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From: jazzmine54868
Date: 02-22-2006, 01:39 PM (1 of 10)
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can someone please help me. I have a pair of pants that i need to put new elastic in. There are 4 strips of elastic, two that stretch to the front and two to the back. I need to find out how long of elastic strips i need to cut to replace the stretched out strips that are there now. thank you jazzmine54868 |
User: jazzmine54868
Member since: 02-22-2006 Total posts: 3 |
From: blackie
Date: 02-22-2006, 04:27 PM (2 of 10)
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Are these pants for you? How heavy is the fabric? How wide is the elastic? Why not take the finished waist measurement and divide by four? That way when you seam the elastic the seaming will take up a little extra elastic, leaving a decently snug fit. Someone else here might have a better suggestion... Well, good luck! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-23-2006, 08:24 AM (3 of 10)
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I just measure the elastic around myself or whoever the garment is for. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 02-24-2006, 12:11 PM (4 of 10)
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That is what I do also, Dorothy.. I never stitch through the elastic itself, because after that it is not the right size any more.. I always put it in a casing.. If there is not one there, I create one.. I have done it with bias binding before in the case of narrow elastic in the waistline of a dress that wore out.. (the elastic , not the dress)
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-24-2006, 01:37 PM (5 of 10)
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Libby, I like a casing too. Then I just stitch from the top of the casing to the bottom of the casing at the seams or at the back, front and sides to keep it from rolling. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: jazzmine54868
Date: 02-25-2006, 11:35 AM (6 of 10)
| thank everyone for your suggestions, but it has years since i have did any machne sewing. I always thought that when figuring elastic it has to be smaller then the actual size. Im lost when someone referred to casing. thank you very much for all your suggestions. the pants are for me, light weight material, the elastic is braided 3/4 inch. The pants are still in good shape, only have had them two years. its the darn cheap elastic they put in them. 3 pairs of pants, same problem, elastic is stretched out. |
User: jazzmine54868
Member since: 02-22-2006 Total posts: 3 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 02-25-2006, 02:48 PM (7 of 10)
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When I took a stretch sewing course many years ago, the rule of thumb was to measure around your waist and then deduct 2 inches. That was the lenght of elastic to use. You would join the ends and attach evenly around your waistband. Then stretch and sew it to the waistband. But if you want two strips...you may not want to deduct 2 inches as you will probably have to sew a couple of seams and that could make your elastic too small. Don't know if this helps... TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: jazzmine54868
Date: 02-25-2006, 05:04 PM (8 of 10)
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thank you hey judee, thank you for your suggestions. actually i have 4 strips of plastic to cut. so do i need to add an inch or so when i measure? : thank you jazzmine54868 |
User: jazzmine54868
Member since: 02-22-2006 Total posts: 3 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 02-25-2006, 05:48 PM (9 of 10)
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It would depend on how/where you have to sew the 4 pieces onto the pants. Does the elastic go from seam to seam, e.g. one piece from side seam to front centre seam, another piece from centre front to other side seam and the similar method for the back??? If so, then you will probably have some elastic sewn in the seams. For calculating purposes...let's say that your waist measurement was 38" so deducting 2" you would normally have one piece of elastic 36". But you need 4 pieces so that means you would need 9" each...but you would have to add extra for the seam allowance on each end. If you will be sewing a 1/2" seam, then you would need to add 1" extra per piece. So you would need to cut 4 - 10" pieces. If that is not how the elastic will be sewn on your pants...I'm not sure how to calculate. Maybe it would help to see a picture of the way the pants are constructed. TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366
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From: bunzino
Date: 02-25-2006, 09:54 PM (10 of 10)
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Also, it's a good idea to stretch any elastic a few times before you sew it because it's going to stretch out eventually anyway. nancy |
User: bunzino
Member since: 08-16-2002 Total posts: 119 |
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