What I Made: A Madalynne X Simplicity 8435 + Noelle Bikini

When I designed the Madalynne X Simplicity 8435 strapless bra pattern, I always thought it would make a great bikini top. It took me a while, but I branched out of my normal lingerie sewing to whip up an 8435 bathing suit this summer. I may have been the whitest thing Brigantine Beach has seen, but I didn’t care, because my bikini was handmade. Woot woot!

Fabric and Trims:

Strapless Bikini Top:
All pieces: Black, white and blue floral polka dot Lycra for the main fabric, and white and blue floral stretch mesh for the lining. Both I picked up from Jomar. The center front and side cups have white 1/8″ polylaminate foam in between the main fabric and the lining to add support and structure.
3/8″ silicone backed elastic at the top and bottom
3×3 black hook + eye

Bikini Bottom
All pieces: Black, white and blue floral polka dot Lycra for the main fabric, and white and blue floral stretch mesh for the lining.
3/8″ black picot elastic for the waist and leg openings

Pattern + Construction

I used the Madalynne X Simplicity 8435 strapless bra pattern for the bikini top and the Noelle – a free PDF pattern! – for the bikini bottom. For the bikini top, the only changes I made was to sandwich polylaminate foam in between the main and the lining. I also used a 3 x 3 hook + eye at the center back and sewed silicone backed elastic at the top and bottom edges to help the bikini top stay up. For the bikini bottom, I added shirring to the front panel for a vintage look. It’s a super easy pattern alteration – slash and open the front pattern piece and when sewing, shirr it to match the length of the side seam on the back panel. I won’t be going in the water with this bikini, so I used normal picot plush elastic for the leg openings.

Comments

Just as I thought, the 8435 makes a great bikini top! Sewing a bathing suit using doesn’t require any changes to the pattern. Just different fabric and materials. I don’t have a kit for an 8435 bathing suit, but you can purchase the pattern here!