Once you’ve worn a good pair of underwear, there’s no going back.
The dreamy, barely-there feel of a perfectly fitting pair of knickers is hard to beat, with no elastic digging into your skin, no bunching fabric, and definitely no chafing. If that’s an idea that sets your heart racing, it’s time we let you in on the secret behind the sorcery.
The magic spell to banish uncomfortable undies? A natural, breathable underwear fabric.
From soft Cotton to lightweight Tencel, your knickers, briefs, and boxers should always be made from fibres that let your skin breathe. Anything polyester is a no-go and will only leave you feeling sweaty and uncomfortable. Repeat after us: natural and breathable only! A little stretch never hurt anyone, either, with anything over 5-7% getting our seal of approval.
But where do you find such magical, silky smooth fabric for underwear? Luckily for all our lingerie sewists, we’ve put together our top 5 must have fabrics for sewing underwear that tick all of the boxes. Wave goodbye to uncomfy undies with these fabulous fabrics.
Cotton Fabric for Underwear
Organic cotton fabric for underwear is our absolute staple for day-to-day knickers. It’s fuss-free, oh-so-comfortable, and easy to sew, making it the hero of our underwear drawer. In particular, we recommend Organic Cotton Jersey for smooth, stretchy underwear fabric that provides great coverage.
Our Single Cotton Jersey is lightweight and made with 93% organic cotton + 7% Elastane, making it ultra-breathable for laid-back undies. It also has an impressive 30% four-way stretch, so you can slip your underwear on and off with ease – oh la la!
All of our cotton jersey fabrics are GOTS certified, which takes into account the entire production line of your underwear fabric for fairer working conditions and no harmful pesticides or herbicides. They also meet Oeko-Tex standards, meaning that they don’t contain harmful chemicals and won’t bleed colours when you wash them.
Cotton Jersey underwear is for those days when you need to be comfortable and in control. It’s for busy Mondays and cosy Sundays when a pair of soft, stress-free briefs or boxers are exactly what you want to slip on.
Tencel Jersey Underwear Fabric
Get ready for some stretch! Whether you’re heading to your morning yoga class or running for the rush hour tube, make sure you can move with Tencel Jersey fabrics.
Clocking in at an impressive 70% four-way stretch, Tencel Jersey underwear will move with your body throughout the day, creating that barely-there feel for ultimate comfort.
This is also a wonderful choice if you’re searching for an underwear fabric to spice up your lingerie. The silky handle adds a sexy sheen to your knickers, bringing a touch of luxury to your lingerie while still providing that all-important coverage for comfy undies.
Tencel Jersey fabric is super gentle and soft, too, making it unlikely to irritate even sensitive-skinned girlies. The natural Modal fibres are derived from Beech Wood, which is kind to skin, biodegradable, and compostable, making it a Good Fabric favourite.
Feel ready to take on the world in underwear that’s functionally feminine.
Bamboo Jersey Fabric for Underwear
Who’s this? There’s a new fabric on the Good Fabric block! We’re about to start stocking Bamboo Jersey fabric, bringing another sustainable fabric option to your haberdashery.
As they’re both made using natural plant fibres, Bamboo and Tencel Jersey are two fabrics cut from the same cloth (though not literally, of course). Bamboo is stretchy, soft, and lets your skin breathe in just the same way as Tencel. The main difference between the two is that Bamboo jersey fabric is ever so slightly more lightweight and thinner than Tencel jersey fabric.
We also love that Bamboo is moisture-wicking, meaning that it picks up moisture from your skin and moves it away from your body. Some studies have also shown that it has antibacterial properties, making this the perfect combo of characteristics for an all-day fresh feeling.
Do be aware, though, that Bamboo has a sneaky tendency to shrink in the first wash. Before sewing your perfect pair of underwear, be sure to give your bamboo fabric a pre-wash to avoid any sewing mishaps.
2×1 Cotton Rib Knit Underwear Fabric
You can’t go wrong with organic cotton fabric for underwear, but you can make it a little more fun. Bring your briefs and boxers to life with a textured 2×1 Cotton Rib knit fabric.
This step-up from smooth cotton is still super comfortable, with 5% added Elastane and that lightweight breathability we always look for when choosing the best fabric for sewing underwear. The 2×1 Cotton Rib Knit fabric has a playful texture made up of small vertical ridges that you can see and feel. It creates a snuggly, distinctive look and is slightly sturdier, with a curve-hugging fit that makes it well-suited for boxer shorts.
We think a 2×1 Cotton Rib knit fabric is a little more jazzy than a smooth fabric. If you want to bring some whimsical wonder to your day, pop on a pair of 2×1 Cotton Rib undies.
Tencel & Viscose Wide Rib Knit Fabric for Underwear
Last but certainly not least, we have Tencel & Viscose Wide Rib Knit fabric. This wide 4×4 rib knit is slightly lighter in weight than a 2×1 Cotton Rib Knit fabric and has a less dramatic texture, bringing just a dash of something different to your underwear drawer.
Tencel & Viscose Wide Rib knit fabric has a bit of everything; it’s sporty, sexy, and soft, making it a perfect blend of all the underwear fabrics we’ve added to our list. For day-to-day underwear, you really can’t go wrong.
This is one for our sewists who prioritise comfort but love the little details, and there’s something about a 4×4 Rib Knit Fabric that feels both elegant and charming. It just has that certain je ne sais quoi, oui?
Elastics for Underwear
We’ve covered the best fabric for sewing underwear, but what about elastics? From knickers to boxers and everything in between, you need a long-lasting elastic to keep your underwear form-fitting and functional.
Your underwear sewing pattern will give you plenty of details on what sort of elastic you need, but if you’re at a loss we have a few favourites to explore.
Our Organic Cotton Elastic is ideal for any enclosed designs and is completely plastic-free, making it a sustainable haberdashery essential. We also love the soft, stretchy Fold Over Elastic designed specifically for lingerie, bringing a dreamy, high-quality finish to your underwear.
Let Us Know Your Best Fabrics for Sewing Underwear
From a sport-casual rib to a colourful organic cotton fabric for underwear, there are plenty of choices when it comes to your underwear. Once you start taking control of your fabric choices and sewing patterns, you won’t ever go back to shop-bought undies again!
At Good Fabric, we’re always looking to grow our range of sustainable fabrics. If you’ve got a request for your underwear, let us know. Drop us a DM on Instagram @good_fabric_store or fill out our online contact form with your fabric daydreams and we’ll work our magic to see what we can do.
