Loungewear Fabric

For homemade loungewear, cotton jersey, French terry, and fleece are the absolute best choices. Cotton jersey is perfect for lightweight, breathable t-shirts and soft pyjama bottoms. If you are making a warmer tracksuit or hoodie, French terry and brushed-back sweatshirting provide excellent warmth and comfort.

While both are excellent for sewing hoodies and joggers, the main difference is on the inside. French terry features small, soft yarn loops on the reverse side, making it highly breathable and great for year-round wear. Sweatshirting features a brushed, fuzzy fleece backing on the inside, making it significantly thicker and much warmer for winter wear.

Yes! When sewing stretch fabrics like jersey, sweatshirting, or ribbed knits, you should always use a ballpoint needle or a stretch needle in your sewing machine. These specialty needles are designed to slip smoothly between the knitted threads rather than piercing them, which prevents annoying skipped stitches and stops small holes from forming in your garments.

Fabric requirements vary based on your size and the width of the roll, but generally, you will need around 1.5 to 2 metres of fabric for a standard pair of adult joggers. For a full matching tracksuit (a long-sleeve hoodie and joggers), you should budget between 3 to 4 metres. Always check the back of your specific sewing pattern envelope before ordering to ensure you get the perfect amount!