| Active lifestyle demands dresses made up of | | | | elastics, are very strong. When sewn directly onto |
| such fabrics that give the freedom for easy | | | | a fabric, they can retain their width and stretch. |
| movement. However, in most of the clothings, | | | | Woven elastics can also be sewed in casing. They |
| elastics are used for making them more workable | | | | are usually applied to heavy weight fabrics, such |
| and flexible with control over their stretchability. | | | | as home furnishings, car covers, bags, |
| Not only garments, elastics are used for sewing | | | | accessories, etc. |
| projects and other craft projects too. Do you | | | | Transparent or clear elastics are synthetic narrow |
| ever wonder why the elastic that you used in | | | | fabrics that can stretch up to four times their |
| your last project does not seem to work with | | | | length and can completely recover the original size |
| the present sewing project? Why the elastic in | | | | and shape. They are made of polyurethane and |
| your cotton pajama is causing problems while the | | | | does not contain rubber which makes them |
| same elastic in your swim wear is working | | | | appropriate to be used in kids garments or for |
| excellently? In fact, the type of elastics and the | | | | people who are allergic to latex. It is primarily used |
| fabrics with which they are used plus the sewing | | | | in those areas that are prone to lose stretch, |
| methods, all go to contribute in the perfect | | | | such as shirt bottoms, shoulder seams and |
| working of elastics. | | | | necklines. They can't be used in casings as they'll |
| Types of Elastics and their Construction | | | | roll over themselves. |
| Elastic is a flexible and stretchable narrow fabric | | | | Tips for Sewing Elastics |
| made of rubber core which is wrapped in | | | | - Choose an elastic that has the same care |
| polyester, cotton, nylon or a blend of fiber | | | | requirements as the finished garment. |
| threads. These exterior fibers are braided, woven | | | | - Use those elastics which recover their original |
| or knit together to give various thicknesses and | | | | length after stretching. |
| widths to the elastics. Most of the elastics are 1/8 | | | | - Use cotton elastic with cotton garments. Wash |
| inches to 2 ½ inches wide. However, elastic | | | | the cotton fabric before sewing as the elastic will |
| thread can be much narrower and the decorative | | | | also shrink a little when washed. |
| elastic waistbands can be extra wide. Different | | | | - Use nylon elastic for lingerie and swim wear. |
| elastics have different degrees of stretchability. | | | | They can be machine washed but dry them in |
| Elastics are sewn to fabrics in two ways- direct | | | | medium heat. |
| application and casing. In the first method, elastic | | | | - Polyester elastics go with almost all fabrics. They |
| is attached to fabric by sewing directly through | | | | can be washed as well as dry cleaned. |
| the elastic and fabric. In the second method, the | | | | - Choose such threads that are compatible with |
| elastic is encased into a closed tunnel like fabric | | | | fabric. |
| and then sewed to the fabric often around the | | | | - Use a ball-point needle when sewing. |
| waist, at the neckline or lower edge of a sleeve | | | | - Adjust the thread tension when stitching and |
| or pant leg. | | | | stretching elastic. |
| Braided elastics are used in casings as they get | | | | - Elastic should be tight enough to prevent fabric |
| narrowed when stretched. They can not retain | | | | from drooping, but loose enough to be |
| their stretch and shape if applied directly to the | | | | comfortable. |
| fabric. These light weight elastics are mainly used | | | | - Cut the elastic according to the required length |
| on sleeve hems, swim wear and leg bands. | | | | plus 1 inch for finishing the ends. |
| Braided non-roll elastic is appropriate for | | | | - When applying elastic directly to fabric, cut it |
| waistbands because they can remain flat when | | | | about 8% shorter than the required length. It will |
| stretched. | | | | stretch during sewing. |
| Knitted elastics are soft, light weight, strong and | | | | - Use a long straight stitch or a zigzag stitch when |
| appropriate for directly applying on almost any | | | | sewing the elastic directly to fabric. A long stitch |
| kind of garment. These elastics can also be | | | | having length of three or four is best for most of |
| sewed in casing. They are best for lightweight | | | | the fabrics and elastic types. |
| fabrics. Many knitted elastics also have sewing line | | | | - If doing too much work with elastic, consider |
| at their edges which do not have elastic in them. | | | | buying specialty presser foot/machine attachment |
| So, it becomes much easier to sew these elastics | | | | that applies elastic without having to stretch it by |
| to a garment. | | | | hand. |
| Woven elastics, usually thicker than the other | | | | |