Making leotards for rhythmic gymnastics - January 2021 

Awe thanks so much! I ended going back to school for fashion design so I haven’t been making very many leotards lately, but I will try to post something soon.

Awe thanks so much! I ended going back to school for fashion design so I haven’t been making very many leotards lately, but I will try to post something soon.

Thank you so much 😀

@@sewingwithsuzanne1338 do you have Instagram or something? I really need your advice on decorating a leotard i have

Thank you 😊

Thanks so much! I use a combination of spandex fabrics. The blue is a spandex/nylon (20% spandex) with 4 way stretch - like swimsuit fabric. and the white is a holographic dot spandex with 4 way stretch. Both fabrics a pretty widely available I think, but I got both at Spandex House in the US. Good luck making your leotard - it's a lot of fun :)

Hi there! Thanks so much! I'm glad you like them. I posted this video awhile ago now but I am thinking of creating more leotard sewing content. I have made a couple unitards in the past, and I think they look amazing! Is that something you would be interested in seeing? I used a sewing pattern so I could do a "sew-a-long" style video...

Hi there! Thanks so much! For the detail or appliqué fabric, I usually stabilize it with a two sided fusible interfacing, or a light repositional spray glue like 3M 75. Sometimes I just pin it on if I don't think it will shift too much in the sewing process. Then I sew using a medium zig zag stitch. Zig zag stitch everything when using stretch fabric. A straight stitch will break when the gymnast puts on the leotard. Hope this helps!

Hi! Thanks so much! 😊 I’ve tried a few different ways but for this particular leotard I used a double sided fusible interfacing called “Steam-A-Seam 2”, then I zigzag stitch around everything with my sewing machine. Hope this helps 😊

Hi! Oh this is a great idea for a video! I think I might just do that. I will do some research and think on it. Maybe I ask what sport you’re making your leotard for? Rhythmic gymnastics? Figure skating? Something else?

Hi! Thanks so much! I used a variety of sizes of crystals in this video. For the hot fix crystals I used mostly ss12, ss16 and ss20. I hope that helps

Hi Marcela! Thanks so much! I buy my glitter mesh at Dressew in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

I use a pretty high setting, maybe one setting down from the highest. But definitely check the heat tolerance of your fabric on a scrap piece of fabric before starting, and always use a pressing cloth. As sort of an update to this video, I actually prefer glueing down the crystals now instead of using hot fix. The best glue I have found is E6000 for fabric

Hi Sienna! I hear ya! I started making leotards because they were so pricey. I was thinking of making a few more videos explaining a bit more about my process. I am making a couple new leotards for my daughter now - I no longer make them to sell as I am starting back to school. Making leotards is very time consuming, and can get expensive if you get carried away. Once you've made a few you start to understand why they cost so much! But I love making them and it can be very rewarding. I will try to post a bit more video content soon! Thanks

@@sewingwithsuzanne1338 thank you so much for your kindness💓

Thanks so much! I use mostly spandex fabric with 4 way stretch, and 4 way stretch nude mesh. I buy most fabrics from Spandex House.

@@suzannecox1697 Thank you! ^^

Hi 👋 I get some them from a local (Vancouver Canada) seller ASE Crystals and I order some online - AliExpress Yanruo Crystals, and Dreamtime Crystals in the US 😊

@@suzannecox1697 thank you!!

Hi! Yes I do! It’s just a plain wood board kind of the size and thickness of a standard cutting board, and I just wrap it in about 6 layers of cotton flannel. This makes it so I can pin into it, and also if any glue seeps into the flannel through the mesh leotard, it doesn’t really stick that bad. It pulls away easily and anything that did stick on the inside of the leotard ends up with a bit of fluffy flannel on it, which is totally fine a not rough against the skin. It works great and I use it a lot. Hopefully this makes sense and was helpful 😊

Hi! Yes I do! It’s just a plain wood board kind of the size and thickness of a standard cutting board, and I just wrap it in about 6 layers of cotton flannel. This makes it so I can pin into it, and also if any glue seeps into the flannel through the mesh leotard, it doesn’t really stick that bad. It pulls away easily and anything that did stick on the inside of the leotard ends up with a bit of fluffy flannel on it, which is totally fine a not rough against the skin. It works great and I use it a lot. Hopefully this makes sense and was helpful 😊

Hi! Yes I do! It’s just a plain wood board kind of the size and thickness of a standard cutting board, and I just wrap it in about 6 layers of cotton flannel. This makes it so I can pin into it, and also if any glue seeps into the flannel through the mesh leotard, it doesn’t really stick that bad. It pulls away easily and anything that did stick on the inside of the leotard ends up with a bit of fluffy flannel on it, which is totally fine a not rough against the skin. It works great and I use it a lot. Hopefully this makes sense and was helpful 😊

Hi there, the crystals stay on through washing - hot fix is a permanent way to attach crystals. That being said, a very few crystals do sometimes pop of while wearing the leotard, but usually only when the fabric is overly stretched while being worn, or being stressed in some other way - rolling on the floor etc… An alternative to hot fix is to glue them on - I like E6000 glue for this

Hi! Thanks for your comment. I am thinking of posting a few videos on my favourite patterns to use for leotards. Starting with a base pattern can be really helpful and then you can design anything from there.

Hi! I bought mine at Dressew in Vancouver 😊

Hi! I’ll try to explain this as best I can 😊For the neckline I used a piece of bias cut stretch nude mesh same as the leotard(about 4cm x the length of the neckline minus 10%), kind of like putting a neckband in a sweatshirt, you want it to be slightly tighter so it sits nicely and doesn’t sag. I pin this bias strip to the right side of the neckline evenly, then attached it with my serger using nude thread. Then wrap the remaining bias strip over the serger seam and over to the back or wrong side. Top stitch in place - I like using a triple zig zag stitch. Neatly trim off the extra fabric on the inside. The finish looks like there’s an elastic inside but it’s just serger stitches - much softer than elastic. I hope this helps.

@@suzannecox1697 thats what I thought perfect thank you 😊

The fabric is all nylon/spandex athletic fabric, and I paint them with various fabric paints :)

Hi! I use a few different methods to finish the neckline and armholes. I have started putting a video together showing these different methods - it will hopefully be out soon! Thanks

Hi! I have a Janome Pro4DX serger, and a Pfaff Ambition 620 sewing machine

Hi, I have a Pfaff Ambition 620 sewing machine and a Janome Pro4DX serger.

Hi! Thanks so much! I personally think that for most leotards the cheaper crystals are perfect and sparkle beautifully on the carpet, stage or ice! I have been very happy with the quality and price of Yanruo crystals. But there are some people who want and are willing to pay for much more expensive crystals, and that’s great but I don’t think it’s necessary. Just my opinion.

@@suzannecox1697 thank you I also agree that swarovski crystals are too expensive. Thank you for your your suggestion

Hi, sorry I am only making for local clients at the moment. Thanks

Hello i can make leotards for India. Write me i send you photos of my leotards