Best fabric for dance practice or club wear?

[pygmalion]

I admit it. I perspire heavily, especially when I'm wokring out regularly and my metabolism is high (like now.)

So what is your preferred fabric for dance clothes, especially tops, to help manage the moisture while looking nice? And does any particular color work better than others (to hide the wet spots :oops: :lol: )

[55223]

Velvet? spandex? Or supplex-soft, elastical and dry quickly?

[RickRS]

I'm an "old-school" guy, so cotton is what I usually wear to practice, just for the comfortable feel. Has anyone use the fabrics like supplex-soft that claim to wick moisture away? How do they compare to cotton as to feeling comfortable?

[fascination]

the new stuff that claims to wick has no real effect on me...I prefer cotton in black or white which show the wet the least...and i bring extra shirts...shrug

[wooh]

I'm an "old-school" guy, so cotton is what I usually wear to practice, just for the comfortable feel. Has anyone use the fabrics like supplex-soft that claim to wick moisture away? How do they compare to cotton as to feeling comfortable?

If it wicks the sweat away from you, doesn't that just mean it's wicking it on to your poor unsuspecting partner?

[RickRS]

If it wicks the sweat away from you, doesn't that just mean it's wicking it on to your poor unsuspecting partner?

That sort of what I was wondering, as well.

[Nybz]

Tape an impermeable surface, ie garbage bag, to your front, then wear the moisture wicking fabric. If you are lucky you won't pass out from overheating and all the sweat will be wicked away off of your back :D

[wooh]

^^Hahahaha!!

[etp777]

hahaha

And the mositure wicking fabrics do work well, least the few I've tried. but always used them for individual sports. :) or for hiking socks. work well for that, moisture wicking first, then something thicker

[wooh]

That sort of what I was wondering, as well.

Don't wonder. I've danced with guys in those shirts. It's clammy and gross!:mad:
(And by the way, I don't mind sweaty "normal" shirts. Because well, that's normal. And it's not as slimy/clammy for some reason. Basically, I'll "share" your sweat, but don't expect me to be the only one feeling it.hehe!)

[Gorme]

I wear two layers of clothing. One is a cotton undershirt that will soak up all the sweat. The second layer is the dress shirt to look presentable. People always ask me why I never look like I'm sweating without realizing that they're just not seeing the sweat stains that most guys have on their shirt.

I have not noticed any reduction in sweat by wearing very little clothing versus alot.

[RickRS]

(...Basically, I'll "share" your sweat, but don't expect me to be the only one feeling it.hehe!)

LOL

Okay, that all I need, no "wicking" fabrics in dance shirts for me.

[etp777]

I'm with gorme. wearing that right now, and got sweaty during lesson, but couldn't see it (and none got on NP).

[Flyingkamakiri]

Say, I just started learning how to sew from my Girlfriend and I've been using a machine to repair all my clothes. (Yay for college poverty!)

My mom recently gave me a ton of her old clothes that she doesn't wear anymore to give to some of my friends. Some of the tops that she gave me were of a Polyester/spandex combination. They look simple and nice as well. I want to make them into practice tops for my friends. However, I heard there is a specific way to stitch these kind of fabrics so that they retain their stretchiness. What kind of a stitch do i use on this fabric? The tops are really wide, so I am probably going to fold them in a bit to make them thinner.

[bjp22tango]

Say, I just started learning how to sew from my Girlfriend and I've been using a machine to repair all my clothes. (Yay for college poverty!)

My mom recently gave me a ton of her old clothes that she doesn't wear anymore to give to some of my friends. Some of the tops that she gave me were of a Polyester/spandex combination. They look simple and nice as well. I want to make them into practice tops for my friends. However, I heard there is a specific way to stitch these kind of fabrics so that they retain their stretchiness. What kind of a stitch do i use on this fabric? The tops are really wide, so I am probably going to fold them in a bit to make them thinner.

I'm assuming you have a regular sewing machine without access to a serger. Use a medium-short length zig-zag stitch (not very wide) or a stretch stitch built into the machine. If you use too small a stitch size the stitches bury themselves in the fabric in clumps and it's impossible to take them out and it makes the seam pucker and stretch. If you use too large a stitch there won't be enough thread in the seam to give when the fabric stretches and you will get broken seams.
You also want to stretch the fabric a little bit when sewing the seam. Not too much unless you want a lettuce edge effect.

I would suggest using one of the blouses as a trial piece and sew with several different methods to see which work and which don't on your machine and the fabric used.

Have fun! Your friends will be coming to you for all kinds of sewing soon. You may have a mini business in the future!

[Flyingkamakiri]

Thanks! That really helps! Gonna try it as soon as i can. ^^