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Bee: FreeSewing's Bee Bikini Top

New Bee pattern

Designer Notes​

I made Bee together with Prudencerabbit, as they wanted to make a swimwear pattern that went along with a previous freesewing pattern. It is based on a garment they made and wanted to make available for other people make as well. We worked of FreeSewing’s body block Bella as a base, converting it to a single dart block to make the top. During pattern testing one of our contributors TangerineShark made a variant with crossover back ties which we found so cool we added it to Bee! You can get this variation by using option Cross Back Ties. Bee can also be made reversible by using options Reversible, Duo neck colour ties & Duo band colour ties. With the previous pattern being retired you can use Uma to make a matching bikini bottom.

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What You Need​

To make Bee, you will need the following:

  • Basic sewing supplies
  • About 0.5 - 1 metre (0.6 - 1.1 yards) of a suitable fabric (see Bee Fabric options)
  • (Optional) About 0.5 - 1 metre (0.6 - 1.1 yards) of lining fabric (see Bee Fabric options)
  • (Optional) Ribbons/Tapes/Cords for neck ties and bands, with the same length and width as neck tie and/or band.
note

The lining fabric is only needed if you want to make this pattern reversible. If you don’t, you only need the main fabric. You can use a serger/overlocker to construct this pattern but it is not mandatory. Ribbons/Tapes/Cords can be used instead of making custom ties. Just make sure to get more than you need and that you cut down to size after construction.

Fabric Options​

Main and Lining Fabric​

The main and lining fabric are the same type of material. Bee is made with swimwear fabrics such as lycras.

note

You only need lining fabric if you intend to make the pattern reversible or if you want the band for the cross back tie variant to be a contrasting fabric. Otherwise you can cut all the required pieces from your main fabric.

Cutting Instructions​

Main fabric

  • Cut 4 cup parts.
  • Cut 2 neck tie parts.
  • Cut 1 band tie part on fold.
note

This pattern is easily made reversible by buying a similar fabric to the main fabric and using it as contrast.

Main fabric

  • Cut 2 cup parts.
  • Cut 2 neck tie parts.
  • Cut 1 band tie part on fold.

Constrast Fabric

  • Cut 2 cup parts.
  • Cut 2 neck tie parts.
  • Cut 1 band tie part on fold.

However if you are using the Cross Back Tie variation the band is designed to only be cut from the main fabric.

When following the instructions use your contrasting pieces as the lining peices.