If you love sewing swimwear, adore the MELINA bikini and its pretty ring details, but dream of a trendy, flattering and unique cut out one piece… good news! With a simple hack, you can turn your MELINA pattern into a modern one piece — without buying an additional pattern.
In this tutorial, I walk you step by step through how to modify the bottom piece (low rise or high waist) and how to adapt the top ring to create a perfectly fitted cut out one piece swimsuit.
This hack works with both the low rise and high waist versions of the bottom. The idea is simple: add a fabric extension to piece 3A – Front Bottom Low Rise or 3B – Front Bottom High Waist, then replace the top ring with a slightly larger one so you can attach the modified bottom to it.
Materials and Required Yardage
To sew the full swimsuit with this hack, you’ll need to adjust the amount of main fabric, elastic length, and the size of the top ring.
Main fabric
- Sizes 34–48 : 70 cm (28’’) total (110 or 140 cm width / 44’’ or 56’’ width)
- Sizes 50–54 : 80 cm (32’’) total (110 or 140 cm width / 44’’ or 56’’ width)
Elastic
Add 70 cm (28’’) to the amount listed in the original MELINA tutorial.
Ring
Replace the top ring with one approximately 5 cm in diameter..
Modifying the Bottom Piece to Create the Cut Out Band
You can alter your paper pattern pieces, but to save time, I suggest drawing the modification directly onto your fabric. Place piece 3 – Front Bottom (low rise or high waist) on the fold, leaving extra space above it.
Directly on the fabric, draw the shape of the band to be added, using the sketch below as a reference.
Then cut:
- the modified 3 – Front Bottom piece,
- all other swimsuit pieces as instructed in the original MELINA tutorial.
Adjusting the Front Bottom Elastics
The waist elastic on the Front Bottom (elastic (f) in the base tutorial) must be replaced with two elastics, whose length you will calculate.
- Measure the length L of the new curved edge on the modified bottom.
- Multiply this length by 90% (or by the percentage you usually use to achieve the right elastic tension).
- Cut two elastics of this length.
Assembling the Cut Out One Piece
Assembling the top
Sew the MELINA top as instructed in the base tutorial. Then slide the larger ring into the channels of the cups.
Assembling the bottom
Sew the bottom as usual:
- back bottom + gusset + gusset lining + modified front bottom
- attach the leg elastics, back elastic, and side cut out elastics (for the high waist version)
Then sew the modified elastics along the sides of the added band.
Following the original instructions, sew the side hems to create the channels, then insert the rings:
- 2 rings for the low rise version
- 4 rings for the high waist version
Connecting the Top and Bottom
- Try on the swimsuit to adjust the height of the connecting band.
- Pin the band around the top ring.
- Sew the hem of the band.
- Slide it onto the top ring.
Your cut out one piece is ready!
This hack lets you transform your MELINA pattern into a trendy cut out one piece while keeping the signature look of the original design. With a simple fabric band and a slightly larger ring, you get a unique, flattering and perfectly fitted swimsuit.
One pattern, three possibilities:
- low rise bikini
- high waist cut out bikini
- cut out one piece
A great way to get even more out of your swimsuit pattern and have fun sewing lycra!
Leave me a comment or send the pictures of your modified bikini!!
