Cotton Lycra Knits

Advantages of Cotton Lycra Knits:

Ever found yourself wondering what's that cotton lycra knit (CL) or cotton spandex knit (CS) everyone seems to be talking about? What's so special about it? Here's some of the reasons there is so much talk about it. read more

Advantages of Cotton Lycra Knits:

Ever found yourself wondering what's that cotton lycra knit (CL) or cotton spandex knit (CS) everyone seems to be talking about? What's so special about it? Here's some of the reasons there is so much talk about it.
• Smooth hand and breathability making it perfect for all seasons.
• 4 way stretch with outstanding recovery.
• High natural fiber content making it ideal for babies and children clothes, receiving blankets, beanies, booties and pyjamas, and much more.
• Flattering for adult clothing, leggings, skirts, tops, dresses, tees, scarves.
• Minimal pilling for extended wearability
• Organic options are available for sensitive skins and the environmentally conscious.

Sewing with Cotton Lycra Knits:

We recommend always prewashing your fabric to reduce the risk of shrinking in your finished project Do you absolutely need a serger to sew knits? The answer is no! With cotton lycra knits there is no unravelling so you can simply use a fine zigzag stitch on the sewing allowance for a more professional finish, but just pinking it or leaving it as is could also work nicely. The one change that would be beneficial to your sewing is switching to a ballpoint stretch needle for your machine. You may want to use a 100% polyester thread too as it will retain more stretch than a cotton or cotton blend thread. Considering the amount of stretch in those knits it is recommended to cut them with a rotary cutter to cut it to avoid stretching it while cutting out the pattern.

How to care for Cotton Lycra Knits:

Machine wash cold and tumble dry medium, avoid wrinkling by taking it out of the dryer immediately. As with any fabric that contains cotton it is important not to let it stay wet for extensive periods of time as mildew will attack the natural fibers. Avoid excessive warmth and dry ironing as it will cause the synthetic fibers to warp.