One of the most common problems when making a rhythmic gymnastics leotard is the appearance of wrinkles or bagging in the lower back area.
We often think the problem lies in the stitching, the fabric, or even the gymnast's measurements… but the reality is usually different:
Most of the time, the problem lies in the pattern base.
And this is something I understood after many years of working and correcting leotards on real bodies.
A leotard does not function like a normal garment
In rhythmic gymnastics, the leotard has to behave like a second skin.
The gymnast jumps, spins, arches her back, lifts her legs, stretches her shoulders… and the leotard must follow all those movements without bagging, pulling, or deforming.
That is why traditional pattern-making rules often do not work correctly for this type of garment.
Why do bags appear on the back?
There are several causes, but one of the most common is that the waist of the pattern has too much width in the lumbar area.
When that happens, the excess fabric ends up accumulating on the back, and those uncomfortable wrinkles appear.
In many cases, the solution is to correctly readjust the waistline and then compensate for the placement of the skirt to prevent it from flipping up.
The mistake of copying just any pattern
Many people start by downloading generic patterns from the internet or copying a basic bodysuit.
But that does not guarantee that the leotard will fit well on a real gymnast.
A good base pattern requires years of testing, corrections, and experience in understanding the specific morphology of this sport.
The Tanitex pattern-making system
After more than 20 years working in the world of rhythmic gymnastics, I developed my own pattern-making system designed for working on custom-made leotards from a distance.
It is not just a base pattern.
It is a way of working created to help you achieve the correct morphology, a better fit, and the peace of mind of knowing that the leotard will fit well when it reaches the gymnast.
You can discover my pattern-making system: Digital Kit (PDF/TIFF) - Rhythmic Gymnastics Leotard Base Pattern and Premium Rhythmic Gymnastics Leotard Base Pattern Kit (Physical Paper, Digital TIFF and PDF).