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Free Shell Bikini Top Pattern
Today we’re super lucky to have Melinda from PrimaBelle Creations sharing her free shell bikini top pattern! If you’re looking for a simple to sew top, to complete your Mermaid costume then this is the “how to” for you!
When I showed my 3 year old the Makana Mermaid Skirt (pattern by Tadah Patterns from One Thimble Issue 16) I made her, she insisted she needed a shell bikini top just like a mermaid princess! So I decided to draft a simple Shell Bikini Top to fuel her imagination!
You will need:
● The Shell Pattern Piece
● 36″ piece of Ribbon or Lace
● Fat Quarter of Fabric
● Low Loft Batting (sew in or iron on)
● Sewing Machine, Thread, Scissors, Iron
Seam allowance is 1/4″
Download Melinda’s full tutorial -> PrimaBelle Creations Shell Bikini Tutorial
Download just the pattern piece -> Shell Bikini Template – PrimaBelle Creations
Let’s begin…
1. Print off your pattern piece. Cut out the shell.
2. Cut the shell pieces from your fabric (2 mirrored pairs) and from the batting (1 mirrored pair).
3. Iron the batting (or baste if sew in batting) to the wrong side of two fabric shell pieces.
4. Place one mirrored pair of fabric shells right sides together and sew around the edge, leaving a gap on one side of the shell for turning. Repeat with the other pair.
5. Clip the corners and trim the seam allowance down (excluding the open gap).
6. Turn each one the right way out and press.
7. Topstitch 1/8″ around the edge of the shell pieces, closing the gap you had left for turning.
8. Fold your Lace/Ribbon in half. On the underside of each shell pin the Lace/Ribbon (right side down) and with a gap in between the two. For my 3 year old I had a 1/2″ gap but you could have the gap wider for an older child just try it first.
9. Secure the Lace/Ribbon down by stitching the edges of the shell (where the topstitching is) and then turn the shells over and topstitch lines to create the look of a shell (as below). You could get fancy here if you like.
And here is a close up of the detail…
And you’re all done! Now wasn’t that easy?! Here are a few pics of mine being worn so you
can see how fabulous it is!
I hope you have loved this tutorial as much as I loved creating it!
MUCH Love and Happy Creating
xx Mel xx
Follow along with more of Melinda’s sewing adventures on Instagram, Facebook or on her Blog
Pick up your copy of the Makana Mermaid Skirt as a stand alone pattern HERE or as part of Issue 16 HERE.
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Sewing is so much more than needles, fabric and thread. It’s about passionately expressing your creativity and your love of handmade.
