Power mesh is a durable fabric that comes in 4-way stretch and 2-way stretch varieties. It is a high quality fabric made of nylon and spandex with great recovery properties.
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What is Power Mesh Fabric?
Power mesh is a firm fabric ideal for compression garments such as active wear, dance wear, swimwear, medical products, and bra making and lingerie as it conforms to the natural contours of your body. Power mesh is a sheer fabric that is also great for lining compression garments. It is smooth to the touch and comes in different weights. Power mesh can be very lightweight, lightweight, medium weight or heavy. It is often measured by grams per square meter.
Characteristics of Power mesh/Power net
- Made of Nylon and Spandex
- 4 way stretch
- 2 way stretch options
- Great recovery
- Sheer
- Smooth to the touch
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Range of weights
- Great for bra making and lingerie!
What is the purpose of power mesh?
Lingerie
In regards to lingerie, power mesh is often used for the bra band also referred to as the bra band wings. It is a great choice for bra making because of its great recovery characteristics and it comes in lightweight varieties while maintaining breathability. These are both necessary characteristics when selecting fabric for bra making.
Active wear
Not only is power mesh for an everyday bra but it is also great for lining a sports bra or adding decorative elements to your pattern. Power mesh conforms to the natural contours of you body which lends itself to being very comfortable for active women. You can easily use the same power mesh to make matching sportswear for your sports bra. Such as leggings, shorts and tops.
Dance wear
You will often see power mesh used on garments for dancers in areas such as ice skating, cheerleading, and gymnastics. Dancers often chose this fabric for its durability and lightweight properties which allow them to move without feeling constricted or confined by their garment.
Swimwear
Power mesh is also common in swimwear. It is often used to line swimsuits but can be used as a decorative element as well. It can even be used as a swimsuit cover-up for it’s sheer characteristics and breathability making it comfortable in warmer climates.
Compression Garments
Power mesh is also used for compression garments or shapewear because of its 4 way stretch properties and smooth finish. It smooths out the silhouette when worn beneath the clothing in a flattering manner because it provides contouring to the body’s shape. The characteristic of smoothing out the natural contours makes it great as an undergarment. You will often see power mesh used in figure control garments such as control-top pantyhose and control slips. Due to its breathability it is perfect for this use as it does not retain sweat/perspiration.
Why use power mesh for bras and lingerie?
Power mesh is perfect for bra bands and panties. It is a lightweight yet durable fabric that offers 4-way stretch and breathability giving you the comfort and ease to wear this fabric all day long. 4-way stretch is preferable for undergarments in particular bra bands. Since the bra band wraps around your rib cage it needs to be able to expand comfortably as you breathe. It also needs to have superior recovery to allow the breast tissue to remain within the bra cup as the band stretches.
Breathability is also of high importance when selecting bra and lingerie fabric. The fibers in power mesh are structured in a way that allow your skin to breathe while absorbing perspiration and not irritating the skin. This is of paramount importance for lingerie, specifically underwear. Power mesh is also soft to the touch adding another layer of comfort to this fabric and all your lingerie sewing projects.
Best Practices when sewing with power mesh:
Power mesh is a very stretchy fabric. Ideally you would use a ball-point machine needle and a 3 step zig-zag stitch on a standard home sewing machine. You can also use an overlock machine on side seams. Polyester thread is also highly recommended when sewing with any type of stretchy fabric. It is also recommended that you loosen the presser foot pressure slightly on your home sewing machine to avoid any unnecessary stretch while sewing that could warp your stitch or seam.
More detail on best practices when sewing with knits/power mesh:
- Best machine needle
- Best standard machine stitch
- Best thread
MACHINE NEEDLES: Your sewing machine should have come with a universal needle. It probably came with a few extra needles as well. Those extras may just be universal or they may be a different size. When starting out you can use a universal needle but eventually you should invest in a ball-point needle or stretch needle. This is a finer tip needle that doesn’t break the fibers. Rather the needle point separates the fibers which is important for maintaining strength when sewing a knit fabric.
STITCH TYPE:
- Zig-zag Stitch
- 3 Step Zig-zag Stitch
If you do not have an overlock machine, the zig-zag and 3 step zig-zag stitch are right for you. This is a strong stitch in that it essentially encases the raw edge of the fabric by wrapping the threads around the edge and locking them in place. The 3 step zig-zag takes the same form but it makes three straight stitches from one point to the next point of the zig zag. The 3 step zig-zag is stronger than the standard zig-zag which is preferable for lingerie since it allows the fabric to stretch while being worn.
THREAD: When it comes to bra making and lingerie sewing a polyester thread is highly recommended. Polyester thread is stronger than cotton. Cotton is likely to break as it cannot withstand the stretch necessary for bras and other lingerie. Stretch is a vital feature in all lingerie whether that be with your fabric or notions. Thread is no exception. My favorite brand it Gutermann which can find at several retailers.
Care Instructions for Powermesh:
Always be cognizant of the care instructions provided by the retailer for your specific fabric. I am not responsible for fabric that has been damaged while laundered under your care. These are general instructions and will not apply to all power mesh fabrics.
In general, you should be able to machine wash your power mesh in cold water but there may be instances where you should hand wash your power mesh. It is recommended that you line dry your fabric to increase its longevity. However, you can tumble dry this fabric at a low temperature with a dryer sheet to avoid static. This type of fabric should not need to be ironed or dry cleaned.
Where can I find power mesh?
Check out my Recommended Fabrics page with my pick for power mesh fabric and other bra making fabrics.
Conclusion
Power mesh is a durable, high quality fabric made of nylon and spandex. It usually comes in a 4 way stretch although I have come across some that are 2 way stretch. It offers great recovery, is smooth to the touch and comes in a variety of weights. It is especially useful for bra making and lingerie sewing projects. Below are a few lingerie patterns and pattern shop suggestions and activewear pattern suggestions to get you started on your power mesh sewing journey!
Lingerie Pattern/Pattern Shop Recommendations:
- Bare Essentials Bra by Jennifer Matthews-Fairbanks
- Cloth Habit Bra Patterns
- Orange Lingerie Patterns
- Evie La Luve Lingerie Patterns
- Seamwork – Florence Bralette
- Ohhh Lulu Lingerie Patterns
Active wear Pattern Recommendations:
- Mood Fabrics DIY Custom Fit Leggings – free
- Mood Fabrics Lotus Leggings – free
- Seamwork Aires Leggings
- Hey June Handmade Sloan Leggings
- So Sew Easy Sports Bra – free
- Green Style Creations Endurance Sports Bra
Happy sewing!
