Cotton Lycra

Cotton Lycra is a great, all inclusive fabric for the whole family. Perfect for quick and comfortable sews, it looks and feels great to wear too. Cotton Lycra fabric has a 4 way stretch with an excellent recovery. The higher the gsm or heavier the weight, the thicker the fabric is and better support and warmth it will offer to your sewing projects.

SOLD PER METRE ONLY ($31/M) Multiple qtys will be cut as a continuous length where possible. If there are any discrepancies when we receive the fabric that prevent this from happening, we will endeavour to contact you prior to finalising your order to discuss options with you.

COMPOSITION: 95% Cotton / 5% Lycra

WIDTH: 150cm (+/-5cm)

WEIGHT: as listed

PLEASE NOTE PRIOR TO PURCHASE: Pre-washing is recommended to avoid fabric shrinking on your finished product. Please allow up to 10% shrinkage on all fabrics. We do try and keep our cuts generous to allow for some of the fabric shrinkage that may occur.

PLEASE ALLOW: and understand there may be variations with ink colours between print runs and between different fabric bases. Colours may differ between your monitor or phone display and the finished print. This is something that while we do try to minimise occurring, can happen with custom digital printing and is out of our control. This is not seen nor considered a fabric fault and will not be treated as such.

What are some ideas I can make with this fabric?

T-shirts, skirts, dresses, shorts, pyjamas, undies and crops, singlets, leggings, hair wraps, light jumpers, rompers, baby wraps and more.

Cotton Lycra is a great go-to fabric when your busy life doesn’t allow for a lot of time, planning and preparing. A comfortable fabric that can be worn all year round and in many different conditions and temperatures. The natural cotton component to this fabric allows great breathability and absorbency while the lycra gives the fabric a comfortable stretch and great recoverability. A really capable and sturdy fabric, especially for active children on the go.

The natural fibre in cotton lycra, make it a great fabric to use when sewing for babies and small children, as it provides a lot of warmth while still allowing babies to maintain a stable body temperature. Appropriate consideration for climate and layers offered, should always be given to smaller children who are unable to regulate their own body temperatures.

Cotton Lycra offers a fluid, loose drape that sews well for most fitted and comfortable sewing projects. When considering the weight of cotton lycra you will need, keep in mind the lighter weight cotton lycra will offer less support and be more transparent when stretched.

WASHING AND CARE OF COTTON LYCRA FABRIC - (use as a guide only)

Pre-wash fabric the same way you would intend to wash your finished product.

We recommend machine washing fabrics with like colours on a cool, gentle cycle. Avoid any harsh detergents, bleach or softeners. White vinegar works great to retain absorbency and softness while baking soda can help to deodorise any stubborn smells from the fabric. Do not wring fabrics out, simply shake out creases and line dry immediately after washing, in shade and inside out to best retain fabric colour and integrity.

Avoid using a tumble drier as this may break down the lycra component in the fabric and over time will cause fabrics to fade, stretch and lose integrity.

SEWING TIPS FOR YOUR COTTON LYCRA FABRIC

Cotton Lycra fabric has a 4 way stretch that does not fray but tends to want to curl at the edges, especially when cut, stretched and washed. We recommend pre-washing cotton lycra fabrics as they will shrink slightly when washed so best to prepare your fabrics prior to sewing to avoid and size discrepancies and disappointment later.

Press fabrics well prior to cutting out your pattern pieces. If the pieces are tending to want to curl, lightly press edges again before sewing, being careful not to stretch or warp as you do, alternatively once washed and prepped, allow your fabric to sit flat and relax, prior to cutting out your pattern pieces.

Cotton Lycra is best sewn using a polyester thread, ideally a wooly nylon will allow maximum stretch at the seams, a ball point or stretch needle and an overlocker. If you do not have an overlocker machine, you can also use a sewing machine set on a zig zag or lightning stretch stitch. Cotton Lycra edges can be left raw, but for a more finished look, turn up and hem using a twin needle, Coverstitch or zig zag stitch.

Always test your stitches on a layered or folded scrap piece fabric, prior to sewing. Stretch at the seam and make any adjustments to the thread tension or stitch length before commencing with your project. Test, check and re-test again.

Avoid pushing or pulling the fabric as you go.

The width of fabric (WOF) should run perpendicular to the patterns grainline. Cut out all of your pattern pieces prior to cutting your fabric, to allow for placement, considering the fabric characteristics and to better maximise the fabrics yield.

Have fun and happy sewing!