The Ranger bottoms are our basic cheeky, reversible, seamless bottom. They can be worn both high on the hips or low, and they’re made to be a little more snug on the top so they hold up well when soaking wet!
If you’re new to swimwear sewing or sewing in general, these bottoms are a great place to start!
Plus, the PDF pattern comes with three different coverage options- thong, cheeky, and full coverage.
If you prefer video instructions, click on the image below to watch the most up-to-date tutorial:
-1/2 yard of swimwear fabric
-1/4" Swimwear elastic (recommended for the best fit)
-Seam ripper
-Overlock machine OR zig-zag stitch on a regular sewing machine
Assemble your pattern by cutting out the pieces, taping them together, then cutting out the size you would like to make.
Cut your pieces. If you want to make your bottoms reversible, make sure to have two different fabrics to use. In total you’ll cut 1 of the front and 1 of the back in EACH fabric. If you’re using one fabric for the bottoms, cut 2 in the front and 2 in the back.
Once you’re done, you should have 4 pieces total- 2 fronts, and 2 backs.
Match your fronts and backs with right sides together. Pin and then sew along the leg holes and waist. At this step you will also want to attach your 1/4" elastic. Sew it on at the same time, or if it's easier you can break up the process into two steps. You do not want to stretch while sewing the elastic- you want the elastic to be even to the seam length.
If it's available to you, you can use an elastic foot (also called a tape foot) to help with this process but it is definitely not necessary.
Have more questions about sewing elastic? You can watch my elastic series here to get all your questions answered!
Once you've sewn the leg holes and waist, flip your FRONT piece out to the right side. With your BACK piece still inside out, insert the front piece inside of it. If you do this correctly, right sides should be together since your front piece is right side out and your back piece is inside out.
With the front piece still inside of the back piece, guide the sides and gussets so they're matched up. Pin them down to secure before sewing. You should be pinning through 4 layers of fabric.
Now sew the sides and gusset straight across. You should be sewing across 4 layers of fabric.
Now we can take the bottoms to the right side. To do this, seam rip a small hole where the tag would usually be.
Note that the size of the hole in the image below is NOT to scale, ideally make a hole as small as you can while still being able to pull everything through it.
Through the hole, pull your bottoms all the way through to bring them to the right side.
Now all that's left is finishing off the hole. You can either to a top stitch or you can use an invisible stitch.
That completes the Ranger bottoms! This method is the basis for 90%+ of our patterns, so study it and nail it if you plan on making more Edgewater Avenue suits!
Additionally, if you have questions about sewing or construction, our Facebook group is a fantastic resource for new and experienced sewers alike. You can join here: https://facebook.com/groups/edgewaterave
Thanks for following along with this tutorial, happy sewing!
