then repeat for the other.
After sewing, trim your starting and ending elastic edges into soft triangles for a smooth finish — no bulky corners.
Create your ties
For the straps, fold your elastic in half and stitch about half a metre with no fabric inside — this becomes your tie. Continue sewing with your fabric edge inside for the armhole area, then again stitch extra elastic beyond the end for the second tie. Do this for both sides.
Repeat the same process along the top back edge of the swimsuit — half a metre of sewn elastic, then the back edge, then another half metre for the second tie. These will wrap beautifully around your hips and tie at the front.
And voilà — your Swimsuit Jadore is complete in just 3 simple steps!
If you’d rather see how it’s done, check out the YouTube tutorial where I show not only the exact machine settings and needle setup I use, but also how to make your Swimsuit Jadore reversible. That means one colour on one side and another on the reverse — two swimsuits in one! Just flip it to match your mood, your tan, or your holiday vibe. These settings and tricks have become a total legend among my sewists — they work like magic on any stretch fabric!
Fitting, Adjustments & Finishing Touches
Don’t cut your elastic before sewing — always work straight from the roll and trim at the end. This prevents miscalculations and keeps the fit perfect.
Trim any uneven edges, press your seams gently with a cool iron (no steam — spandex doesn’t like it!), and admire your work. You’ve just made your first custom Swimsuit Jadore — quick, comfy, and perfectly adjusted to your body.
The ties make it adjustable and forgiving, which means even beginners can achieve a professional-looking result without stress.
