You can sew black spandex fabric using a sewing machine or a serger. Before you begin sewing, you should hand-baste the material. It would be best if you also used a stretch or jersey needle. The thickness of the Spandex will determine the needle size. Use a stretch or jersey needle if you are sewing with a serger.
Using a serger to sew black spandex fabric
If you’re looking to sew a black spandex fabric, a serger is an excellent choice. It has several advantages over a regular sewing machine, including seam finishing and an extra row of zigzag stitching. And a serger is also ideal for finishing the edges of stretchy fabrics, such as Spandex.
First and foremost, choose the right thread. Sergers require thicker yarn than regular sewing machines, so you want to use a high-quality polyester thread. You should also avoid using cotton thread, as it lacks strength and tends to be linty.
Using a stretch needle is best, but a standard sewing machine needle can work, too. The stretch needle is specially designed to avoid skipped stitches when sewing Spandex. A stretch needle is usually included with a machine, and most sergers have multiple stretch stitches. The fabric must be stretched when guided under the hand to avoid skipped stitches. Never pull the fabric as you sew.
Hand bastes before you machine sew.
For best results, hand-baste black spandex fabric before sewing it on a machine. This prevents distorted stitches that may create puckers or crumples. Because the curved edge of the material is wider at the bottom than the top, you can’t accommodate the extra width with a regular stitch. Instead, use a basting stitch, leaving a long thread tail to help you find it later.
To avoid the problem, use a contrasting thread color for basting. The contrast of the thread color makes the basting thread more visible. Once the basting thread is sewn, use a running stitch to attach it to the fabric. It is crucial to test the stitch by tugging on the cable. If it comes undone, you must remove the basting stitch.
Using a stretch needle
A stretch needle is an essential tool for sewing Spandex fabric. These needles are specially designed to prevent skipped stitches when sewing this fabric. To avoid skipped stitches, you should stretch the fabric slightly as you guide it under the needle. Most machines come with a stretch stitch feature.
The stitch width dial on your sewing machine has a unique “Stretch Stitch” mode. You can find more information about this mode by reading the manual. In the meantime, here are some tips on how to use a stretch needle when sewing black spandex fabric.
First, you should choose the needle that best fits your fabric. You can use a universal sewing needle, but a stretch needle will perform better for Spandex. Its tip is slightly rounded.
Sewing with a jersey needle
The first thing to remember when sewing with black spandex fabric is that you don’t need to use a special sewing machine needle. Instead, you can use the standard knitting needle to sew this fabric. The size of the hand should depend on the thickness of the material.
Before sewing, it’s crucial to prepare the fabric. To start with, the material should be flat. Using a rotary cutter and paperweights to ensure evenness will help prevent stretching. Then, lay the pattern pieces on the matte jersey fabric.
Depending on the size of the fabric, the jersey needle should be smaller than the ballpoint needle. A smaller hand has less chance of piercing the fabric.
Cleaning elastane
The base material of Spandex is polyurethane, and IG Farben pioneered the production of this material in Germany in 1937. Following World War II, hundreds of top scientists, engineers, and textile technicians emigrated to the United States, where they joined DuPont. This corporation quickly became the undisputed leader in the development of synthetic textiles.
To clean elastane fabric, use lukewarm water. For best results, avoid leaving the dress in the water for more than 30 minutes, and use a mesh washing bag to protect the fabric. Avoid chlorine bleach, as it can damage the fibers. Oxygen bleach is safer and helps remove stains and brighten elastane clothing. Alternatively, you can take your elastane clothes to the dry cleaners.
