Knit-ty Gritty

Yoga Wear

YOGA GARMENTS SHOULDN'T CONSTRICT MOVEMENT--they should be stretchy but not baggy, form-fitting but not confining. Recommended shirts include long or short-sleeved T-shirts, tank tops and camisoles. Pants can be calf- to full-length and should be slightly loose--not skin tight or baggy. (Sweatpants are too bulky and don't allow yoga instructors to check body alignment while performing the asanas.) Drawstring pants with elastic in the waist allow for a closer fit with added flexibility.

A cotton/spandex, single-knit fabric provides the comfort of cotton and the superb stretch and recovery characteristics of spandex. This fabric tends to shrink substantially, so it must be preshrunk. (Buy an extra 1/8 yard for each yard required to ensure having enough fabric for the garment.)

To prevent seams from popping, build in maximum stretch when stitching the seams (see Seaming). Use textured-nylon or -polyester threads in the serger, and loosen the tensions slightly to prevent puckered seams; test on a fabric sample. This thread may be too bulky to thread through the needle easily. Place a drop of seam sealant on the end of your forefinger. Hold the end of the thread between the finger and thumb, rolling it back and forth until it stiffens. The rigid thread easily slips through the needle's eye. You can also use textured-nylon or -polyester threads on a conventional sewing machine.

From the July 2004 issue of Sew News magazine.