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Posted by Cheryl on June 28, 2006, 11:59 pm
I've bid on several pieces of fabric on eBay and have won some of them.
I am amazed at the vast differences in what people advertise as
"lycra". Can someone tell me just what lycra really is?
Cheryl
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Posted by on June 29, 2006, 1:01 am
Dear Cheryl,
Lycra is a generic name for stretch yarns. As little as 5% in a fabric
can give the material stretch. You're probably familiar with spandex?
This is a fabric used for shape wear. It is a lycra fabric.
Teri
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Posted by Kate Dicey on June 29, 2006, 3:42 am
gjones2938@yahoo.com wrote:
> Dear Cheryl,
>
> Lycra is a generic name for stretch yarns. As little as 5% in a fabric
> can give the material stretch. You're probably familiar with spandex?
> This is a fabric used for shape wear. It is a lycra fabric.
>
> Teri
>
It's used generically (like hoover!), but in fact is a brand name for
elastane, like Spandex. :)
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!
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Posted by Candide on June 29, 2006, 1:59 am
> I've bid on several pieces of fabric on eBay and have won some of
them.
> I am amazed at the vast differences in what people advertise as
> "lycra". Can someone tell me just what lycra really is?
> Cheryl
"Lycra" is the registered brand name (first by it's inventor Dupont, now
owned by Invista of Koch Industries) for spandex/elastane fibre.
Basically spandex is a fibre with very good stretch and memory
capabilities. It is stronger and more durable than it's natural product
competitor rubber, which it mostly has replaced. Ask your mother,
grandmother or any older female about Playtex's rubber girdles from the
1950's. Rubber was used to replace much of the boning in female
undergarments, especially those that were meant to shape an and support.
Thing was that rubber only stretched so far, so basically one had to fit
the item, rather than the other way round. Once encased it gave one a
smooth line, but was damn uncomfortable. Spandex made it possible to
design both outer and under garments that were fitted and or gave shape,
but "moved with you".
As for differences in fabric, always ask what is the percentage of
spandex to natural fibre and what is the natural fibre. A blend of
better cotton and spandex will feel different than cheaper grades of
cotton and spandex for instance. Also as with any other textile, quality
of the weaving and dying will affect the final hand.
Candide.
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Posted by wurstergirl on June 29, 2006, 3:09 am
That's a very informative answer Candide. I can imagine that without
being told the other fibers you could indeed end up with some surprises
in the mail. Spandex is put into just about every garment I own,
wovens and knits both. I would think that what sellers consider plain
vanilla "lycra" is a knit, like swimwear fabric.
Cheryl, what did you end up with? I'm so curious!
Pora
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