How to Sew Stretch Mesh: Tips for Dancewear and Activewear
Although it may seem intimidating at first, sewing stretch mesh is actually quite simple and useful for making dancewear and activewear. Stretch mesh fabric is lightweight, flexible, and quite breathable. With the right techniques, you will learn that it is quite smooth to handle. Stretch mesh is used in various costumes, sports tops, leggings, leotards, and even in some trendy fitness outfits. Many beginners might be intimidated by sewing mesh due to the fabric’s open weave. Stretch mesh, however, is a quite smooth fabric once you learn the techniques. Any experienced fabric retailer can help you find a wide variety of stretch mesh fabric, and online fabric retailers can help you find mesh fabric by the yard for dancewear. Here, you will learn in simple, step-by-step instructions, the best outline for cutting, using, and sewing mesh.
Stretch Mesh Fabric: An Overview
Stretch mesh is a combination of nylon or polyester and spandex. The inclusion of spandex gives the fabric its stretch, which is essential for the greater range of movement needed in dancewear and activewear. Its open mesh construction allows airflow, making it excellent for ventilation during workouts. For this reason, stretch mesh is widely used in activewear and dancewear, appreciated not only by athletes but also by designers for its quick-drying properties, smooth texture, and modern appearance.
Available in various colours and thicknesses, stretch mesh offers options ranging from thin, highly breathable mesh to thicker versions that provide added support. To source this fabric conveniently and affordably, you can explore suppliers like Global Fabrics Wholesale, which offers competitive pricing and a selection broad enough to help you find the ideal product.
Tools and Supplies You Need for Sewing Stretch Mesh
Choosing the Right Needle
A stretch needle or ballpoint needle is the best choice for sewing stretch mesh and other knits or stretch fabrics. These types of needles slide between the mesh fabric fibres rather than stabbing and creating holes. Beginners often get skipped stitches, especially when using a thicker fabric with a straight needle. This is why a stretch needle is recommended for getting professional-quality seams.
Selecting the Correct Thread
Finally, polyester thread is your best choice when sewing mesh, especially stretch mesh. This is because polyester thread, compared to the other types of threads, has a slight stretch. This is important because you want a thread to be just as flexible as the mesh fabric you are using for your seams. Without this stretch, you risk breaking your seams. Especially when sewing with stretch fabrics, you wouldn’t want a thread that is made of cotton, as cotton is known to break easily when pulled with tension.
How to Use Clips to Hold Fabric in Place
When working with mesh fabric, it is best to use sewing clips instead of pins, as mesh fabric can get damaged with holes and snags. Clips do not harm the fabric and hold the layers of fabric together, which is especially useful for working on curved hems and more fragile areas of dance and activewear.
How to Smoothly Cut Fabric
When cutting mesh, it is especially important that cuts are clean, as the fabric can snag on scissors that are not sharp. To get a smooth cut with evenly cut fabrics, a rotary cutter and sharp scissors should be used. When cutting mesh, it is a good idea to use a flat surface with pattern weights instead of pins to hold the fabric in place. This prevents the fabric from shifting while cutting.
How to Sew Stretch Mesh for Dancewear and Activewear
Pre-Washing the Fabric
A practice that I would recommend doing and that I always incorporate into my projects is pre-washing any stretch mesh that you intend to sew before the construction process even begins. Dust, chemicals, and even excess dye are all things that get trapped in the fabric and washing it in advance helps eliminate all of these things. In addition, washing the mesh before working with it helps to avoid any future shrinkage, and will help the final piece of clothing that you make retain its shape and not get out of shape with washing. Even if the mesh is good quality, like the types Global Fabric Wholesale and other reputable fabric sellers would offer, pre-washing the fabric is still an essential step for any sewing project.
Cutting the Mesh With Care
When working with stretch mesh, make sure that you very gently lay the fabric down on an even surface. A table is ideal for this. This will help smooth out any wrinkles that may have formed. Mesh can easily shift and stretch when cutting if it is not secured down, so using weights is recommended. Cutting the mesh out slowly ensures that you get a clean shape, and it also eliminates a lot of mistakes that can happen. This is a very important step for any dancewear or activewear, as the more accurate the cutting you have, the better fitting the final piece will be.
Choosing the Right Stitch
When sewing with mesh, straight stitches should not be used because they do not stretch, and the fabric is likely to break when pulled. Always use zigzag or stretch stitches to allow fabric movement. A small, narrow zigzag stitch is ideal for mesh because it won’t bulk the seam, but it will keep the fabric secured. This is particularly essential for performance wear, sports tops, and leotards as they do not obstruct bodily movement.
Testing Your Stitches Before Final Sewing
One of the most important steps is to always test your stitches on a small piece of mesh before sewing the actual garment. This allows you to adjust your machine settings as far as stitch length, width, and tension are concerned. This helps to ensure that the end seams will be flexible, clean, and most importantly, secure.
Advice for Making Ideal Dancewear and Activewear With Stretch Mesh
Fusing Mesh With Other Materials
The design for many dancewear styles includes a combination of mesh with spandex, Lycra and other similar materials. While spandex offers support, mesh provides breathability and enhanced style. Select materials that stretch in the same direction for a more optimum fit and greater comfort in the final product. Dancewear manufacturers like Global Fabric Wholesale supply dance retailers with high-quality materials and spandex mesh by the yard.
Reinforcing With Extra Support For Key Areas
The shoulders, underarms, and waistbands are areas that get more tension with movement. Placing a small section of binding tape or elastic into the seams of these areas provides additional support and prevents seams from tearing, ensuring the garment lasts the test of time and heavy use in practice and performance.
Handling Seams Carefully
Activewear and dancewear should always prioritise the comfort of the user. Thick seams have the potential to rub against the skin during motion and may irritate. To combat the issue of friction, cut any excess fabric from seams, and press the fabric with an iron set to low heat. This will help fix the comfort levels of the garment during use by improving the quality of the seams.
Selecting Colours for Mesh Panels
Illusion necklines, sleeves, and decorative panels are created from mesh fabric. It is important to consider what colour to choose from, and it could be crucial for the case of performance costumes. While bold colours give you the chance to create a design that is more dramatic, the mesh is done in the colour of the dancer’s skin, providing an invisible and more natural look. It depends on what the costume is meant to look like, or the kind of dance that is being performed. Performance costumes typically need more consideration since they are meant for a performance.
Providing a Lining where it is Necessary
Mesh fabric is a kind of fabric that can be very thin and therefore, can be see-through. To that end, it is important to add a lining in an appropriate colour underneath the mesh. In dancewear, a lining in the colour nude is often used, serving to give an elegant look while providing some modesty and keeping some things hidden.
Conclusion
If you know the basics of sewing, sewing mesh fabric should be easy and straightforward. It is breathable, flexible, and perfect for making garments because it allows the body to move. With the right sewing techniques, even beginners can make garments that look and feel professional. When sewing any of the above garments, good-quality fabric is essential. Global Fabric Wholesale is an example of a good shop to buy premium mesh, although any good fabric retailer selling fabrics at good prices should have mesh by the yard for dancewear. With persistent patience, your sewing skills should and will grow, resulting in beautiful and stylish performance garments.
