The Benefits of Cotton Lycra: A Blend of Comfort and Flexibility

Cotton Lycra

Cotton Lycra is a stretchy knit fabric created by combining cotton and Lycra (also known as Spandex or elastane). This blend offers the softness of cotton with the elasticity of Lycra, making it a popular choice for garments requiring stretch.

Available in blends like 95% cotton and 5% Lycra.

The Lycra yarns are fed into the knitting machine along with the cotton yarns, giving the fabric its excellent stretch and recovery properties.

Cotton Lycra knit fabric is lightweight, breathable, and smooth, making it ideal for a wide range of garments.

A Closer Look at the Structure

Cotton Lycra knit fabric is a single-knit fabric with a smooth surface on one side and slightly textured loops on the reverse.

Two-Way or Four-Way Stretch: Lycra fibers allow the fabric to stretch either across its width (two-way stretch) or in all directions (four-way stretch), offering greater flexibility and ease of movement.

Form Fitting: This knit is typically made using fine gauge knitting techniques, providing a balanced combination of structure and stretch, with a moderate thickness that is ideal for body-hugging garments.

High Elastic Recovery: The Lycra component gives the fabric excellent recovery, meaning it bounces back to its original shape after being stretched, preventing sagging or loss of form.

Benefits of Cotton Lycra Knit Fabric:

Stretch & Recovery

Lycra ensures the fabric stretches and returns to its original shape without losing elasticity, perfect for form-fitting garments.

Comfortable

Cotton's natural breathability and softness make the fabric ideal for everyday wear, even in warm weather.

Wrinkle-Resistant

The stretch properties help reduce wrinkling, so garments look neat even during active wear.

Moisture Absorption

Cotton fibers absorb moisture, keeping the wearer cool and comfortable.

Shape Retention

Elasticity of Lycra helps the fabric retain its shape over time, preventing bagging or sagging at stress points such as elbows or knees.

Durable

The cotton-Lycra combination results in a fabric that resists wear and tear while maintaining its quality over time.

Knitting Process of Cotton Lycra Fabric

Knitting Process: Cotton Lycra fabric is produced on a circular knitting machine by simultaneously feeding cotton yarn and Lycra filaments.

Interlacing of Cotton and Lycra Yarns: During the knitting process, cotton yarns and Lycra filaments are fed into the machine simultaneously. The Lycra yarns are typically placed in the understructure, while cotton forms the face of the fabric.

Lycra is usually fed at a lower tension to enable stretch when the fabric is under strain, providing flexibility without compromising strength.

Finishing Processes: After knitting, the fabric undergoes finishing steps, such as dyeing, pre-shrinking, and softening to enhance its overall quality and durability.

Common Uses & Applications

Activewear and Yoga Pants: Cotton Lycra is widely used for form-fitting activewear and yoga pants, where stretch and comfort are crucial.

Leggings: The fabric’s ability to stretch while maintaining a fitted shape makes it perfect for leggings and other form-fitting clothing.

T-shirts and Tops: Its soft feel and flexibility make it a popular choice for T-shirts, tank tops, and casual tops.

Loungewear and Sleepwear: Comfortable and breathable, this fabric is also commonly used for loungewear, sleepwear, and undergarments.