Meet Sonia, also known as S by S, a passionate dressmaker who has been creating her own handmade wardrobe since lockdown. In this review, Sonia shares her experience working with our vibrant Leopard Paint Spandex Fabric, covering everything from colour and stretch to comfort, opacity and ease of sewing.

If you're considering this fabric for activewear, gymwear, leggings, dancewear or swimwear, this review provides real-world insight into how the fabric performs both at the sewing machine and when worn.

Colour & Appearance

One of the most striking aspects of this fabric is its vibrant colour palette. The base combines lilac and plum leopard spots with pops of pink, yellow, orange, blue and green, creating a bold and energetic design that stands out from traditional animal prints.

The reverse side of the fabric is white, with a subtle hint of the print showing through. When stretched, the patterned side can appear slightly paler, which is useful to consider when planning fitted garments.

Because the fabric contains so many colours, it pairs well with a range of plain fabrics. Sonia used black, but lilac, dusky pink, royal blue and mint green would also complement the print beautifully.

Black thread worked well for this project, especially where the spandex was paired with black fabric.

Fabric Quality & Stretch

This fabric is a lightweight spandex with a smooth feel, similar to a thinner swimwear fabric. Its lightweight construction gives it excellent drape, making it suitable for garments with movement such as angel sleeves, full-circle skirts and flowing activewear pieces.

The standout feature is its stretch. This fabric has four-way stretch and high elasticity, making it ideal for bodysuits, swimwear, sportswear, leggings and other garments that require comfort, movement and recovery.

Opacity & Lining

Sonia found the fabric to be opaque, even when stretched. Undergarments were not visible through the fabric, which makes it a good choice for activewear and fitted pieces.

However, because the fabric is lightweight, using two layers is recommended for garments that need extra support, such as cycling shorts or close-fitting gymwear. The underside of the fabric is white, which is worth considering for skirts, dresses or garments where the inside may be visible.

Ease of Sewing

For ease of sewing, Sonia rated this fabric 7 out of 10. As with most stretch fabrics, it requires some care, but with the right needle and settings it becomes much easier to handle.

A stretch needle is highly recommended. Without one, the fabric can be more difficult to sew, but with the correct needle it sews smoothly and feeds well through the machine. Sonia used a longer stitch length and avoided stretching the fabric while sewing.

Another benefit is that the fabric does not fray when cut. This means the inside of garments does not necessarily need to be overlocked, and raw edges can be left if cut neatly for a clean finish.

Project Inspiration

The stretch and recovery of this fabric make it perfect for sportswear, gymwear, swimwear, leggings, bodysuits and dancewear. Sonia used the fabric for several activewear-inspired projects, showing how versatile it can be.