How to Sew a Mock Waistband for Elastic Casing

Sewing a waistband for a pair of pants or a skirt can become a complicated affair, especially if you have to spend time aligning a separate waistband to your garment. The mock waistband simplifies the process by using the garment’s material to form the casing. In five simple steps, you can have a waistband that fits both the garment and you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Press the top edge of the garment down by 1/4 inch on the wrong side, or the side of the material that will be inside the clothing. This prevents a rough edge from being exposed, reducing the chances of fraying.

2. Fold the material to the size of your elastic on the wrong side and press again. Remember, if a waistband is accorded for in the pattern then you do not need to leave extra material to form the casing. However, if you are adding a mock waistband on an outfit that does not include it in the instructions, be sure to leave two times the length of the elastic and 1/4 inch to form the waistband.

3. Fold the casing to the right side of the garment. This will create a mock seam where the waistband meets the garment.

4. Sew along the uppermost edge on the wrong side. Leave both ends of the casing open.

5. Insert the elastic into the opening at one end until it emerges from the other side. Start with a piece of elastic that is longer than necessary so you can try on the garment before closing the casing and make sure the fit is right. Excess elastic can be cut off.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a safety pin to pull the elastic through the casing.
• If the waistband is long and requires pinning, place the pins vertically. They are easier to remove as they approach the needle than a horizontal pin, and reduce the damage to the needle if one is hit accidentally.