Whether you call it Spandex or Lycra, this stretchy material is used in fashion and sportswear often. Due to its flexibility, it can be difficult to glue, but it’s possible with the right tools. Let’s find out what the best glue for Spandex is and how to use it.
In a rush?
The best glue for Lycra/Spandex is usually E6000 craft glue.
It’s very flexible, sticks well to Lycra and other fabrics, and can go through the washer and dryer with no problem.
If you need a quick fix and aren’t as worried about longevity, use a strong fabric glue instead.
For repairing Lycra clothing/garments – the best option is to use a Lycra Repair Patch, which does not require adhesives or sewing.
What is Lycra and why is it so hard to glue?
Lycra (also known as Elastane or Spandex) is a very stretchy, comfortable, and breathable fabric that is often used in specialist clothing such as cycling gear, yoga pants, bras, underwear, and swimming gear.
Lycra is made from fine strands of polyurethane plastic, which give it some great properties, but unfortunately, make it difficult to glue.
On top of the troublesome plastic material, Lycra is extremely stretchy. Any glue used would have to be able to withstand the fabric stretching and twisting.
Most Lycra is used for clothing, so the glue needs to be able to go through the washer and dryer too.
The best glue for Lycra/Spandex:
The best glue for Lycra / Spandex is E6000 craft glue.
E6000 has some useful properties making it perfect for Lycra:
- It’s flexible
- It sticks to Lycra (most glues don’t, because it’s plastic)
- It’s completely waterproof
- It’s heat proof, so it holds strong even through the washer and the dryer
Best fabric glue for Lycra
If you’re attaching fabric to Lycra, fabric glue may be a good option.
While it’s not as flexible as E6000, it will adhere to almost any fabric you could think of and has some advantages over E6000, the most important being that it dries a lot faster.
Aleene’s Fabric Glue works on spandex, cotton, silk, nylon, polyester, jeans, leather, and most other fabrics.
I’ve not used this brand personally, but judging by the Amazon reviews this is the best value option out there. It’s cheap, has glowing reviews from happy customers, and works on most materials.
Advantages of Fabric Glue over E6000:
Fabric glue is less expensive
Fabric glue is usually a spray glue, so it’s easier to use
Fabric glue dries much faster than E6000
Fabric glue does not give off harmful fumes, unlike E6000.
Disadvantages of Fabric Glue compared to E6000:
Not as flexible as E6000 (though still flexible enough to bend without breaking)
Not as strong as E6000 (not recommended for heavy-duty repairs)
Best glue for Lycra Cycling Outfit
Cycling gear is often made from Lycra or another synthetic polymer fabric because they are light, breathable, and wick away sweat easily.
It’s actually pretty difficult to repair Lycra, depending on where the damage is and how bad it is, and I have two different recommendations based on your needs.
Best way to repair Lycra clothing:
If you need to repair a torn or worn Lycra garment, the best option by far is to use a repair patch.
You can buy Lycra Repair Patches on Amazon, they are cheap and easy to use, repairing and reinforcing your gear permanently without the need for glue, or a sewing machine.
This is the best way to repair a hole in Lycra leggings, cycling shorts, sportswear, or any other Lycra garments.
They work by heat, simply cut the patch to shape, lay it on top of your repaired garment, and run over it with a hot iron to seal it.
Best Glue for Lycra Clothing:
If you need to attach something to your outfit (like a flag, a badge, or some other decoration) you should use E6000 craft glue. It’s flexible, extremely strong and bonds Lycra to almost any other fabric.
FAQs:
How to sew Lyrca:
It’s not recommended to sew Lycra, but if you need to, make sure to use a zigzag sewing pattern, to try to preserve some of the elasticity of the fabric.
Sewing Lycra clothing is a bad idea as it can rub and be uncomfortable. Instead, use a Lycra repair patch.
How to finish Lycra edges:
Lycra doesn’t generally run or tear, so you don’t need to worry too much about the edges if you’re making a repair.
The only thing to keep in mind is to use sharp scissors, as blunt scissors will cause the edges to fray and look ugly.
If you want to finish the edges on a visible piece of gear, you can use a zig-zag stitch directly on the edge of the material.
How to get stains out of Lycra:
You can wash Lycra in the washing machine as you would with other garments.
If you have a stubborn stain, you can pre-soak the Lycra in lukewarm water with detergent to loosen the stain.
Don’t scrub any stains, as that can cause them to set.
If possible, try to remove stains while they are still wet.
Conclusion
To sum up, Lycra / Spandex is pretty easy to glue, but you will want to make sure you use something flexible so that it doesn’t break when the lycra is stretched or flexed.
The best option is to use E6000 craft glue or a strong fabric glue.
If you’re repairing Lycra clothing, the best option is to use a Lycra Repair Patch, which does not require any glue or sewing and forms a permanent repair.
Thanks so much for reading.
-Bill
