Choosing the right fabrics for your Avery Leggings is very important and I know it can be hard to find just the right stretch percentage and weight when shopping online. I have contacted some retailers around the world to inquire about their fabric offerings and I am excited to share my findings with you!
What are we looking for?
Four-way stretch knits with at least 70% stretch horizontally and vertically. Look for nylon spandex, cotton spandex, bamboo jersey, or rayon jersey. For leggings that aren’t intended to be layered, make sure to find a fabric that is 100% opaque. Look for ‘performance jersey’, ‘technical fabric’, ‘activewear knits’ or ‘dancewear’ when shopping.
Avery Fabric FAQ:
Can I make the Averys in a fabric with less than 70% stretch?
Yes, but I would size up if you have less than 60% and I would not go lower than 50%.You will lose comfort and range of motion if you do not have the requisite stretch.
Why does the Avery need so much stretch?
The Avery has a significant amount of negative ease. This helps the pattern fit like a ’second skin’ and not fall down. Consequently, it requires more stretch.
Can I make my Averys in a fabric with more than 70% stretch?
Yes! For example, a bamboo jersey can have more than 70% stretch and it will offer a more relaxed, casual legging that is great for lounging.
Can I make Avery with a fabric that only has widthwise stretch?
Nope. This pattern needs vertical stretch so that you can bend your knees and sit down comfortably. Trust me on this one.
Can I make Avery out of ponte or scuba knits?
Ponte and scuba will likely not have the stretch amount you need for this pattern, even though the weight might be what you are looking for. I would recommend looking for a thicker activewear fabric instead.
Do I need to use activewear fabric?
You can use lots of different fabrics and I have made pairs with cotton jersey/spandex that I love wearing on weekends and under dresses.
3 Tips for shopping online for knits:
1. If the fabric doesn’t have the stretch percentage listed, just ask! I emailed lots of stores when sourcing fabrics for this post and they were all very friendly and quick to reply to me.
2. Search for ‘activewear’, ‘athletic’, ‘performance’, or ‘dancewear’. Fabrics can be labeled all sorts of things and there are going to be lots of knit fabrics to sift through. Try to narrow it down using these terms.
3. When in doubt, order some swatches! If they don’t have swatches, just ask. They might be able to send you some even if they don’t have them listed on the site.
I have rounded up some options in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. I wish I had more insight into other countries, so please let me know if I missed a retailer that you are familiar with! I asked these shops to recommend fabrics for this post and they were happy to oblige. I hope this helps you find fabrics for your Avery Leggings.
*Note that Peak Fabrics only accepts credit card over the phone.
Custom Prints
Can’t find the right print for your leggings? Try custom printing one! Design your own fabric and have it printed on a high-quality Lycra. I have a blog post coming soon on my experience doing this with Contrado, so I look forward to sharing that with you!
Lastly, I wanted to point you to a list of activewear fabric retailers compiled by Johanna Lu over at The Last Stitch.
I hope you also check out your local fabric shop if you have one available to you. It is easier to check things like stretch percentage and weight in person. You can also explore the #averyleggings hashtag to see where other sewists are getting their fabrics.
Let me know in the comments if you have a good source for activewear fabrics!
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17 Comments on “Choosing Fabrics for the Avery Leggings”
Great list! Another place I buy athletic fabrics with really cool prints is zenithandquasar.
OO, thanks Christine!
Very helpful post! I have a rayon jersey with 70 % widthwise and approximately 60 % lengthwise (maximum) stretch. That should work, right?
Hi Linda! Yes that should work just fine 🙂
The Netherlands here: I ordered my fabric from glitterstof.nl
Literal translation “sparkly fabric”. I’ve got a slight suspicion that the entire dutch iceskating and gymnastic world uses this site for their elaborate costumes… a real treat to click through the site with the most amazing (and often horrendously fugly) fabrics. However, they also have a great selection of both matte and shiny lycra spandex fabric! Great colours and good quality and service!
Just be prepared to receive a packet with some residual glitter
Lol, I love the translation and the glitter warning! Thanks for sharing.
You don’t have to be a designer to use Spoonflower. They have hundreds of prints to choose from.
So true! They are amazing
This is amazing! I bought the pattern and it was a challenge to find the right fabric. I found some at L’oiseau fabrics (https://www.loiseaufabrics.com), a Canadian company that ships to the US and possibly elsewhere.
Oh, awesome! I will have to look into them. Thanks for sewing Avery!
Avery is this best leggings I never sew, the most comfortable! Since I got the pattern, I sew 4 (for me and another persons), cause my first was sooooo nice!
I cut the waistband smaller and dont put the elastic, and it’s perfect.
Thank you! That is so nice to hear!
Great list! Another place I buy athletic fabrics with really cool prints is zenith and quasar. This is amazing! I bought the pattern and it was a challenge to find the right fabric. Visit here for buy the any type of outwear.
Just purchased the pattern and cant wait to sew my first avery, buuut because of the shutdown, I can’t get my hands on any fabric… Sooo, is it possible to use swimmwearfabrics?? Aaaaand fo you have any experiences on using the spoonflower fabrics? ❤
Hi Constanze! I have not tried using swimwear fabrics to make Avery Leggings, but I so think it would work. You may find they are a bit hot for working out, but they will definitely be cute! Lots of great prints to choose from. I also have not tried the Spoonflower fabric! If the stretch percentage is a good fit that it should work!
I’ve got some Merino Wool Jersey with a 70% cross-grain stretch and 30% grain-line stretch. If I’m normally a size 10 in this pattern, could I size up? My math says a size 16/18 might be enough to account for the lack grain-line stretch… do you think it could work? I really love the idea of cozy wool leggings!
Hi Danielle,
Yes I think that would work! sizing up one size should do it.