Shin: FreeSewing's Shin Swim Trunks
Description
A FreeSewing pattern for swim trunksBy
Difficulty
Required Measurements
Tags
Techniques
Examples
Designer Notes
I needed swim trunks, so I designed Shin. There’s not much more to it than that.
joost
What You Need
To make Shin, you will need the following:
- Basic sewing supplies
- About 0.75 meters (0.8 yards) of a suitable fabric (see Fabric options)
- two eyelets and a drawstring
A serger/overlock is nice, but optional
As with all stretch fabrics, a serger/overlock will make your life easier.
If you do not have one of those, don’t despair. You don’t really need it. You can use another technique for stretch seams, such as a zig-zag stitch, twin needle, or elastic thread.
Fabric Options
Swim trunks should be made out of a material with stretch that is suitable for being in the water.
Typically, this falls apart in a few categories:
- Nylon mixed with elastane, spandex, or lycra is soft and stretchy. This is what most casual swimwear is made from.
- Polyester mixed with PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) is less soft to the touch, but resistant to chlorine and salt water. This is what a lot of competitive swimwear is made from.
- Neoprene, also known as scuba, is heavier and less stretchy. It’s the stuff scuba suits are made from.
Cutting Instructions
- Cut 2 backs with good sides together
- Cut 4 fronts 2 x 2 with good sides together
- Cut 1 waistband
Caveats
- To save paper, the waistband is not completely printed on the pattern since it’s just a long rectangle. So look for the length indicator, and cut out a rectangle of that size.
- The hem allowance is double the standard seam allowance.