Ways to correctly sew an elastic band on a skirt at home
Many craftswomen often have a question - how to sew an elastic waistband on a skirt. This simple work can be done by yourself without resorting to the services of experienced seamstresses. The elastic will need to be stretched during the sewing process. Previously, you could sweep it up to the top edge of the product by hand, and then do a regular stitch on a sewing machine. The top of the product must be assembled before sewing the ribbon.
What you need to work
First of all, you need to decide where the elastic (ribbon) will be located: inside the waistband or outside, that is, in place of the waistband. If this element is inserted inside the belt sewn to the skirt, then you can purchase any elastic waistband or linen. The main thing is that its width should be slightly less than the width of the belt. Otherwise, it simply will not fit into the belt. The standard width of the belt is 2-2.5 or 4-6 centimeters.
If this detail will be sewn on the top of the skirt instead of the belt, it is advisable to pay attention to the color. The elastic band should match or contrast with the main garment.Usually buy elastic at the waist or wrists wide (5-6 cm wide). You can buy a lurex ribbon.
For work you will need scissors, a centimeter, a sewing machine, suitable for the tone of the thread. You can buy elastic bands at any sewing supply store. In addition to color, you need to pay attention to density. For thin fabrics of chiffon, silk or cotton, a soft braid is suitable. For wool, knit or leather, it is better to buy a thicker elastic. The length of the braid should correspond to the waist, then this value can be adjusted.
How to sew correctly
First, you need to determine the length of the elastic band. This is done in two ways. The first is to measure the length of the tape at the waist. It should fit snugly against the body, but not squeeze the abdomen.
Before cutting the extra centimeters, you need to add 1.5 cm of seam allowance for the braid.
The second way is to calculate the length of the tape using the formula. It looks like this: OT (waist circumference): 5x4.5. If the waist circumference is 60 cm, then 60: 5x4.5 = 54 cm At this length it is imperative to add 1.5 cm of the margin to sew the braid. The total length of the ribbon will be 54 + 1.5 = 55.5 cm.
Elastic band instead of a belt
Usually, instead of a belt, an elastic ribbon is sewn on a flared skirt, the top of which is gathered and fitted to the circumference of the hips plus 2-5 centimeters. Before sewing the belt tape, you need to sew the side seams, attach the lining. It is desirable to process the edges with overlock or zigzag.We recommend sewing the top of the skirt with a wide stitch and tightening one of the threads to create even pleats. The length of the upper part of the outfit should correspond to the hip circumference plus 2 to 5 centimeters.
To the top assembled in the required size, you need to sew a ribbon. On the upper part of the outfit from the front, stepping back from the edge by 0.3-0.5 cm, apply, without bending the material, an elastic tape. If the fabric is very thin, you can use a closed hem seam. First, the tape should be hand-swept across the patch. The tape should be stretched a little while securing to the fabric. You can do this: Divide the rubber band into four equal segments. Make four marks at the end of each. Then divide the upper edge of the skirt into four equal parts and also outline the points. You can now connect the marks on the tape to the dots on the product.
After this preliminary work, the elastic tape should be sewn to the top of the skirt, stretching the tape to the required size.
It is recommended to pre-sweep the elastic by hand, then sew it on a typewriter. You can sew the ribbon with a twin needle to create two parallel stitches. The car needle must pass between the rubber ridges, otherwise they will burst. You can use a zigzag stitch, in which case the stitches will jump over the rubber fibers in the middle.
Elastic waist
If a belt is sewn on the top of the product, you can make a small hole in it from the sewn side and insert an elastic tape inside. An ordinary pin will help stretch the rubber band in a circle. It must be tied to the end of the string and inserted into the belt. The pin and tape should go around the entire circumference and out the back.Then the ends of the tape are connected and the hole itself is sewn.
How to insert an elastic in a flared skirt
If there is a belt at the top of the product, then the elastic band is inserted inside this part using an ordinary pin. A small hole is made on the sewn side. If the skirt does not have a belt, an elastic waistband is sewn to the top of the product. During the sewing process, the elastic tape is stretched to the required size.
Features of working with a tulle skirt
A fluffy and airy tulle skirt is made on a sewn elastic band. The color of the elastic tape should match the color of the product. There is no zipper in this outfit. The elastic is attached to the waist.
First, the upper part of the skirt should be assembled to a length equal to the hip circumference plus 2 to 5 centimeters. Then they take a wide elastic ribbon (5-6 cm) 2-3 cm less than the waistline and sew its ends. To the upper part of the skirt, stepping back 0.3-0.5 cm from the edge of the product, sew a ribbon, stretching it a little. The line is made on a typewriter.
How to sew by hand
If you don't have a sewing machine, you can sew the ribbon to the skirt by hand. First, you need to gather the upper edge of the skirt to the required length. The length of the top should be equal to the circumference of the hips plus 2 to 5 centimeters. The edge of the product is manually processed with an oblique or buttonhole stitch. Then an elastic band is sewn to the top of the skirt. In the process of sewing, it is a little stretched. To sew the parts, a hand seam is used, which resembles a machine stitch.
Additional tips and tricks
Instead of a fabric belt, you can sew a wide elastic belt at the top of the skirt. Such an elastic band stretches perfectly, quickly takes its original shape, helps the product to stay on the waist and does not fall off. In addition, there is no need to sew a zipper. True, working with an elastic band, some difficulties may arise. This strip will need to be stretched. Not all craftswomen manage to determine the degree of stretching of the elastic band with the naked eye. If it is stretched more in some places and less in some places, the joints on the product will be more magnificent in one place and in another, on the contrary, less often.
Such a problem can be avoided if the markings are done correctly, and the tape is connected to the top of the skirt in two, preferably in four places. The elastic band must be divided, for example, into four segments of the same length.On the boundaries of equal parts, it is recommended to make a few marks (with thread or chalk). You should get four stitches equidistant from each other (the ends of the braid are pre-sewn).
The same markings should be made on the top of the product. There should be four marks equidistant from each other. Then the four points of the ribbon should be sewn to the four marks on the skirt. This preparatory step will help determine the stretch of the elastic band. If the tape is fixed in four places, it will be easier to stretch it to the desired length. As a result, the assemblies will be evenly distributed over the product.