All Spandex Fabrics — One Complete Collection
Browse our extensive range of spandex fabrics, perfect for crafting custom activewear, workout gear, and everyday apparel. Featuring excellent stretch and flexibility, our spandex collection includes a wide variety of prints and patterns to suit any design vision. Whether you're creating workout pants, fashion-forward activewear, performance swimwear, or other comfortable stretch garments, our fabrics ensure a smooth, durable finish every time.
All of our spandex fabrics are available for purchase online, with easy access to high-quality options at competitive prices. We sell by the yard so you can order exactly the amount you need — whether that's a single yard for a small home project or bulk yardage for a full production run.
Spandex by Yard is the retail division of Sportek International Inc., a manufacturer and distributor with deep roots in performance and activewear textiles. That industry heritage means our fabrics meet real production standards — not just retail minimums. Every yard in our catalog is selected for quality, performance, and durability.
Every Type of Spandex Fabric, in One Place
Our catalog covers the full spectrum of stretch and spandex fabrics. Whether you need a technical performance knit, a fashion-forward printed stretch fabric, a luxurious velvet, or a high-shine metallic finish, we have it — all in one place, ready to ship.
Nylon Spandex
The workhorse of performance stretch fabric. Smooth, durable, chlorine-resistant, and available in a full range of colors and weights for swimwear, dancewear, and activewear.
Cotton Spandex (Cotton Lycra)
Soft, breathable, and naturally comfortable. Ideal for yoga pants, leggings, casual activewear, children's clothing, and any garment that needs stretch without a synthetic feel.
Printed Spandex
Bold all-over prints on a stretch knit base. From geometric and abstract patterns to florals, animal prints, and novelty designs — our printed spandex is colorfast and fully stretch-compatible.
Hologram Spandex
Prismatic, color-shifting surface that creates dramatic light effects. A staple for competitive skating, dance costumes, stage productions, and performance fashion.
Metallic & Foil Spandex
High-shine metallic and mirror-bright foil finishes on a stretch base. Available in gold, silver, and a wide range of fashion colorways for costumes and fashion garments.
Velvet Spandex
Luxurious stretch velvet with excellent drape and a soft, rich pile. Perfect for dance costumes, theatrical garments, fashion tops, and holiday wear.
Swimwear Fabric
UV-stable and chlorine-resistant knit fabrics engineered specifically for aquatic use. Includes solid and printed options in nylon and polyester spandex bases.
Moisture Management Fabric
Technical stretch fabric with wicking properties that move sweat away from the skin. Engineered for athletic performance — ideal for running gear, gym wear, and sport-specific apparel.
Stretch Mesh & Power Mesh
Open-knit stretch fabrics for lining, support panels, and layered construction. Stretch mesh is lightweight and breathable; power mesh offers compression and shaping.
What to Know About Spandex & Stretch Fabric
Spandex — also sold under brand names like Lycra and Elastane — is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. In fabric form, spandex is almost always blended with another fiber (nylon, polyester, or cotton) to create a knit that combines the strength and hand feel of the base fiber with the stretch and recovery of the elastane component.
2-Way vs. 4-Way Stretch
2-way stretch fabrics stretch in one direction only — typically across the width. 4-way stretch fabrics extend and recover in both directions, making them suitable for garments that must flex with every movement of the body. All of our performance fabrics offer true 4-way stretch.
Stretch Percentage
The amount a fabric can stretch before recovering is expressed as a percentage. Most activewear spandex stretches 50–100% of its original dimension. Higher stretch percentages allow for closer-fitting garment construction and more freedom of movement.
Elastane Content
The percentage of spandex (elastane) in the blend determines the fabric's stretch behavior. Most performance knits contain between 10% and 30% elastane. Higher elastane content generally means more stretch and better snap-back recovery.
Recovery
After stretching, a quality spandex fabric should return fully to its original dimensions. Poor recovery — where the fabric stays stretched out — is a sign of low-quality elastane content or fiber breakdown from heat or chemical exposure.
Weight (GSM)
Grams per square meter describes fabric density. Lighter-weight fabrics (80–130 GSM) are suited to linings, base layers, and lightweight activewear. Heavier weights (140–220+ GSM) are better for structured garments, outerwear, and compression applications.
Durability
Our fabrics are manufactured to run-resistant standards, meaning you won't encounter the snags, pulls, or ladder runs common in lower-grade stretch knits. The knit construction is stable through cutting, sewing, and repeated use.
Choosing the Right Spandex Blend for Your Project
The base fiber in a spandex blend has a significant impact on how the finished fabric looks, feels, and performs.
- Nylon / Spandex — Silky, smooth, lightweight. Best for swimwear, dancewear, and activewear linings. Key strengths: soft hand, excellent color depth, chlorine resistance.
- Polyester / Spandex — Slightly crisper, firm. Best for athletic wear, competitive swimwear, and sportswear. Key strengths: superior chlorine and UV resistance, colorfast prints.
- Cotton / Spandex (Lycra) — Soft, natural, breathable. Best for yoga wear, casual leggings, and children's apparel. Key strengths: natural comfort, ease of sewing, accessible feel.
- Nylon / Lycra (Lycra Nylon) — Ultra-smooth, firm. Best for competition suits and high-performance dancewear. Key strengths: very strong, minimal bulk, high stretch recovery.
As a general rule: choose nylon spandex for softness and fashion appeal, polyester spandex for heavy athletic or pool use, and cotton spandex for natural-feel garments where breathability matters more than water performance.
Hundreds of Colors, Prints & Surface Finishes
One of the biggest advantages of shopping our full collection is the sheer range of colorways and surface treatments available across our spandex fabric range.
Solid Colors Include
- Pinks, roses & blush tones
- Lavender, lilac & purple
- Shades of orange & coral
- Browns, nudes & earth tones
- Neon yellow, green, pink & orange
- Classic black, white & grey
- Navy, teal, cobalt & ocean tones
- Jewel tones — emerald, ruby, sapphire
- Pastels across the full spectrum
Finishes Available
- Standard (matte) — clean and versatile
- Metallic — shiny, reflective surface
- Foil — mirror-bright high contrast
- Hologram — prismatic, color-shifting
- Velvet pile — soft, rich texture
- Printed — all-over pattern on stretch base
- Moisture management — technical wicking finish
- Mesh — open knit, breathable structure
Our printed spandex collection spans abstract and geometric designs, tropical and botanical prints, animal prints, tie-dye and ombre effects, and seasonal novelty patterns. All prints are applied using colorfast processes that hold up through washing, stretching, and repeated wear.
What Can You Make with Spandex Fabric?
Spandex and stretch fabrics are among the most versatile materials in the sewing world. The combination of stretch, recovery, durability, and aesthetic range means a single fabric type can serve across dozens of garment categories.
Activewear & Athletic Apparel
- Leggings and yoga pants
- Sports bras
- Running shorts and tights
- Cycling gear
- Gym wear and tanks
- Compression garments
Swimwear
- Bikini tops and bottoms
- One-piece swimsuits
- Tankinis
- Rash guards
- Swim shorts and swim dresses
- Athletic competition suits and water polo suits
- Swimwear lining
Dance, Gymnastics & Performance
- Dance costumes and ballet wear
- Figure skating dresses
- Gymnastics leotards
- Cheerleading uniforms
- Stage and theater costumes
Fashion & Lifestyle
- Cosplay and bodysuits
- Festival fashion
- Fashion activewear
- Children's clothing
- Maternity wear
- Underwear and intimates
For Home Sewers, Designers & Retailers Alike
Our fabrics are sold by the yard with no minimum order, making them accessible to everyone from first-time sewers working on a single project to professional designers sourcing fabric for a seasonal collection.
- Home Sewers & DIY Makers — Making custom leggings, costumes, swimwear, or activewear for personal use, gifts, or small online shops.
- Dance Studios & Schools — Sourcing fabric for recital costumes, performance uniforms, and competition wear — often in quantity.
- Swimwear Designers — Independent labels and made-to-order designers looking for premium nylon spandex and printed swim fabric.
- Costume & Cosplay Makers — Building competition or convention-quality costumes that require precise color matching and performance stretch.
- Boutique Retailers — Stocking curated stretch fabric selections to sell to their own sewing and design customers.
- Activewear Brands — Small to mid-size sportswear labels sourcing technical and fashion stretch fabrics for seasonal collections.
Tips for Sewing Spandex & Stretch Fabric
Spandex fabric sews beautifully with the right setup. A few simple adjustments to your tools and machine settings make the process straightforward and professional.
Use a Ballpoint or Stretch Needle
These needles are designed to push through knit loops rather than pierce and break them. A size 75/11 or 80/12 stretch needle will prevent skipped stitches and snags across all spandex types.
Sew with a Stretch-Compatible Stitch
Straight stitches do not flex with spandex and will snap under tension. A narrow zigzag (1.5–2mm wide), built-in stretch stitch, or 4-thread serger overlock stitch is required for seams that move with the fabric.
Use Polyester or Wooly Nylon Thread
Both handle the flex of stretch seams and resist the washing conditions typical for activewear and swimwear. Cotton thread will degrade quickly.
Adjust Your Tension
Reduce upper thread tension slightly from your default setting when sewing stretch fabric. Correct tension allows the stitch to flex without puckering or snapping. Always test on a fabric scrap before sewing your project.
Cut Accurately — Don't Stretch While Cutting
Lay fabric flat and use pattern weights or pins to secure your pattern pieces without distorting the knit. A rotary cutter on a self-healing mat gives the most accurate cuts.
Don't Pull Fabric While Feeding
Guide the fabric without stretching it as it feeds through the machine. Pulling causes stretched-out, wavy seams that don't lie flat.
Press Carefully
Most spandex fabrics are heat-sensitive. Use a low-heat iron with a pressing cloth, or use steam from above rather than pressing directly, to avoid melting or distorting the stretch fibers.
Tip for beginners: Cotton spandex (cotton lycra) is the easiest spandex blend to start with — it behaves more like a woven fabric than performance knits and tolerates small errors in tension more forgivingly. Once you're comfortable, move on to nylon spandex and swimwear fabrics for more demanding projects.
How to Care for Spandex & Stretch Fabric Garments
Proper care extends the life of finished spandex garments significantly. Heat is the primary enemy of elastane — it breaks down the stretch fiber over time, causing garments to lose their shape and recovery.
Wash in Cold Water
Always wash spandex garments in cold water, whether by hand or in a machine. Hot water degrades elastane content and accelerates loss of stretch recovery.
Use a Gentle Cycle
On a machine, use the delicate or gentle cycle to minimize mechanical stress on the stretch fibers. A mesh laundry bag adds an extra layer of protection.
Use Mild Detergent
Harsh detergents can strip dye and degrade fiber coatings. Use a gentle, activewear-specific detergent or a small amount of mild liquid soap.
Never Tumble Dry
Dryer heat is highly damaging to spandex. Air dry all stretch garments by laying flat or hanging in a shaded, ventilated area.
Avoid Wringing
Wringing distorts the knit structure. Press water out gently instead.
Iron on Low or Not at All
Most spandex fabrics do not require ironing. If needed, use the lowest heat setting with a pressing cloth. Never iron directly over metallic, foil, or hologram finishes.
Store Away from Sunlight
UV exposure degrades dyes and elastane even in storage. Keep finished garments in a drawer or opaque bag rather than exposed on open shelving.