Use this soft waistband elastic for your skirts, shorts, pants, and other garment sewing projects. This one-inch wide knit elastic creates a soft and comfortable waistband that resists rolling and lies smoothly. Knit elastic has a smooth appearance and is soft against the skin. It can be used in a casing or applied directly to the garment. Knit elastic does not loose resiliency when sewn and does not narrow when stretched. This makes it ideal for waistbands. Knit elastic can be used for many purposes and is best for lightweight and medium-weight fabrics.
How stretchy is stretch elastic?
To determine how much elastic to use, keep in mind that braided elastic stretches more than knit or woven elastic. Please refer to the pictures in the listing for reference as you follow along. The red line drawn on the elastic is marked at 3". The next picture shows that the elastic, when anchored from the left and pulled to the right, stretches to 6". From this, we see that this elastic has a stretch factor of about 50%. Notice how it keeps it's shape and resists narrowing? This is why it works so well in a casing as well as when applied directly.
What length should I cut my elastic?
Elastic needs to be snug enough to prevent the fabric from drooping, but loose enough to be comfortable. To ensure comfort, stretch the elastic a few times before cutting. ( It should return to the same length again after it's been cut). Wrap the elastic comfortably around your waist (or wrist- or wherever you plan to use it.) Add 1" to the total length of elastic so that it can be overlapped and stitch together. If you find that the elastic is too long and loose when you insert it, trim it a bit and try again before closing the casing.
Tip: If you are substituting a different width or type of elastic than specified on your pattern, take some time to adjust the pattern to accommodate this change. As a general rule, the wider the elastic, the less it will stretch.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Manufacturer: Prym Dritz
Content: 67% Polyester, 33% Rubber
Width: 1", 25.4 mm
Country of Origin: Made in China
