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how much elastic do i need for my waistband

by Vella Ruecker MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The elastic for a waistband should be approximately 2" smaller than your waist measurement.

How to Topstitch an elastic waistband?

So this is the sequence of events:

  • Sink needle down
  • Stretch elastic with both hands
  • Stitch a section of 2 – 3 inches (5 to 8 cm)
  • Release the stretch
  • Sink needle down
  • Stretch elastic with both hands
  • Repeat…

How to sew binding with elastic?

Sew together the ends of your elastic. Overlap the ends of the elastic by about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) to 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). Use the zigzag stitch setting on your sewing machine and sew across the overlapping elastic 2 or 3 times. This will ensure that the ends of the elastic band are well connected.

How do you calculate elastic?

How do you calculate elastic potential energy? Energy stored in a spring. Work is done when a spring is extended or compressed . Elastic potential energy is stored in the spring. The elastic potential energy stored can be calculated using the equation: elastic potential energy = 0.5 × spring constant × (extension) 2

What kind of elastic is best for sewing swimwear?

Types of Elastic

  • Braided Elastic. Braided elastic has lengthwise, parallel ridges. ...
  • Knitted Elastic. Knitted elastic is made by knitting the fibers together. ...
  • Woven Elastic. Also referred to as non-roll elastic, woven elastic is usually the firmest of the three basic elastic types.
  • Special Types of Elastic. ...
  • Fiber Content. ...
  • Elastic widths. ...

What to do if waistband isn't sewn?

How much smaller should elastic be for waistband?

How to feed elastic through casing?

What to do if elastic is too tight?

What happens if you make pants too tight?

How wide should elastic be?

How to measure waist for pants?

See 4 more

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How wide should elastic be for waistband?

3/4 to 1 inchHow Wide Should Elastic Be? Here are some rules of thumb to follow: Waistbands: 3/4 to 1 inch for most garments, 1/2 inch may be wide enough on lightweight children's clothing. Necklines: 1/8 to 1/4 inch.

How much should I stretch elastic when sewing?

Using Math: Generally, elastic is stretched between 3-8%, with 8% being used only in parts where you want the garment to “hug” the body (i.e. at the underarm near the armpit). So if you want to use math, then you can measure the length of what is being sewn and reduce it by 5%.

What is the ratio of elastic to fabric?

1:2 to 1:3The standard sewing elastic ratio for the length of elastic to fabric length can vary from 1:2 to 1:3, depending on the kind of ruffles you need. The lesser the length of the elastic, the more ruffles you will attain through the stitch.

How do you measure your waist for stretching?

WAIST- stretch and smooth out the waistband so that it lays as flat as possible and measure straight across. This measurement gets doubled so, for example, if you measure 16.5" your pants have a 33" measured waist. This is the most important measurement for getting your sizing correct.

Do you stretch elastic when sewing?

Make sure to stretch the elastic and fabric as you sew to prevent sewing tucks and pinches along the way. Once you go all the way around, the elastic waistband will look exactly the way it would if you'd sewn it into a casing.

How do you put elastic in a waistband?

4:526:53how to add an elastic waistband // no sew tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that leaves room for you to pull it and make it a little tighter. Now that your elastic is cutMoreAnd that leaves room for you to pull it and make it a little tighter. Now that your elastic is cut you just want to stream it through the waistband of your shorts. So i'm using this big safety pin to

What is the best stitch to sew on elastic?

zigzag stitchSew with a stretch stitch or a zigzag stitch, which will stretch along with the elastic. Finish the hem of the garment, if applicable. Mark the seam allowances at the sides of the garment piece. Fold the fabric between the marks into four equal sections.

Can you sew elastic directly to fabric?

You can stitch elastic straight onto your piece of fabric using a straight or zigzag stitch. When you're making a waistband, join the elastic together first to the correct length.

Why is my elastic wavy?

Elastic goes wavy when it's naturally being distorted by the pull of the garment.

What is a relaxed waist measurement?

Relaxed Waist – Measure around your hips, keeping the tape a bit loose. Inseam – Measure from the crotch seam to the bottom of the pants.

What size should my waist be?

What should your waist measurement be? For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.

What is waistband width?

Measure Straight Across the Top of the Waistband Measure across the top of the waistband from one side of the pant to the other. The Waist Width is equal to half of the waistband's total circumference. The front of the waistband should lie directly on top of the back of the waistband.

How do you measure elastic for sewing?

0:161:49The easiest way to measure elastic! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay. So after you have it touching let go now if I use this piece of elastic here this would be tooMoreOkay. So after you have it touching let go now if I use this piece of elastic here this would be too big for my waist. So what I need to do is make it slightly smaller. So I'm going to set it. Down.

What setting should I sew stretchy fabric on?

Use a stretch stitch or long and narrow zig zag stitch instead of a straight stitch so that your seams can stretch with the fabric. If you don't have a stretch stitch on your machine, set your stitch length to the narrowest zigzag setting (0.5) and your stitch length to a medium setting.

How do you stretch elastic?

How to Stretch ElasticPin one side of the elastic band to the end of an ironing board. ... Stretch the band as far as it will go without any concern for ripping or damaging the material around it.Pin the other side of the elastic to the board. ... Turn your iron to its hottest setting.More items...

How do you sew elastic on a sewing machine?

2:577:28Learn How To Sew: Sewing Elastic (Episode 7) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBy gently pulling on the end while holding the elastic. And the fabric from behind the presser footMoreBy gently pulling on the end while holding the elastic. And the fabric from behind the presser foot I can evenly distribute the elastic. If I were sewing a circular garment like a waistband.

waistband elastic formula? - Threads

This is a very basic question – I know, but I was just wondering if there was a formula to follow for cutting elastic for a waist band. I seem to remember my high school home Ec. teacher saying “measure your waist and subtract such and such…”

How To Measure Elastic For Waistband?

To correctly measure elastic for the waistband, use a tape measure . Place it on your waist or wherever you would want your pants to sit on your torso. Let the tape measure go all the way around until the two opposite sides are touching. The number is the size of your waist in inches.

How to attach elastic to pants?

When you are using elastic only as of the waistband, attach the waistband on your pants in four parts. The back front and on both sides, then sew it onto the pants. When you get to the ends of the elastic, you can sew them together, or use another piece of fabric to join them.

How to keep elastic waistbands from stretching?

One of the major aspects of care for elastic waistbands is washing and drying. Avoid washing in hot water and machine drying. Heat is a major factor in stretching elastic.

How to make a sleeve tighter?

Wrap the elastic around your sleeves. Pull or release to get how tight, you want the garment to be. With a pen, mark the point where the ends of the elastic will meet. Then, leave room for a seam allowance when you sew the fabric in the sleeves.

How to cut elastic band?

Place the elastic on your working table and cut at the point you have marked with your fingers. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut the elastic band. Step 3.

How to measure waist for pants?

Step 1. For this method, you will only need your tape measure. Put it on your waist or wherever you like to wear your pants at and around your torso. Make sure that the two ends of the tape measure are touching and that it lies flat on your body. Do not pull it towards your body. Let it be snug around it.

What happens if you measure elastic wrong?

If you measure it wrongly, you will find that your clothes are either too tight or too loose to wear.

How do you directly sew elastic on fabric?

Sewing with elastic in a sewing machine is a lot easier than it looks. All you have to do is sew a seam on your fabric using a seam allowance of 1/8 or less.

How do you measure elastic for a waistband?

Measure your waist size and divide it by two. That’s how elastic you want for your waistband to be, or else your clothing may not stay up and you’ll look like you’re faking it for the world to see.

How do you sew elastic waist pants?

For many of us, pants are the single most difficult garment to make. They are complicated, time-consuming, and expensive to make.

What tension should I use for elastic?

Elastic tension is the amount of stretch in your thread or elastic that is used to sew a seam. It’s important to get the correct tension since too little can lead to uneven seams, and too much can cause puckered fabric.

Why are waistbands smaller?

This is largely due to the fact that the elastic in the waistband is the first thing to go when a garment is made.

Why is elastic waistband so popular?

Although it is not as popular as other kinds of clothing, elastic waistband is a very popular one because of its ease of use.

How to adjust tension on elastic?

The tension placed on the elastic material can be adjusted with the needle size, such as by using a thicker or thinner needle or by adjusting the tension on the sewing machine.

Is elastic waist good for kids?

Elastic waist pants and skirts are not only comfortable for kids, but quick and fun to sew. If you have the kid you’re sewing for nearby, it’s great to measure them to know exactly how much width they need to be comfy, but if you don’t have them close enough to measure, a chart of average measurements can be a great guide.

Does elastic shrink in the wash?

The elastic itself isn’t likely to shrink much in the wash, but you may want to consider pre-washing your fabric before you start sewing. A 10% shrink can do some serious damage to your plans for the length of finished item.

How to wrap elastic around hips?

Wrap the elastic around the fullest part of the hips and overlap slightly in the front. Not too tight, or you won't get it around your hips after the bulk of the fabric is added. Without removing your hold on the elastic at the front, slip it up to your waistline. If it's comfortable, use that measurement. If it's a bit tight, slack off a little bit.

How long should I cut elastic?

Some elastics are more or less comfortable and "giving" when stretched. But generally, I cut the elastic 1" to 1.5" inches shorter, and overlap by 1".

Is waistline elastic gone out of business?

Waistline elastic isn't what it used to be. One of the major companies apparently has gone out of business. You can't rely on any formula, the best way to go is to try the pants on and adjust as needed.

What to do if waistband isn't sewn?

If the waistband isn’t sewn into the material, you can make a cut in the casing, pull the waistband to the desired length, and tie or resew the ends. If the waistband is stitched in place and can’t be easily removed, thread a new elastic into the casing alongside the original, then stitch or tie it off so it’s smaller than the original waistband.

How much smaller should elastic be for waistband?

The elastic for a waistband should be approximately 2" smaller than your waist measurement.

How to feed elastic through casing?

Hook a safety pin onto 1 end of the elastic if you're feeding it through casing. If you've made casing, which is like a fabric tunnel, you'll need to attach a big safety pin to 1 end of the elastic. Close the safety pin and hold the non-pinned end outside of the casing while you feed the pinned end through it.

What to do if elastic is too tight?

If the elastic is too tight, move it higher up on your waist or use a longer piece of elastic.

What happens if you make pants too tight?

If you've ever made a pair of pants or shorts that were too tight, your elastic measurement may have been off. You'll need to accurately measure around your waist and decide how tight or loose your garment should fit.

How wide should elastic be?

Although elastic comes in several widths, you'll probably want the elastic to be between 3⁄4 to 1 inch (1.9 to 2.5 cm) wide . Keep in mind that the width will vary depending on whether you're sewing it directly onto the fabric or into casing.

How to measure waist for pants?

Measure your waist with a fabric measuring tape. Decide how high you want your garment to sit on your waist and wrap a fabric measuring tape around your waist at that point. You might wrap the tape measure around your waist at a point about 3 inches (8 cm) below your navel for traditional low-rise pants, for instance.

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1.Videos of How Much Elastic Do I Need For My Waistband

Url:/videos/search?q=how+much+elastic+do+i+need+for+my+waistband&qpvt=how+much+elastic+do+i+need+for+my+waistband&FORM=VDRE

29 hours ago  · A correct fit of elastic for the waist means obtaining a good measurement of the natural waist or wherever the finished garment is to sit on the torso. Between 2 to 4 inches are …

2.How To Measure Elastic For Waistband - Sewing Machine …

Url:https://sewingmachinebuffs.com/how-to-measure-elastic-for-waistband/

35 hours ago  · For a basic waistband, you’ll want to allow for about 1/2 inch of elastic per 1 inch of waist measurement. So, if you’re making a waistband for a garment that has a 28 inch waist, …

3.How To Sew Elastic Waistband? Learn More Here!

Url:https://sewingthis.com/elastic-waistband/

28 hours ago  · How do you measure elastic for a waistband? Measure your waist size and divide it by two. That’s how elastic you want for your waistband to be, or else your clothing may not stay …

4.Grab Your FREE Elastic Waist Cheat Sheets! - Bite Sized …

Url:https://bitesizedbiggie.com/elastic-waist-cheat-sheets/

19 hours ago For instance, if you have a 28-inch waist, you will need 14 inches of elastic for that measurement. Likewise, if you want to make a gathered garment, you will need more elastic. However, you …

5.waistband elastic formula? - Threads

Url:https://www.threadsmagazine.com/forum/waistband-elastic-formula

33 hours ago  · How wide should elastic be for the waistband? To make sure your waistband stays put, use elastic that’s about 3/4 to 1 inch wide. For necklines lower than 1/8 inch, use elastic …

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