5 Best Fabrics for Swimwear

When it comes to choosing fabrics for swimwear, polyester/spandex blends are often going to work best. Although more expensive than other blends, polyester is resistant to harsh chemicals such as chlorine.

Polyester won’t fade over time and won’t pill or ball up. Nylon/spandex blends will also work, but nylon is not as UV resistant as other fabrics and might tend to pill or ball over time.

Best Fabrics for Swimwear

Here are our fabrics for swimwear reviews

How I decide on what to buy:

My goal is to help you find the best sewing resource for your requirements. I do the legwork to ensure you get the most for your money, whether you’re shopping for high-end gear or the bare essentials.

I consult experts, sewists, teachers, and/or craftspeople, and family members who are also sewists; I scour the Internet for information on how sewing supplies are used; I read customer reviews by real users; and, of course, I rely on my own accumulated expertise as a sewist.

Shipping from New York/Swimwear Fabric Animal Print Pink Snake Metallic/Nylon Spandex Fabric 4 Way Stretch/by The Yard/for Swimwear Dancewear Gymwear Sportwear L1E1300026, 60 Inches

1.

This medium-weight polyester/spandex blend is perfect for swimwear. Polyester holds up well to chlorine and doesn’t usually pill over time. The fabric is great for making other apparel items including dancewear, costumes, and activewear as well.

Fabric features 25% four-way stretch
Easy to launder- hand wash and lay flat to dry
Fun, vibrant pattern

Rose Flavor Iridescent Mermaid Hologram Spandex Fabric by The Yard(Rainbow Iridescent,2yds)

Theme: Mermaid hologram
Fabric Measurement:2yds x58INCHES(fabric width)
Color: rainbow iridescent
Wash instruction:Hand wash in cold water softly, hang dry
Your best choice for dress,blouse,skirt,costume,handbag sewing. Also be good to decorate the stage,cushion cover ,crafting and sewing products.

$20.99

This lightweight polyester fabric is perfect for making swimwear when it comes to board shorts and not traditional bathing suits. Polyester tends to hold up well against chemicals like chlorine and generally won’t fade out or lose its color. This line comes in four different colors.

Features a Durable Water Repellent finish
Fabric is suitable for a variety of other projects as well, including outerwear
Has a soft matte face and a low luster back

TelasLycraCom - (Colorful Butterflies Navy Blue Background Print) Continuous Yard x 60" Inches, 4 Way Stretch Spandex Fabric with Perfect Weight for Swimwear. (80% Nylon 20% Spandex 220GSM L1E1100039)

ABOUT US: We are a fabric company set in New York with more than 20 years of experience in the textile field. We provide the best quality of spandex fabrics and with more than 2000 prints and colors in our catalogue you will find anything you need.
OUR MATERIAL: We work with a special and unique type of fabric, with a composition of 80% Nylon and 20% Spandex. With 4-Way Stretch technology our fabrics have the best quality, softness, lightness, resistance and elasticity and no transparency!
SOLD BY CONTINUOUS YARDS: Unlike other sellers, TelasLycraCom will quickly deliver the amount you buy with NO CUTS. You get the continuous amount of spandex fabric you decide to buy at 60" wide and as many yards of material as you need!
NON-TRANSPARENT & ULTRA RESISTANT: The special qualities of our 4-Way Spandex fabric our soft, light and resistant material does not show through when stretched, making it perfect for sportswear, such as gymwear, dancewear, swimnsuits. You will get lasting results for any project or piece you make!
WASH INSTRUCTIONS: The recommended washing method for our fabric is handwash with cold water, do not bleach, do not wring, iron cold and dry in shade or by drip. Avoid heating and glueing.
COLOR DISCLAIMER: Though our photos have 80% accuracy in the color, patterns and designs you see, you should expect light variations in the product you receive. Actual color of the sheets may vary from the images shown. Every monitor or mobile display has a different capability to display colors, and every individual may see these colors differently. All our photos are taken from the fabrics itself in our Warehouse.

This 80% nylon, 20% Lycra spandex blend is a lightweight fabric that is perfect for making bathing suits. The fabric’s print is a lot of fun and can be used for anything from one piece bathing suits to bikinis. The fabric is versatile and can also be used for projects like dancewear and costumes.

Fabric has four way stretch with 40% stretch across the grain
Easy to launder- machine wash on gentle and lay flat to dry
Nylon is strong and durable, but it might tend to pill more easily than polyester fabrics

FabricLA Nylon Spandex Matte Tricot Fabric for Swimwear 230 GSM - Black - 4 Way Stretch Fabric - 58/60" Inches (150 cm) Wide - Use as Sportswear, Dancewear, Yoga Wear, and Swimsuit - 1 Yard

[ HIGH-QUALITY PRECUT FABRIC ] – The high-quality nylon spandex fabric by the yard is composed of 80% nylon and 20% thick spandex fabric which makes this fabric very lightweight, durable, and comfortable to wear

[ LENGTH & WIDTH ] – Width: 58/60" Inches (150 CM), Length: Pre-cut 1 Yard. You can choose between different available colors and yard sizes. If you need more lengthy continuous yards, please contact us

[ 4-WAY STRETCHABLE. GREAT ELASTICITY ] – This nylon spandex fabric is a 4-way stretch nylon fabric. It stretches in both directions, crosswise and lengthwise. It is resistant to sweat and has an excellent elasticity which makes this fabric perfect choice for yoga fabric

[ MULTIPLE USES ] – Spandex nylon fabric by the yard has multiple uses. Mainly, it is used for swimsuit material, swimsuit lining fabric, and swimwear fabric. Nylon spandex fabrics is also used in: Sportswear, athletic wear, activewear, yoga pants, leggings, table cloth, seat cover, fashion design, apparel design

[ WASHING INSTRUCTIONS ] – We recommend only hand washing this fabric nylon spandex with cold tap water and avoiding bleach, soaking, or dry cleaning to prevent wear and tear. Line dry out of direct sunlight

[ SOLD BY INDIVIDUAL PRECUT UNITS ] – Each PRECUT quantity of our nylon spandex fabric comes in a separate piece. If you choose 1-Yard with the quantity of 5, you will receive 5 separate 1-Yard pieces. If you choose 2-Yards with the quantity of 5, you will receive 5 separate 2-Yard pieces

[ COLOR DISCLAIMER ] – Actual product color may vary from the images shown. Every monitor or mobile display has a different capability to display colors, and every individual may see these colors differently. We try to edit our photos to show all of our products as life-like as possible, but please understand the actual color may vary slightly from your screen

[ CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ] – We know you'll love our fabric as much as we do. If you have any questions or problems regarding our product, feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to assist you shortly. If you're not completely satisfied, return the product within 30 days and get a "30-Day Free Return Policy."

[ BRANDED ] – Make sure you receive the spandex nylon fabric with the "FabricLA" brand label on it. This ensures you receive products directly from our store and a high-quality original product. "FabricLA" is a Trademark Registered Brand

$13.90 ($0.93 / Sq Ft)

This lightweight polyester/polyurethane blend fabric is perfect for swimwear, as well as many other projects. The fabric is waterproof and extremely durable. It has a slight stretch and would be perfect for use in projects like board shorts or swim diapers.

Easy to launder- machine wash warm, dry on low or drip dry- no fabric softeners or bleach
This line comes in an array of different patterns and colors
Polyester is resistant to fading in chemicals like chlorine and will not usually pill

Nylon Spandex Lycra Fabric 4-Way Stretch(20% Spandex) | 60" x 36" Spandex 4-Way Lycra Athletic Fabric for Swimwear, Sportswear, Yoga Wear, Table Cloth 60" Wide by The Yard - Black

【NYLON SPANDEX FABRIC】Nylon Spandex Fabric is a 4-way stretch Double-Brushed Compression Interlock Spandex with Recycled Polyester. This kind of fabric is famous for its extraordinary elasticity and is an ideal fabric for performance clothing and leisure fashion. | Content: 80% Recycled Polyester & 20% Spandex | Cut Width: 58"/60"
【4-WAY STRETCH & LIGHT WEIGHT】Our spandex fabric has a good stretchy base, can stretch to ONE times its normal size. Durable Light Weight, 4-way stretch Matt fabric with a smooth texture, chlorine resistant and made from the highest quality of nylon and spandex. It is commonly used in form-fitting consumer apparel.
【WRINKLE RESISTANT】Nylon Spandex Fabric is highly elastic synthetic fabric and environmental friendly fabric, comprised of high CLO spandex and polyester made from recycled PET. It has Excellent Expansibility, Eon-shrinkage, Softness and Comfort, No-pilling, Smooth Texture and Luster, and Skin-friendly Protection.
【MULTIPLE USE】This Premium quality nylon-spandex Tricot Fabric is durable and offers premium performance. Because this Nylon Spandex Fabric has chlorine resistance and excellent elasticity. In most cases, Excellent choice for Swimwear, Active wear, Sports Wear, Active Wear, Yoga Pants, Leggings, Table/Chair Cover and many more applications.
【SERVICE】Please let us know that if you have any problem with our product, and we will respond within 24 hours. We guarantee 100% REFUND or RE-SEND for each defective Nylon Spandex Fabric you receive! If you buy more than one piece, we will deliver it to you as a continuous piece.

$16.66

Polyester/spandex blends work great for swimwear. This medium-weight fabric is a 90% polyester, 10% spandex blend. This particular fabric line only comes in black, but the fabric is versatile and can be used for other apparel projects as well. Polyester fabrics are great for making swimwear, as they tend to hold their color and stand up well against chemicals like chlorine.

Fabric has four-way stretch, including 40% stretch across the grain and 30% vertical stretch
Perfect for swimwear and a wide variety of other projects like costumes, and activewear as well
Silky and soft with a fluid drape

Fabrics for Swimwear Buying Guide

Why sew your own swimwear? Sewing your own swimwear ensures a higher degree to customization. If you have trouble finding a swimsuit that fits perfectly or even comfortably, making your own could be the perfect solution. Depending on where you buy your swimwear, a new bathing suit can be quite an expensive purchase. Making your own swimwear allows you to get creative, and might also save you money.

Nylon and Polyester

Nylon and polyester blends work best for swimwear for a number of reasons. Both fabrics are quite durable and will hold up well over time. Nylon does generally tend to have more stretch than polyester. Swimwear made out of nylon fabric will often be easier to put on and take off, but polyester fabrics are more colorfast, won’t pill, and stand up to harsher chemicals than nylons do. Both tend to be fairly budget-friendly options to purchase.

Learning Curve

Making your own swimwear can be a bit of a learning curve. Sewing with fabrics that have quite a bit of stretch can be a challenge. With all the fun and exciting prints that can be purchased to make swimwear now and the many different types of swimwear that can be designed and made, sewing your own can also be really fun and exciting. There are many tutorials online, including videos, that can help you learn how to make your own swimwear.

Recommended Reading:

Author

Joleen Washington

My name is Joleen Washington and I have been sewing ever since I was eleven years old. After my mother died, I inherited the few remaining pieces of sewing my great-grandmother had created, and I treasure them dearly. How I recommend what to buy: My goal is to help you find the best sewing resource for your requirements. I do the legwork to ensure you get the most for your money, whether you're shopping for high-end gear or the bare essentials. I consult experts, sewists, teachers, and/or craftspeople, and family members who are also sewists; I scour the Internet for information on how sewing supplies are used; I read customer reviews by real users; and, of course, I rely on my own accumulated expertise as a sewist. I spend countless hours researching and testing more than ten stitching machines to identify the ones that provide the best value for your money. My tests include evaluating the machines' performance, ease of use, available features, and overall durability. I also consider customer reviews and feedback to ensure my recommendations are reliable and trustworthy.

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