Neoprene Fabric

[neverputasockinatoaster]

Has anyone used this fabric for sewing?

Is it difficult to work with and is it washable?

I have a glimmer of an idea for a swimming bag/mat thing and need a waterproofish outer layer.

[lavendersun]

I do a fair bit of outdoor/utility sewing and I would not choose to sew neoprene!!

Am sure someone will be along who loves it though. Make sure that your machine can deal with it.

Mine is currently sewing through 7-8 layers of 420gsm canvas so fairly heavy duty stuff but I would want to do a test sew on a sample piece first to check that it worked.

[neverputasockinatoaster]

I'm not sure my cheapo Lidl machine would cope actually.
I did think about waxed cotton as that would be thinner.

I could go not washable as I could put the towelling layer in with velcro but I really want something the kids can use and can then be chucked in the machine with no faffing.

[lavendersun]

I don't really understand what you are trying to make tbh - is it just a drawstring bag with a towelling bit on top of one of the waterproof layers?

I buy most of my outdoor stuff from Point North. You would only need something like this:

www.profabrics.co.uk/products/sale/coated-polyester-microfibre-/0001703.html

if you wanted to do it cheaply and use an old towel - have you got a zig zag stitch, otherwise you would need to bind the edges if you cut a towel (probably wise anyway tbh).

[lavendersun]

You can buy quite prettily patterned nylon ripstop on eBay though - by the 1/2 metre - check waterproofness on anything you buy.

[neverputasockinatoaster]

Thank you.

What I have in mind is a circle. One side waterproof ish, one side towelling, with a drawstring.
With the drawstring pulled it would act like a bag to carry wet or dry clothes but opened it would act as a mat to stand on to change so keep feet off the soggy floor. (My son has an ASD an is forever standing on the wet floor in his socks so then spends the day in soggy socks if he is at school)

I'll have a look at the links and on ebay.

My machine has got zigzag.

[EATmum]

I bought some Jersey earlier this year that was a bit neoprene-y - it's much more flexible than a wetsuit but still doesn't feel right as a top. I got it at Fabricland if that helps? And it was a dream to cut and sew, just wish I liked the effect as a piece of clothing!