How to Insert Elastic in a Casing
That black velvet pencil skirt you have been working on is just about ready for wearing. Now all you have to do is thread a piece of elastic into the casing of the skirt that serves as a waistband and shop for a sexy white satin blouse you can wear with your new skirt. You may think that inserting elastic in a casing is a difficult task, but after you do it for the first time you will find that it is really quite simple.
Things You'll Need
- Needle
- Thread to match the color of the casing
- Scissors
- Length of elastic slightly smaller than the width of the casing and long enough to fit comfortably around your waist when stretched; add one extra inch for sewing the elastic together at the ends
- Two safety pins small enough to fit inside the casing (One pin is optional.)
Instructions
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1
Cut a 24-inch length of thread with your scissors and thread your needle with it so the thread is doubled. Tie a knot at the end of the two12-inch lengths of thread and put your needle and thread aside.
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2
Fasten your safety pin to one end of the elastic and close the safety pin. Feed the safety pin and elastic into the opening of the casing, working the pin through the casing by pushing on the pin and pulling back on the fabric section the pin just went through. The motion should resemble that of the movement of an inchworm. As you do this, make sure the other end of the elastic remains outside the casing.
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3
Sew the ends of the elastic together once the safety pin emerges from the casing and is removed from the elastic.
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4
Sew the open section of the casing closed.
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Tips & Warnings
Take the second safety pin and secure one end of the elastic to the fabric at the opening of the casing so that that end of the elastic does not end up inside the casing as you pull the other end of the elastic through it.
