Rumana in her green leafy modest swimsuit and turban at the edge fo a wave at a beach.

When the sewist behind the blog The Little Pomegranate was tired of only finding modest swimsuits that lacked style and fit, she took matters into her own DIY hands. After extensive testing, it’s safe to say Rumana is making waves with her modern approach to modest swimwear. Keep reading to find out how the process of designing her own suit helped her find the confidence to proudly step onto the sand in style.

Rumana: Lately I’ve noticed a bit of DIY swimwear fever sweeping through Instagram—from gorgeous prints to fabulous sewing patterns it’s not hard to see why people have been jumping at the chance to sew their own swimsuits. Not only do you get to make your dream swimsuit that fits your body, you also get to avoid the dread of having to try on ill-fitting, ready-to-wear swimsuits in a dimly lit cramped changing room. It’s basically a no-brainer! But if I’m 100% honest, I’ve never really thought of making my own swimwear as an option because of my need to cover my arms and legs. But after seeing my feed filled with glorious me-made swimsuits I was inspired to give it a go. So what happens if your swimwear needs are a little different from your average person?

Why Modest Swimwear Matters

There are so many reasons why someone might want more coverage from their swimsuits – religious reasons (like me), personal comfort (some people just prefer to cover up more) or even sun protection for sensitive skin. There’s been a rise of ready-to-wear versions, from the standard (and in my opinion awfully named) ‘burkini’ made up of trousers and a long top, loose one-piece wet-suit style ones, to more fashionable three-piece affairs with detachable wrap-around skirts. While there are some great companies out there, a lot of what’s available is decidedly frumpy and dull. I wanted something lush and tropical, something that screams ‘holiday!’ 

Making swimwear for a little one?

Modest versions of swimwear can be for anyone, including toddlers. Check out this post on how one mom made a swimsuit for her toddler to provide coverage from the sun.

Finding the Perfect Fabric Design

With the hundreds of thousands of designs on the Spoonflower marketplace, I was bound to find something that spoke to me. Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed by the gorgeous jungle themed patterns. I found these beauties really easily by searching for ‘jungle’, ‘monstera’ and ‘banana leaf’.

The samples I received didn’t disappoint but I instantly fell in love with the watercolor detailing of this monstera print by taylor_bates_creative (far right), especially in this large scale.

Creating My Desired Look

Four sketches of a person wearing a modest swimsuit in different cuts along with a turban.
Four versions of my surf-suit inspired long tunic. Can you figure out which style I chose?

When it came to my design I had so many ideas but managed to narrow it down to a surf-suit inspired long tunic. From past experience I wanted it to be a little longer to cover my thighs, but still give me space to move, which is where the idea for a wrap-front skirt came from.

The raglan sleeves would give extra movement in the arms and the high neck would provide an extra bit of coverage, plus I liked the idea of a chunky zip to make it more sporty. I also wanted to create pleats across the tummy area—one thing I hated about my old suits was how they would cling to my body when I got out of the water. I thought a little bit of pleating would be an unusual design detail as well as hide my lower body a bit more when it got wet.

I put my pattern-making skills to the test by heavily hacking a body-suit pattern and creating a higher neckline, collar and skirt from scratch. But the planning stage (I did a few test versions in scrap jersey) was well worth the effort. When it came to cutting into this beautiful fabric, the construction was actually quite simple and came together quickly.

My Tips for Sewing With Sport Lycra®

The Sport Lycra® has a lovely weight to it and even though it’s super stretchy, it’s actually quite stable which means it doesn’t stretch out too much as you handle it. Below are my top tips for sewing with Sport Lycra. For additional Sport Lycra swimsuit sewing help, see Katie Kortman’s post “How to Sew Your Own Swimsuit.”

A close up of cut out fabric to make a modest swimsuit with scissors, thread, and a zipper on a wooden surface.

1. Use a rotary cutter to cut your pieces.

This avoids stretching the pieces as you cut them out. Plus it’s super fast! Once you get used to a rotary cutter I promise you won’t go back to cutting out fabric with scissors.

2. You can use a serger or sewing machine.

I used my overlocker (serger) for the majority of this project which is perfect for stretch fabric, but when I needed to, I switched to my sewing machine. Make sure you use the right needle (stretch or ballpoint) to avoid skipped stitches and a stretchy stitch (e.g. zig zag) to sew seams. A walking foot is perfect to make sure the fabric doesn’t get stretched out as you sew. But also remember – if your pattern piece doesn’t need to stretch (like my curved hem and zip) a straight stitch can work too, and often is a little neater.

3. Steam your seams instead of pressing them.

I used my iron on the lowest setting and used the steam function to press the seams—after testing the iron on my fabric swatch. It also worked wonders to reshape some pieces which would inevitably get a little stretched out as I sewed. With a quick press (and a pressing cloth) they would magically ping back to shape. I was really impressed with how the fabric recovered.

4. Use a water-soluble felt tip fabric pin for marking notches/ pleats, etc.

This was really helpful as it was clear to see but also easy to mark. Chalk can be difficult to transfer on and might stretch the fabric. Again, be sure to test it out on a scrap piece of fabric and make sure the pen washes out – you don’t want to have blue pen all over your finished garment!

The Final Result

So here’s my final outfit which I paired with some store-bought swim leggings. I absolutely love it!

Rumana posing in her finished modest swimsuit and turban.

It’s already been put to the test in sunny Turkey—dipping in and out of the pool and the sea. The high neck is great for my coverage needs, and the little detail of the zip guard makes it super comfy against my skin.

I added a bit of black binding to highlight the curves of the wrap skirt and the skirt itself worked really well. It gave my legs space to move/kick in the water while keeping the slimmer silhouette I wanted. I love the pleats which make it look so much more interesting without being bulky across my tummy.

A close up of a modest swimsuit on a mannequin.
A close up of the bottom of the swimsuit on a mannequin.

I even managed to squeeze out a swim turban using this lovely contrast pattern from one fat quarter of Sport Lycra! It worked really well and didn’t slip off once! Plus the pleats gave some extra room for my hair.

Two photos of Rumana wearing her turban and swimsuit,

I know everyone says this, but being able to sew my own swimwear has been a real game-changer. As a Muslim, hijab-wearing woman, I’ve often felt self-conscious and stared at on the beach – even more so in parts of Europe where there is backlash against ‘burkini’-style swimsuits (some cities are even banning them). I’ve tried to not let things like that stop me – I’ve gone swimming in oceans, snorkeling amongst coral reefs and even had kite-surfing lessons in my old swimsuits, but I’m always aware of myself and how I look. But this swimsuit really has changed that. With its unashamedly bright and bold print it has given me the confidence to step out onto the sand with my head held a little bit higher, because everyone deserves to feel fabulous in their swimwear, right?

A close up of Rumana smiling in her turban and swimwear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fabric should I use to make my own swimwear?
Our Sport Lycra® is best for sewing swimsuits. It’s a durable and stretchy fabric ideal for swimwear and athletic apparel.
How can I make my own modest swimwear?
You can follow a template or make your own pattern like Rumana, by exploring existing bodysuit and tunic patterns.
What designs should I consider for modest swimwear?
We suggest using a non-directional print design. Consider scale when choosing a design—Rumana chose a large-scale design for her swimsuit. The scale of your desired design may be in the title or you can toggle the size options to see how your fabric will appear as a yard, fat quarter or swatch.

Want More Rumana Tips?

If Rumana has convinced you to make your own modest swimsuit, you’re not alone. She’s not done yet either! See why she’s opted to make her own pajamas, with fabric and pattern suggestions
See Her Tips