The secret of beautiful folds: how to sew an elastic band anywhere in 1 minute?

Surely an experienced seamstress can sew elastic in any way and anywhere. But what should those who do not have the necessary experience and knowledge do? The answer is to use life hacks!

A simple technique for beginners

Sewing in an elastic band using a sewing machine involves certain difficulties. The elastic tape keeps slipping, shrinking, and the seam extends beyond its edges. Thus, the folds in the fabric are uneven and sloppy. All these problems can be solved with a simple life hack: use the foot of a sewing machine to fix the elastic. Clamped in the foot, it will stop moving and will fit evenly and tightly to the fabric.

How to properly fix the elastic in the foot:

1. Remove the part. To begin, lift the foot and needle up. Feel behind it for a special button or lever. Click.
2. Insert the elastic band through the lengthwise hole through the top.
3. Return the foot to its place by placing it under the pin and lowering the lift lever down.
4. Insert the threads under the foot.
5. Set the minimum stitch length and secure the elastic to the fabric.
6. Select a zigzag stitch with an approximate stitch length of 2mm and a zigzag width of 3mm.
7. Pull the end of the elastic band and stitch.
8. Ready!

Step-by-step master class on video:

Using this life hack, you can sew a linen elastic band and a narrow hat elastic to the product. The course of action is exactly the same, only the zigzag width is set smaller:

Life hack for even distribution of folds

To ensure that the fabric gathers beautifully and evenly, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Measure the desired length of the elastic. For example, if you need to insert it into a dress at the waist, grab the belt. Trim the edges with a margin of 1-2 cm.
2. Stretch the resulting piece onto the fabric. It is most convenient to press one end with your heel and pull the other end with your left hand. Then the right hand will be free.
3. Arm yourself with soap or chalk and make marks on the stretched elastic band and fabric at intervals of 10–15 cm.
4. Later, when you attach the elastic band, pull it tight so that the marks match.

An illustrative example:

What should those who don’t have a typewriter do?

Without a sewing machine, you can sew an elastic band to the fabric in approximately the same way:

1. Place a piece of the desired size on the fabric and pull it tight.
2. Use a bar of soap to make marks at equal intervals.
3. In this case, the step needs to be made smaller - about 7 cm.
4. Pin the elastic to the fabric with pins, matching the marks.
5. Pull the first section.
6. Sew on an elastic band using a back stitch or try repeating a zigzag machine stitch:
7. Flash all sectors one by one.

When sewing on elastic, try not to tear the rubber fibers with the needle. Otherwise, it will quickly lose its elasticity, become deformed, and you will have to change it. Aim for the fabric shell between the rubber veins.

I must say that sewing an elastic band in by hand in this way is quite difficult and time-consuming. If the length of the product allows, it will be much easier and faster to make a “tunnel” for the elastic:

1. Fold the fabric to the wrong side to the width of the tape.
2. Sew using a needle back stitch.
3. Leave a small hole (1–2 cm).
4. Pin to the elastic band.
5. Insert into the hole and pull between layers of fabric.
6. Sew the edges of the elastic together.
7. Sew up the hole. Ready!

If you need to insert an elastic band in the central part of the product, you can sew a strip of fabric to the wrong side. Then everything is the same. By the way, you can insert a regular lace or ribbon into the drawstring. In this case, it is not necessary to use an elastic band.

Sewing an elastic band is not a problem if you know some secrets and subtleties. The proposed technique is very simple and can help beginners. It will help you insert underwear and hat elastic anywhere. The life hack will not work only with a wide elastic band that will not fit into the hole of the foot.