Personalized swimsuit embroidery is a popular, giftable project. A swimsuit is typically spandex/lycra, so the keys are hooping it correctly and choosing the right design size. Here is how to do it — including how to create a machine-ready design for free with SewFlow.
What You Need for Swimsuit Embroidery
- •Fabric type: spandex/lycra
- •Hooping: Float on cutaway
- •Recommended design size: 2–3 in
- •Best placement: chest or hip
- •A machine-ready file in your format (JEF, DST, PES, EXP, XXX, or SEW)
How to Make a Swimsuit Design with SewFlow
- 1Open the SewFlow Image to Embroidery tool at sewflow.com/image, or the Text tool at sewflow.com/text for names and monograms.
- 2Upload your logo or artwork and remove the background, or type and style your lettering.
- 3Set the design size to fit your swimsuit, then choose your machine's format — JEF (Janome), DST (Tajima/commercial), PES (Brother/Babylock), EXP (Bernina), XXX (Singer), or SEW (Janome legacy).
- 4Click Preview Stitches to check the stitch path and density before downloading.
- 5Download the file, hoop or float your swimsuit with the right stabilizer, and run a test stitch on a scrap first.
Design your swimsuit embroidery free online:
Open Image to Embroidery →Popular Swimsuit Embroidery Ideas
- •Team suits
- •Monograms
- •Kids' names
- •Boutique items
- •Gifts
Tips for Great Swimsuit Embroidery
- •Cutaway and ballpoint for the heavy stretch.
- •Keep density very light so it still stretches.
- •Test on a scrap of swim fabric first.
Placement Matters
On a swimsuit, chest or hip is the most flattering placement — mark it before you hoop.