Many rhythmic gymnastics leotard designers believe that making a custom leotard means creating a brand new pattern from scratch for each gymnast.
And that is precisely one of the biggest mistakes in the pattern-making process for this garment.
Because when you work with a poorly constructed pattern, everything becomes trial and error: adjusting the neckline, modifying armholes, tweaking sleeves, reworking the waist, correcting the crotch, raising the skirt, lowering the back…
And even then, the leotard often still doesn’t fit correctly.
Especially when you work remotely and can’t try the garment on the gymnast.
The fear that many designers know
If you make custom leotards, you probably know that feeling.
You finish a beautiful leotard.
Hours of painting.
Rhinestones.
Sewing.
Handcrafted decoration.
You send it to the other side of Spain… or even the world…
And all you can think is:
“Please, let it fit.”
Because when the pattern-making isn’t properly developed, every new gymnast becomes an unknown.
And that’s where the problems begin:
- lower back bagging
- sleeves that pull
- poorly adjusted waist
- skirt that flares out
- excess tension in the crotch
- misplaced sheer panels
- uncomfortable areas for competition
Many times the problem is not in the design. Not even in the construction.
The problem starts much earlier: in the pattern base.
A leotard should not be remade from scratch every time
The reality is that professional pattern-making doesn’t work by constantly improvising.
It works through a well-built and properly scaled system.
When you have a good pattern base:
- you don’t need to continuously distort the morphology
- you don’t need to redo the entire pattern
- you don’t need to correct each area over and over again
You simply work on an already developed structure. From there, by correctly using the gymnast’s measurements and playing with circumferences and crotch depth, you can adapt the pattern while maintaining the correct morphology of the leotard.
And that is the true difference between a professional system and a generic pattern.
The importance of understanding stretch fabric
One of the most common mistakes is forgetting that stretch fabrics don’t behave like conventional fabric.
The lycras used in rhythmic gymnastics can give between 5 and 10 centimetres depending on the fabric, the direction of stretch, and the tension applied to the body.
That’s why good pattern-making must account for:
- real fabric tensions
- waist fit
- crotch depth
- back elasticity
- sleeve behaviour
- mobility in competition
- balance between fit and comfort
It’s not just about “making it smaller”. It’s about building a functional second skin for an athlete who needs total freedom of movement.
Working remotely is possible… if the pattern is well developed
For years I have made custom leotards for gymnasts from different countries without the need for constant fittings.
And that is only possible when you start from a well-developed pattern-making system.
That’s why my Tanitex system incorporates guide lines in key areas of the pattern, allowing special measurements to be adapted without distorting the original structure of the leotard.
The goal is not to improvise. The goal is to work with confidence.
The difference between copying a pattern and developing a system
Many people try to start using:
- generic patterns from the internet
- basic leotards opened up and traced
- patterns without professional scaling
- systems that don’t account for athletic morphology
But a rhythmic gymnastics leotard requires so much more. Because it doesn’t just need to look beautiful.
It must:
- fit correctly
- follow the movement
- withstand competition
- flatter the figure
- avoid uncomfortable tension
- stay stable during exercises
And all of that starts in the pattern.
My Tanitex Digital Pattern Kit
After almost 20 years dressing gymnasts from around the world, I developed my own base pattern-making system specialised in rhythmic gymnastics.
The Tanitex Digital Kit is ready to be sent anywhere in the world directly to your email and includes:
- ✨ TIFF files in A0 to print at actual size
- ✨ PDF with scaled pattern
- ✨ Step-by-step explanatory guide
- ✨ Guide lines to work with special measurements and adapt circumferences without distorting the morphology
And in addition, through my private Instagram community, I offer daily support, Q&A, and specialised content on pattern-making, rhinestones, painting, and construction of rhythmic gymnastics leotards.
Because a spectacular leotard doesn’t start with the decoration.