How to sew elastic (2 techniques) | Sewing Tutorial with Angela Wolf

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Sewing elastic into a waistband or cuff is fast and easy. I'll show you how simple it is in this quick video.
Hi, I’m Angela Wolf! I'm going to show you two ways to sew elastic into a garment.
One technique uses an elastic casing
and in the other you sew the elastic directly to the fabric.
This is a skirt with a waistband casing; it has a a folded edge stitched in place with an opening where the elastic will be inserted.
First you’ll need to mark your elasticfor your waistline. I’ve already done that . Once I finish inserting the elastic these two markings must meet.
An easy way to insert the elastic is with a large safety pin since we all have one of those laying around the house!
Insert the safety pin into the 2 inch slot, and glide the pin as far as you can into the casing.
With the pin right here with my left hand I'm going to ease out the fabric. Slide the safety pin and a little bit further, and keep easing out the fabric. I’m going to do this all the way around the skirt. The only thing you need to be careful of is that you don’t lose the other side of the elastic within the casing or you have to start all over!
Continue to slide the safety pin past the seams - and stretch the fabric back out, you just don't want too much fabric gathering or the elastic can twist
Once I get to the back to the 2 inch opening, pull the elastic out enough that you’ll be able to run this to the sewing machine.
Match up the fitting marks and pin
Double check the casing on the skirt, that the elastic is not twisted.
To secure the elastic, use a zigzag stitch and stitch back and forth a couple of times. Trim the excess elastic away.
Even out the elastic within the casing, and the final step is to stitch the opening closed: start with a back stitch, stitch closed, and back stitch
And your elastic casing waistband is complete!
"Another way to apply elastic is by attaching it right to the fabric for a flatter look. If you have a serger this is a really fast technique - but I'll show you on a sewing machine - this time on a pair of pants.
On your measured and zigzagged elastic mark the half points and quarter points..
Line the elastic up along the wrong side of the fabric, matching up the center front seam with the center front marking on the elastic and the center back marking with the center back of the pants.
Stretch the elastic and add a few pins - this will help to ease the elastic in evenly all the way around the waist
Stitch the elastic to the fabric with a zigzag stitch of 1.4 length and 3.5 wide. As you do this, make sure to stretch the elastic to match the length of the fabric.
Finish your edge and then turn under the elastic toward the wrong side of the fabric. Pin at the center back seam and the center front - and lets just add one pin to each of the side seams
Line up the edge of the presser foot with the edge of the elastic and topstitch the bottom edge of the elastic to the fabric with a slightly bigger zigzag of 1.8 long and 4.5 wide. Make sure the elasitc butts up to the fold and stretch the elastic to match the length of the fabric.
Stitch over the first stitch just a little and backstitch - and the waist is finished.
Now you know two techniques to sew elastic into a waistband! The same techniques work for cuffs too!

[linnyo]

🎉 Finally! Someone showed the actual flip of the material. EXCELLENT INSTRUCTIONS 💯

[cherylangel]

I wish I watched this before messing up my project lol

[bevmcmullen]

Excellent! I love the no yackity preamble. Just straight to what I wanted to learn. Thank you Angela xx

[staceyseger]

THANK YOU! Excitedly what I needed to know in 3 min. No b/s back story, love it 😀

[poojaroybagchiwriter-autho]

1st method is what I was really looking for. Beautiful and on point explanation

[CMH]

So much appreciate the quick, efficient but detailed video on how to sew an elastic waistband to the fabric. Was fooling around all morning and finally thought ill goggle it. Had it done in a snap!
A no nonsense video eliminating a lot of blah, blah, blah and straight to the point. l LOVE IT!

[ellensu]

Put a safety pin at both ends when starting the first version, then if you pull the end through you can get it back out quite quickly... no need to start all over

[thomasmorley]

Thank you. Tried the serger method and what a wreck, used the zig zag and worked perfect.

[patriciatrujillo]

I love these videos they have saved me
" sew" much. Easy to follow.

[ssnekky]

“Since we ALL have one of those laying around the house.”
Me: laughs in seam ripper and paper clip

[gerriebell]

Forgot to say this video is great-- explanations and visuals were very clear.

[angiehotchkiss]

Thank you for your quick tutorial. I also recommend sewing in the seam ditch of all seams, in the first demonstration, to prevent elastic from twisting in the casing when washing.

[nadine]

I followed this on a bottom of a shirt, with 1/4 elastic, Loved it !!!

[loggitdot]

This was awesome. The stitch settings are really helpful. Thank you.

[sherisethompson]

Omg i was taught the first one in sewing class in high school many years ago. I cannot stand it. That second one just gave me hope on doing elastic again. Thankyou!

[revanelson]

Wow! It sounds easy but it takes practice for a beginner like me.

[carolelucielortie]

Thank you so much for this beautiful well-instructed video..I had to fix an elastic on long jones of my hubby that are still good but the elastic was used up...and thks for this video I succeeded in fixing them...

[anepictree]

Perfect! You cut to the quick in minutes and I can n ow go away and do the job without having to watch a clip loadsa times to understand! thanks so much - I'll be back for more! :-)

[kathysutter]

Very good and clear! And a nice voice!

[onebrightflash]

Thank you for the informative video. How long do you cut the elastic? Should I cut it to match the waist exactly when the elastic is stretched out or should I cut it a couple of inches longer so the elastic is never over extended?