We have gotten so used to stretchy clothes that it's hard to remember when pants bagged at the knee or shirts didn't fit snug at the waist. Garments made from 2 or 4 way stretch fabric hug your body, without constraining or chafing, and move with you as you sit, stand, bend, or reach for things. It wasn't always like this. The first stretch material was invented by DuPont, the chemical company, in the late 1950s.
In 1978, Peter Golding, a British designer with a shop in trendy Chelsea, introduced the first stretch jeans. He used a fabric from Japan and sold the shape-revealing pants in several bright colors. These form-fitting garments delighted the fashion-flouting and fashion-setting rock stars and teens of Chelsea.
Stretch fabrics come in a keep-the-shape but not so form-fitting 1% to the slinky 4%. The look is not the only reason people like stretchy fabrics. A pair of riding breeches that stretches both from side to side and up and down does not bind in the seat or the knees. The pants don't bag after a long ride, don't bind when the rider lifts a leg to the stirrup, and gives a professionally trim look when astride.
Many sports clothes are made of cloth that gives from side to side and from top to bottom. This is the '4 way' aspect. 2 way only gives in one direction. People who work out at the gym, do yoga, ride bikes, or run want clothes that move with them, won't bag at the knee or in the seat, and won't catch in a bike chain.
All sorts of stretchy cloth is sold by the yard to crafters, home decorators, and needle workers. The selection is astounding; just go online to browse through the cloth. There are velvets, smooth and brushed cottons, drapery material, printed cloth for sheets or kid's pajamas, and more. Shiny satins in jewel colors or metallic sheens make even those who don't sew think of making their next evening gown.
Although the cloth will have a certain percentage of Spandex or Lycra or other less well-known namebrands, the stretch still comes from the original elastane developed by DuPont in 1959. It is hard to imagine life without tank tops, knee-highs, leggings, 'skinny' jeans, or any of the other garments we are so accustomed to. The body-hugging shape and the extreme comfort of clothing that never constricts has become the norm now.
This combination fabric washes well in the machine and can even go in the dryer. However, if a garment represents a major investment, or you like it so much you want it to last forever, avoid hot water and high heat. It will last longest if you hand wash it in mild soap and hang it on the line to dry. Never subject a stretch fabric to chlorine bleach.
It's fun to visit an online fabric store and just see what you can find for a project. From faux leather to elegant rose velvet, the selections are astonishing. As for clothes, every catalog, store rack, and mannequin will undoubtedly be showing something with a bit of stretch to it. Once you've worn a well-fitting stretchy top or pant, you may never want to go back to plain old cloth.
In 1978, Peter Golding, a British designer with a shop in trendy Chelsea, introduced the first stretch jeans. He used a fabric from Japan and sold the shape-revealing pants in several bright colors. These form-fitting garments delighted the fashion-flouting and fashion-setting rock stars and teens of Chelsea.
Stretch fabrics come in a keep-the-shape but not so form-fitting 1% to the slinky 4%. The look is not the only reason people like stretchy fabrics. A pair of riding breeches that stretches both from side to side and up and down does not bind in the seat or the knees. The pants don't bag after a long ride, don't bind when the rider lifts a leg to the stirrup, and gives a professionally trim look when astride.
Many sports clothes are made of cloth that gives from side to side and from top to bottom. This is the '4 way' aspect. 2 way only gives in one direction. People who work out at the gym, do yoga, ride bikes, or run want clothes that move with them, won't bag at the knee or in the seat, and won't catch in a bike chain.
All sorts of stretchy cloth is sold by the yard to crafters, home decorators, and needle workers. The selection is astounding; just go online to browse through the cloth. There are velvets, smooth and brushed cottons, drapery material, printed cloth for sheets or kid's pajamas, and more. Shiny satins in jewel colors or metallic sheens make even those who don't sew think of making their next evening gown.
Although the cloth will have a certain percentage of Spandex or Lycra or other less well-known namebrands, the stretch still comes from the original elastane developed by DuPont in 1959. It is hard to imagine life without tank tops, knee-highs, leggings, 'skinny' jeans, or any of the other garments we are so accustomed to. The body-hugging shape and the extreme comfort of clothing that never constricts has become the norm now.
This combination fabric washes well in the machine and can even go in the dryer. However, if a garment represents a major investment, or you like it so much you want it to last forever, avoid hot water and high heat. It will last longest if you hand wash it in mild soap and hang it on the line to dry. Never subject a stretch fabric to chlorine bleach.
It's fun to visit an online fabric store and just see what you can find for a project. From faux leather to elegant rose velvet, the selections are astonishing. As for clothes, every catalog, store rack, and mannequin will undoubtedly be showing something with a bit of stretch to it. Once you've worn a well-fitting stretchy top or pant, you may never want to go back to plain old cloth.
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