Elastic Waistband Tutorial

I was making a few skirts for a coworker’s daughter and thought I would take pictures of the process of making an elastic waistband.

Elastic Tutorial

To start out, fold and iron the edge in by about a 1/4 of an inch.  If you have a serger you can also serge the edge.

Elastic Tutorial

Next, fold and iron in again a 1/4 inch wider than your elastic.  So if you are using 3/4 inch elastic this piece should be folded at about an inch.

Elastic Tutorial

I then mark the center of the back so I know where to leave my opening.  You could leave the opening anywhere but I like to add a “tag” to mark the back.

Elastic Tutorial

Now sew very close to the open edge.  I have been using my edging plate that came with my walking foot.  You can use a regular foot as well, I just find it easier to use the edging plate because then I know I’m sewing in a straighter line.

It’s important to stay close to the edge because if you don’t then the elastic won’t fit.

Elastic Tutorial

Don’t forget to leave an opening to insert the elastic!

Elastic Tutorial

Prepare your elastic.  I cut the elastic an inch shorter than the waist measurement.  (keep reading for another option) Then insert a safety pin into one end.  The safety pin is so that you have something to grip onto when trying to get your elastic through the casing that you just made.

Elastic Tutorial

Push the end of elastic with the safety pin through the opening…

Elastic Tutorial

Scrunch the fabric onto the elastic…

Elastic Tutorial

Then pull the elastic into the casing…

Elastic Tutorial

Continue until the elastic is all the way through and can come out the other side of the opening.

Elastic Tutorial

Using a piece of scrap fabric, cut out a small rectangle, about 2 inches long and a little wider than your elastic.  I usually fold mine in half just so there is a little more fabric to hold the elastic together.

Elastic Tutorial

The fabric is going to be used to connect your elastic together.

You can also cut your elastic an inch longer than the waist and then just overlap the elastic to connect it but this causes a bump in the elastic which can be uncomfortable.

Elastic Tutorial

Instead, I attach each end of the elastic to the fabric.  Be sure that the elastic is not twisted.

Elastic Tutorial

Trim the edges of the fabric so that it is smaller than the elastic.  This is so that it fits perfectly inside the elastic casing.

Elastic Tutorial

Pull the elastic into the opening.

Elastic Tutorial

Prepare your tag or use a regular tag…cut out a small piece of fabric.

Elastic Tutorial

Sew right sides together on the very edge…don’t forget to back stitch so that when you turn the thread doesn’t come out.

Elastic Tutorial

Turn inside out and iron if you want.  I don’t usually iron it because it doesn’t really matter if it’s flat or not.

Elastic Tutorial

Insert into the opening….

Elastic Tutorial

Sew closed.

Now you have finished inserting elastic to make an elastic waistband.  You can try out the basic skirt in order to practice using elastic.

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17 Responses

  1. This tutorial just shaved hours off of what has typically been a very arduous and frustrating process for me. THANK YOU!

  2. thank you so much for showing me how to insert elastic into a waistband-I will not try to make some summer skirts

  3. Hi! Thanks a lot for the easy tutorial! Was great!

    But I’m from Brazil and I did not understand what you mean by “scrap fabric”. I do know the words (scrap AND fabric) but I didn´t understand if this is a special type of fabric or a reglular one?

    Thanks a lot!

    Julie

  4. Great idea for putting the elastic ends together! I usually just overlap them but your way seems to give a flatter and more smooth result. Thanks for sharing (^_^)

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