We are jumping for joy over our newest stretchy fabric, Sport Lycra®! It’s a bottom-weight fabric engineered to provide great recovery, fit and performance. This might just be our most active fabric yet!
Sport Lycra is 88% polyester and 12% Lycra® and features the durability and quality you need to make activewear that stands up to many workouts and washings. This fabric offers exceptionally vibrant color, is breathable and quick drying with a great stretch and beautiful sheen.
Sport Lycra has a 56″ wide printable area and is great for creating your own athletic and leisure apparel, yoga pants, leotards, dance costumes, and more! Learn more about Sport Lycra and order your free swatch today!
We used Sport Lycra to sew up a handful of leggings using an affordable digital PDF sewing pattern. Continue reading for a full how-to and tips and tricks for working with Sport Lycra!
Step 1: Download and print your pattern.
To get started, you need to download or purchase your leggings pattern. We recommend the Sloan leggings by Hey June Handmade, just $10.00 to download. Once you’ve opened the pattern and printed a copy, you’ll need to lay out the pieces, tape together and cut out your size. We found that the pattern fit a little snug so going up one size may be best depending on your fit preference.
Step 2: Choose your orientation and pattern layout.
Once your pattern is assembled and cut out, it’s time to cut out your fabric pieces. Sport Lycra has a four-way stretch making it possible to cut with the grain or cross grain, but the fabric stretches much more across the grain than along the grain line.
If you want the greatest amount of stretch to go around your body, cut your pattern with the side seams running along the selvedge.
If you want to get one pair of leggings out of a yard of fabric and cut down on grin, cut your pattern on the crossgrain.
If you plan to cut your leggings on the crossgrain, you’ll want to choose a non-directional pattern. If the design you plan to use is directional and runs the length of the fabric, you’ll end up cutting your pattern pieces with your design sideways.
Also, keep in mind that if you cut a knit garment on the crossgrain (with the greatest stretch running up & down the body), the garment could end up too tight and will stretch in length as it is worn. Cutting on the crossgrain will also place more stress on the seams and could cause them to pop. That could be a serious UH-OH! with leggings.
Once you’ve decided which way you’d like to lay your fabric, fold the fabric in half, lay out your pattern pieces, and cut your fabric pieces.
Step 3: Sew up your leggings!
First, you’ll stitch up the inseam of your pants. So that the fabric will stretch and give, either use a serger or a zig-zag stitch on your standard sewing machine. A universal or ballpoint needle works best with this fabric.
If you’re using a serger, the serger blade does need to be sharp. The differential feed on the serger might need to be lowered slightly and make sure the stitch length isn’t too long. Test samples are helpful.
For a standard sewing machine, a 3 step zig zag will be more secure than a standard zig zag. Increase the stitch length to 3.5 – 4. For smooth topstitching, increase the stitch length to 4 – 4.5 and decrease the pressure foot pressure to allow the fabric to move more smoothly over the feed dogs—a walking foot is quite helpful.
Once your machine is all set up, place right sides together, then line up and pin your inseams for both legs of your leggings. Once pinned, sew your seam.
Once you have sewn both inseams and have two pant legs, you’ll then sew those together. Turn your pant legs right side out and with right sides together, line up the inseam first and pin the rest of your crotch seam. Once pinned, sew the crotch seam. Now you have pants! They just need a waistband.
Take the large rectangle waistband pattern piece and fold it in half and sew the two shorter sides together.
Turn the sewn circle right side out and fold in half with raw edges aligned so you have a more narrow circle.
Slip the waistband over your leggings (all raw edges should again be aligned) and pin the two unfinished sides to the top of your pants with right sides together.
Sew together, flip the waistband up and you’re ready to slip on your sweet new leggings!
We hope you’re as excited as we are to sew with Sport Lycra! Please tell us what you plan to make in the comments below or share with us using #Spoonflower on your favorite social media platform!
Hi can this be used for swimwear? Very interested !!!! If not can u direct me to the best one to use for swimwear please
Yes! Sport Lycra is perfect for swimwear! Check out this post to learn more: https://blog.spoonflower.com/2016/09/alison-swimsuit-sew-along/
If we can’t do this ourselves but have printed fabric we want to turn into pants who do you recommend that can make them for us?! Tia!
Have you tried Sprout’s White Glove service? You can have leggings sewn for you using any Spoonflower fabric. Check it out here: https://sproutpatterns.com/hey-june-handmade/sloan-leggings
Hi. Can i make the leggins using an overlocker rather than a regular sewing machine?
yes, absolutely!
Thinking of using the sport lycra for capris for stand up paddling/surfing. Has anyone used this fabric in the ocean? How durable is it? Thanks – very excited to see your products!
I made a pair of leggings using the Blackest Black and the seams have a white like stripe of stitching because of the white underside of the fabric showing through. I used a zig zag stitch making many adjustments but still have the same problem. What now? I still have 2 yards left and these leggings can’t be worn this way. I don’t expect this to happen with the printed fabric I have since the stitching will just blend in but not on any solid color with white back. So disappointed
Hi Mandy,
Did you try this link? http://www.spitupandstilettos.com/product/matilda-legging/
Love this! But the pattern isnt availeble for downloading. Is there anyway i can get this pattnern?
Thanks!
Hi Kate,
While Modern Jersey can be used to make leggings, it is actually a bit more sheer than Sport Lycra. If printing with a light design, Modern Jersey is not ideal for leggings. Sport Lycra is going to be our best fabric for leggings, but does have a bit of a sheen to it.
Hope this is helpful!
Best,
Allie
Do you think the above leggings pattern would also work with modern jersey? If I was looking for something a bit thicker and with a more matte look? thanks!
Hi Jeannie,
Neoprene is more of a "foam" type structure. I also think of neoprene as more of an insulating/barrier type material. Sport Lycra is definitely a knit with performance properties (e.g. stretch and wicking), but I would not describe it as thick or insulating like neoprene.
I hope this helps provide some clarity. Please let me know if you need further help!
Best,
Allie
Thanks for sharing, Lucie! We're thrilled to hear you love Sport Lycra as much as we do!
Got my swatch and it’s totally awesome. The colors are so vibrant, and the quality is amazing. Cannot wait to make leggings for my Zumba class, everybody is going to want some!
How does this fabric compare to Neoprene? I just received my sample and it feels fabulous!
Jennifer! That's fantastic–thanks for sharing!
Got my sample the other day and brought it to work….I am a gymnastics coach. The entire team went wild over it and all are requesting custom leotards for the up-coming season. What wonderful fabric. Look forward to buying LOTS OF IT!!!
What kind of thread is the best to use with this fabric?
Hi Barb, a regular old polyester thread will work just fine!
I would also like a reply top this question.
We recommend polyester thread
We didn’t use a specific pattern for the cell phone arm holder, but our crew member who stitched that up is going to write up a tutorial! Stay tuned–it should be live in the next few weeks!
Best,
Allie
Hmm, that’s something to keep in mind. Thank you!
Yes, most of those designs are for sale. Here's a list of the fabric names: Space Watercolors in Black, Floaty Cats in Space, Baby Goats Again, Junk Food Toss Pattern, Malachite 2, Arrow Geometry Violet, Puppa Mint, Annie Nanners, Rainbow Arrows, Tentacle Border 4, Blue Watercolor Abstract, Bright Watermelon Border Print
If you need more information, please let me know!
Best,
Allie
I wonder if we can use this fabric to make custom swimsuits?
yes, you can!
yes, Sport Lycra is swim-approved and perfect for handmade suits!
Hello
Are the fabric designs in the first picture available for purchase? If so, could you please tell me the name of them
Thank you
Thanks Allie! That is awesome!!
Thanks, Andrea!! We're so excited too!!
Yes, I’d love that too please 🙂
Thanks, Kelly!! And thanks for sharing a bit more insight with the community!
The sewing pattern we used can be found here: https://jalie.com/jalie2216-cycling-jersey-pdf-pattern-438
Best,
Allie
Is there a pattern/tutorial for the cell phone arm holder?
super cool! thanks i will definitely make this 🙂
Fantastic new product! As a seasoned sewist, I would recommend tracing the pattern in the correct size out of tissue before cutting out the fabric. This way, it’s less cumbersome especially with knits and the cutting is way more accurate, especially if you choose not to hem.
Just a question: what pattern did you use for the bike jersey shown above? I would LOVE to make on with the new sports Lycra!
Love, Love, Love!!!