Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: abcameo
Date: 11-10-2004, 01:40 PM (1 of 11)
|
I would appreciate advice on how I go about changing out tired elastic on a skirt I own. The original is 1-3/4" thick elastic and it's been sewn down to the waistband in 4 equi-distant rows going around the entire waist. The sewing is in perfect condition, but the elastic is pretty well shot. Is the only way to change it out to rip all four rows of stitching throughout and insert new elastic? Is there a way to tighten up the elastic in there via stitching? If ripping is the only way, what a pain, instead of just opening a seam somewhere, cutting the elastic, pulling it out and replacing it. I would need to re-sew all four rows (and perpetuate the problem occurring in the future) or it will look really unsightly with puckered/punctured stitches showing... Which leads me to comment (and I wonder if most agree?) that I think sewing down on elastic itself is an inefficient way to handle it because it prevents the elastic from stretching the way it's supposed to when you put the garment on--and results in the problem I'm now experiencing. When I put elastic in, I just sew a tube, insert it, join the ends and close up the open seams. Amy http://www.thewearwithall.com |
User: abcameo
Member since: 11-02-2004 Total posts: 131 |
From: redcop
Date: 11-10-2004, 03:10 PM (2 of 11)
Amy, I had the same problem. As a novice to sewing and before discovering this forum, I did the thing you dread doing: ripped out all four rows. Took me all afternoon!  And afterwards, I had to remove the old casing because the fabric was pretty much shredded from all the removed rows of stitches. Fortunately the skirt length didn't suffer too much when I added a new casing. I slipped the elastic in and closed 'er up. Hopefully someone with more experience than I (that won't be hard to beat!  ) can give you a more reasonable solution. Good luck!Denise *It might look like I'm doing nothing, but at the cellular level I'm really quite busy*
|
User: redcop
Member since: 09-20-2004 Total posts: 3 
|
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 11-10-2004, 06:02 PM (3 of 11)
|
I have a unique way of inserting my elastic in skirts or pants, I think.. I sew the elastic together by putting a strip of cotton fabric either under it or on top.. This stabilizes the elastic for stitching and never causes a birdsnest of thread underneath.. Then I use the free arm on my machine and attach my zipper foot.. I place my garment and the elastic circle around the machine (free arm) and very carefully fold under the seam allowance and lower presser foot so that the flat part rests against the elastic, Then I start sewing and sew as much as I can without having to move the elastic. When I have sewn as far as possible , I stop with needle down and tug the elastic until I have a good bit of slack, then sew some more, til I have to stop and tug again.. This method took me a good while to perfect.. I used to do it with the regular presser foot, but I had too much room in the waist tube.(wider than elastic, it slipped around too much).. One day when I attached the zipper foot to insert a zipper , the lightbulb came on, and it has been great ever since !! The tube is always the perfect size. I still stitch in the ditch at the seams to insure no twisting of the elastic, but the ban rol kind doesn't seem to roll or twist much, anyway..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: MaryW
Date: 11-10-2004, 06:31 PM (4 of 11)
Hi Amy, welcome to Sew Whats New.  As you can see, you will always find the right answers here to your sewing problems. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: sewingrandma
Date: 11-10-2004, 07:41 PM (5 of 11)
|
Libby, I started putting my elastic in using your method several years ago. I was making something for one of the grands and the directions were for putting in the elastic as you described. It was so quick and none of the frustration of trying to feed elastic thru the casing, so I've been using it ever since.
Brockie
|
User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: abcameo
Date: 11-10-2004, 09:14 PM (6 of 11)
Thanks, everyone, and Mary for the nice welcome and helpful replies. I very much enjoy participating in forums--sewing, knitting, jewelry--and have met such nice people and obtained outstanding advice. Sometimes, I think it's amazing I have time to actually work on projects since I have so much to read each day from daily digest mail and checking all the groups.  Libby, I think I can visulalize what you're saying, but I'm not sure about the cotton you put around the elastic. Is that a strip of fabric that goes along the entire length of the elastic? If I understand it right, does it bulk up the waistline at all? Does it have to be cotton? "Then I use the free arm on my machine and attach my zipper foot.. I place my garment and the elastic circle around the machine (free arm) and very carefully fold under the seam allowance and lower presser foot so that the flat part rests against the elastic..." So, are you are sewing down the folded over (to the inside) seam allowance maybe 1/4" away from the elastic? Do you first cut the elastic to fit your waist plus a little extra first before you start sewing? I usually leave mine full size until the final try on after the casing is made. I also bought the Clover "Easy Loop Turner" gizmo, and it's great for pulling elastic through a casing. But, if I can figure out your method, it sounds better. "I still stitch in the ditch at the seams to insure no twisting of the elastic, but the ban rol kind doesn't seem to roll or twist much, anyway.." I use the no-roll, and it works great--UNLESS (like me) you constantly live Murphy's Law no matter how hard you try. I recently sewed the elastic together thinking it's sitting perfectly only to discover, sure enough, I had it twisted. Oh yeah, and because I'm neurotic and think no seam is safe as sewn, don't you know I sewed it down forwards and backwards a few times--on black--and then had to rip it out barely able to see the stitches!! Well, at least I learned a lesson and don't think I'll do that again. Amy http://www.thewearwithall.com |
User: abcameo
Member since: 11-02-2004 Total posts: 131 |
From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 11-11-2004, 12:05 AM (7 of 11)
| The thing I could never, ever get right when using the 4 rows of stitching was the darn thing didn't fit after I done it, especially if I was doing a replacement. |
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: sewingrandma
Date: 11-11-2004, 08:12 AM (8 of 11)
|
I made a skirt once that the casing called for 4 rows of stitching and then you had to feed 1/4 inch elastic thru each casing made by the rows of stitching. What a pain that was. I loved the skirt but never made it again because of the casing.
Brockie
|
User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: MaryW
Date: 11-11-2004, 09:06 AM (9 of 11)
Yes Brockie, I've done the very same thing. It never looked as nice as I wanted it to either. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
|
From: bunzino
Date: 11-11-2004, 10:32 AM (10 of 11)
|
For this repair, could you just rip 1/4 or (gulp) 1/2 of the waist band and replace it? maybe the part in front so it would lie flatter? nancy |
User: bunzino
Member since: 08-16-2002 Total posts: 119 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 11-11-2004, 12:22 PM (11 of 11)
|
The cotton piece I was talking about is used just where I sew the elastic together... That was a tip on a sewing program at some time or other.. I do not overlap the elastic to sew it together, just butt the two ends together and I have a scrap of cotton or grosgrain ribbon about 2 inches long that I sew it to..I have never been able to sew just elastic without having a mess of tangled threads on the bobbin side... The reason for using the zipper foot is so that I can sew right next to where the elastic is in the casing..(this is not even 1/4 inch away) That helps keep the elastic from twisting.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
|
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-14181.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft