Sewing elastic

frostyspice

Can anyone tell me how to sew elastic on to fabric so that when you've finished it gathers the material up? (like an elasticated waistband)

I tried stretching the elastic out and then sewing it on to the fabric using straight stitch on my machine but it didn't go back to its un-stretched shape and just looked like a piece of braid. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance to any OS-ers who can advise me.

tanith

I can't say I have ever tried this but for the want of someone who knows any better........... try stretching the elastic but sow with a diagonal stitch as your would to stop a seam fraying............... should work like that (I am assuming you are sowing by machine and not by hand.

meadowcat

I think you need to use a zigzag stitch. Cut the elastic the length you need it to be. Pin it at each end and evenly in between and stretch it to fit between the pins as you sew.

There is a stitch on some machines called an elastic stitch which is like a zigzag but made up of perhaps 3 little stitches on each of the "zigs" and "zags" - if you know what I mean, and if you have that stitch, then that is the one to use.

Some machines have a special foot for sewing the elastic. I think you might also need to loosen your upper tension, but I could check on that to make sure. It's a long time since I have sewn elastic like that.

Hope this helps.

meadowcat

I just checked for you. You may need to loosen the top tension by up to 2 numbers. Also you could increase the foot pressure. But you would be better to test and see what is best for the fabric/elastic you are sewing.

Are you using strong enough elastic for the fabric? Some elastic you buy is a bit soft and isn't very "elastic" and therefore doesn't spring back after being stretched and sewn, especially if you are using heavy material.

Make sure that you mark the fabric and elastic evenly in say, quarters or less, depending on how long the seam is going to be. Pin at those marks and then stretch and sew holding the fabric behind and in front of the needle.

frugalfairy_3

Meadowcat is right, it depends on the type of elastic you are using. For a waistband you need quite a firm wide elastic (about one inch or wider) and it should be cut about 2-3 inches shorter than the waist (wrap it round your waist first and stretch it to make sure it's comfortable- don't make it too tight or it won't fit over your hips). I usually use a zigzag stitch to sew it to the waistband, but as Meadowcat says, to keep it nice and even you need to divide the waistband into four and do the same for the elastic. Pin the markings on the elastic and the waistband together and then stretch the elastic with one hand as you are slowly sewing it to the waistband. This makes my hand ache! but then I'm getting old and creaky.

If the elastic is still stretched out when you have done, try steaming it gently (hold a steam iron above the elastic, not on top of it, you may melt it). This may encourage it to tighten up, again depending on the sort of elastic you are using.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you're still confused! FF