Stretch Woven Fabrics

Stretch Woven Fabrics

DWR Finish
Country of origin: Taiwan
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Suggested Fabrics/Notions

Stretch Woven Fabric by the Yard

Discovery Fabrics carries a wide selection of stretch woven fabric by the yard for sewing hiking pants, outdoor shorts, travel clothing, board shorts, and athletic wear. Most styles have a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish, and several carry a UPF 50+ sun protection rating. Styles range from lightweight summer fabrics to midweight all-season nylon, with options for different levels of stretch depending on the project.

Each style has different properties, such as weight, stretch percentage, water repellency, and best use. Read the descriptions before choosing. Full specs, including fibre content, fabric weight, stretch percentage, and width, are in the Specs and Features tab for each style.

Watch our Stretch Woven Fabrics video for a helpful overview.

What is DWR finish?

DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent. It is a finish applied to the fabric surface that causes water to bead up and roll off rather than soaking in. DWR-finished fabric works well for hiking pants, outdoor shorts, and travel clothing, and it also resists stains, so garments stay cleaner longer and need less frequent washing. DWR is water-repellent, not waterproof, and performs best in light-to-moderate moisture conditions.

Can I use a stretch woven when my pattern calls for regular woven fabric?

It depends on the stretch percentage. Styles with minimal stretch can usually be substituted with no pattern adjustment, they add comfort without affecting fit. Styles with more stretch may cause the finished garment to run larger than the pattern intends, in which case you may need to cut a size smaller. Always check the stretch percentage in the Specs and Features tab before substituting.

Fabrics for hiking pants, outdoor shorts, and mountain bike wear

Adventure: A midweight nylon stretch woven with a DWR finish, smooth face, and textured back. A popular choice for hiking pants, hiking shorts, mountain bike pants, golf pants, and casual work pants. Nylon is more abrasion-resistant than polyester, making Adventure a durable choice for demanding outdoor use. Available in a wide range of colours.

Nike Storm Fit: A durable stretch woven with a DWR finish, originally developed for athletic bottoms requiring durability and stretch. Available in two weights: a lighter weight suited to everyday outdoor pants, and a heavier weight for rugged use, workwear, and kids' play pants.

Schoeller: From the renowned Schoeller mill in Switzerland, one of the world's most respected technical textile manufacturers. These stretch wovens have a DWR finish and are known for excellent stretch recovery, durability, and a refined hand feel. Available in limited yardage, check the Specs and Features tab for details on each colourway.

Tweave: A midweight stretch woven with a DWR finish, similar in weight and performance to the Nike Storm Fit styles. Well-suited to hiking pants, outdoor shorts, and active bottoms that need to withstand regular use.

Fabrics for summer hiking, travel wear, and sun protection

Sun Pro: The lightest stretch woven in this collection, with a DWR finish and a UPF 50+ sun protection rating. Well suited to lightweight hiking pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, and sun-protective long-sleeve travel shirts. Available in light and dark colourways — darker shades work well for bottoms, lighter shades for travel tops and shirts.

Surfer: A lightweight stretch woven with just enough stretch for comfort. The go-to fabric for board shorts is well-suited to summer hiking pants, travel shorts, and casual skirts. If you've seen the wrap travel skirts made by Rip Skirt Hawaii, Surfer is the style of fabric used to make them. Available in a wide range of solids and coordinating prints.

Caress Athletic: A smooth, soft stretch woven suited to athletic and active casual sewing. Check the Specs and Features tab for full details.

Looking for non-stretch woven fabric?

We also carry cotton and poly-cotton twill for projects that call for a rugged, non-stretch woven fabric. 

Some stretch woven fabrics are available at clearance prices on our Clearance and Deadstock page.

Sunpro: 50+ UPF Antrazit, Beach Bums, Euro, Herons, Ladybugs, Pins, Purest White (a blue white), White (matches the backgound in the prints) - 60" wide, 3.8 oz/sqyd | 130 gsm, 4-way stretch: 20% in both directions.

Surfer: Black, Charcoal, Coral, Navy, Neon Lime, Turquoise, Boards, Hippy Garden, Montera, Paisley Pinks, - 58" wide, 5.4 oz/sqyd | 185 gsm, 4-way stretch: 10% both directions.

Adventure: Charcoal, Gargoyle Grey, Navy, Olive Green or Tan Stretch Woven - 55" wide, 213 gsm | 6.3 oz/sqyd, 4-way stretch: 20% side-to-side 30% lengthwise

Red Schoeller - 54" wide, 4-way stretch 30% both directions

5.9 oz / 200 gsm Nike's (Tweave)

Team Maroon - 52" wide, 4-way stretch: 40% side-to-side 20% lengthwise

Tweave Pine - 48" wide, 4-way stretch: 40% side-to-side 25% lengthwise

Tweave Purple - 52" wide, 4-way stretch: 40% side-to-side 30% lengthwise


7.1-7.3 oz / 240-250 gsm Nike's (Tweave)
Purple - 50" Wide, 4-way stretch 15% both directions
Navy - 52" wide, 4-way stretch: 30% both directions


All Fabrics

Water repellent
Stretch
Air-permeable
High level of comfort
Great Shape Recovery

Listed from lightest to heaviest in weight:

Sunpro: 50+UPF Antrazit, Black, Purest White (a blue white), White (matches the white background of the prints)- 88% Polyester. 12% Spandex

Microfiber Stretch Woven: Red - 90% Polyester. 10% Spandex

Surfer: Black, Charcoal, Coral, Navy, Neon Lime, Turquoise, Hippy Garden, Monstera, Surf Boards, Paisley Pinks - 94% Polyester 6% Spandex

Adventure: Black, Charcoal, Gargoyle Grey, Navy, Olive Green, Tan and White Adventure Stretch Woven - 90% Nylon 10% spandex (Certification: Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®

Dusty Gold (stretchier) 5.9 oz (lighter) Nike Storm Fit Stretch Twill - 85% Polyester 15% Lycra

Red Schoeller Dynamic Stretch - 88% Nylon 12% Lycra (Certification: bluesign®)

Team Gold 5.9oz Nike Storm Fit Stretch Twill- 85% Polyester 15% Lycra

Team Maroon - 5.9 oz (lighter) Nike Storm Fit Stretch Twill - 88% Nylon 12% Lycra

Tweave Pine, Purple - 91% Nylon 9% Spandex

Purple and Navy 7.1 oz (heavier) Nike Storm Fit Stretch Twill - 91% Nylon 9% Lycra

Machine wash cold, use mild detergent, do not use bleach, tumble dry low or hang to dry

Lightweight Travel or Hiking Pants, Mountain Bike Shorts, Golf and Running Shorts = Microfiber Stretch Woven, Durepel Stretch Taffeta or Surfer Stretch Woven

Boardshorts = Surfer Stretch Woven, Microfiber Stretch Woven or Durepel Stretch Taffeta

Midweight Travel, Hiking, Workwear, Mountain Bike or Golf Shorts/Pants = Nike Fabrics, Adventure Stretch Woven, Schoeller Stretch Wovens, Nike Lighter (Tweaves) Stretch Wovens

Beefiest Hiking, Work or Mountain Bike Shorts/Pants - Heavier Nike Storm Fit Stretch Woven

Travel or Sun Shirts, Dresses, Cover Ups - Sunpro Stretch Woven

Red Microfiber = Pantone 7621C

Dusty Gold = Pantone 4525C

Team Gold = Pantone 4004C

Red Schoeller = Pantone 7628C

Purple Storm Fit = Pantone 3524C

Team Maroon = Pantone 4102C

Charcoal = Pantone 426C

Pine Tweave = Pantone 19-6050 TCX

Purple Tweave = Pantone 19-3838 TCX

Adventure Tan = Pantone 18-1108 TCX



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