Fabrics: Cotton/Spandex Jersey

Iris Bralette prototype in medium weight cotton/spandex jersey

I love sewing panties from cotton/spandex jersey, so of course I made myself a matching bralette.  I was a bit disappointed when I tried it on and found that the support was not very good.  For a moment I was confused, because the sports bras I have been wearing for years are cotton/spandex and seemed to be supportive enough.  But I realized that the sports bras I wear depend on compression for support, which is not the case for this style.

Cotton/spandex jersey is widely available in solid colors; I had a hard time finding nice prints in my price range, but spoonflower is a good option.  It comes in a wide range of weights and spandex contents.  For sewing panties, I have used cotton/spandex ranging in weight from 150 gms/m2 (that's grams per square meter) up to 240 gms/m2.  Content can range from 95/5 to 90/10.  The fabric used in the bralette pictured above has been in my stash for quite some time and I have lost the exact fabric information, but I believe it is 95/5 and around 200 gms/m2.  

As far as stretch goes, the cotton/spandex fabrics in my stash range from 80-100% crosswise stretch and 50-70% lengthwise stretch.  Recovery (the ability to snap back to the original width) varies, usually with the lighter weight and less spandex fabrics having less recovery than the heavier fabrics with more spandex.

Pros:

Cotton/spandex jersey is one of the few natural and breathable fibers suitable for bramaking.  It is easy to find both in chain retail stores and online.  With a dull surface and crisp hand, it is very easy to work with, as it is not at all slippery.  

Cons:

Lighter weight cotton/spandex jerseys do not provide a lot of support, but would make a good sleep or lounge bra.  Heavier weight cotton/spandex jerseys would provide more support, but have a more stiff hand that is not very soft.  Cotton in general is very comfortable to wear in hot/humid weather, but once it becomes wet it takes a long time to dry.