How to Sew an Elastic Cord
Although many home sewing enthusiasts are familiar with attaching flat elastic to garments that require stretch, you can also use elastic cord. Elastic cord does not require a fabric casing like flat elastic. Rather, you can create a "casing" out of thread sewn in a zigzag stitch pattern. This allows for less bulk on a garment. Although elastic cord is rarely required in commercial patterns, you may prefer to use the cord for some projects, or may need to repair a garment that has a snapped elastic cord.
Instructions
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1
Take the piece of your garment onto which you need to sew elastic cord. Measure the fabric distance that the cord needs to travel while the fabric is stretched to its full width.
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2
Cut a piece of elastic cord in the measurement you took in Step 1.
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3
Pin the ends of the elastic cord to the fabric to hold it in place while you work.
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4
Sew a zigzag stitch over the elastic cord, all the way across the piece of fabric, to create an elastic casing. Make sure that you do not penetrate the elastic itself with the needle.
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5
Unpin one end of the elastic cord. Pull on the opposite end, allowing the fabric to gather. Stop when you have reached the desired amount of gathers.
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6
Pin the elastic cord in place, and cut the excess off one end.
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7
Stitch through the elastic cord with a regular machine stitch at the ends to hold the cord permanently in place.
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1
References
- "Sewing: The Complete Guide"; Stanley Thornes; 1983
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
