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Learn to Sew Lesson #4: How to Insert Elastic

Learn to Sew Lessons· Sewing & Crafts· Sewing Classes· Sewing Tips & Tricks

What’s the Project? When you’re sewing a project and you need to know how to insert elastic (for example into a waistband), here’s a simple tutorial that will walk you through it. 

Hello, my sewing friends! It’s that time of the week again-a new sewing lesson for the Learn to Sew series! It’s week 4 and this week I am teaching you how to sew a casing for elastic and then how to insert elastic. Perfect for making things like pajamas and kids clothes. And it’s not too hard. In fact, if you have completed weeks 1-3, you have learned the most foundational skills for sewing. Everything from here on out is just the fancy stuff. So congrats on completing that!

Now let’s add elastic!

how to insert elastic

 

Lesson #4: How to Insert Elastic:

What I am teaching you today will help you so that you can sew things like pajama pants or little skirts or anything that you want to add elastic to. It’s a very easy way to add elastic and really only involves a hem and a straight stitch. Can you handle that? I know you can.

To create what we call a casing for your elastic, you will start out by folding down your fabric almost as if you were going to hem it. So, you’ll fold the fabric so that wrong sides are together. Fold it down about an inch or so:

Foldover

And then again one more time:

Secondfold

Press that seam or pin it in place (or both):

Casing

Now you will sew a straight line along the bottom of that fold. See how my presser foot is lined up to the bottom edge of the fold? Then sew straight along there:

Sewit

It will look like this when you are done:

Straightstitch

Now, grab your elastic (you can get any size as long as it is smaller in width than your casing. I typically use about 1/2 inch width on kids clothes) and a large safety pin and attach the safety pin to one end of your elastic:

Safetypin

Now slide the head of your safety pin into the opening at the end of your casing you just made:

Put

And pull it through using the safety pin to pull on and guide the elastic. BUT, make sure you don’t let the other end of the elastic pull through the end you started on. You can pin it in place or just hold onto it, just don’t let it follow through the hole.

Pull till your safety pin comes out the other side:

Out

And your fabric will now be gathered:

Gather

OK, so those are the basics of how to do it. But, generally you aren’t going to be doing it on a flat piece of fabric like that. Usually you are going to be inserting it into a waist band, so your fabric is already going to be in a loop.

Let’s imagine you are doing pajamas (one of the project options for this week). You’ve already sewn the pajamas together, now you just need to create the elastic waistband.

You will follow the same steps, just at the top of the pajamas. So, fold your fabric over once about an inch so that wrong sides are together and then again about an inch. Pin it and/or press it to hold it in place. Then sew all the way around BUT-this is important-leave a couple inches of opening:

Opening

That’s where you are going to insert your elastic. So, do that. First, measure how much elastic you need for this project (depends on your instructions or the size of the waist you are making it for). Then, grab your elastic and your safety pin and insert it in there:

Insertelastic

Pull it all the way around the waist:

Addingelastic

And out the hole again making sure that your other end is still outside the hole too (pin it in place if you need to):

Pullout

Make sure that your elastic did not get twisted up inside. Then sew those two ends of the elastic together. Either use a zigzag stitch to do it or just go over and over and over it about 10 times to make sure it is sewn tight.

Now you just need to close that opening that you had. Stretch out the elastic and sew it shut (making sure not to sew on the elastic, just on the fabric):

Casing

And you’ve got elastic! Elastic

 

Your Assignment:

Sew something with elastic! Anything you want! Then move on to Lesson #5: How to Sew Ruffles

One of the best options for this is pajama pants! You can do them for yourself or a kid or anyone you want. I have a tutorial on how to create your own pajama pants without a pattern. If that’s too scary, try Pinterest for patterns or grab a real pattern from the store:

Pajama Pants

Pajamas tutorial

 

Or here is a simple little skirt that uses elastic:

Baby Skirt Tutorial

 

Moderate Level:

Superhero Mask:

Superhero Mask pattern and tutorial

 

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Comments

  1. Jana says

    I must admit I didn’t manage to complete last week’s project. I caught some kind of flu bug or something like that and spent a few days in bed with no energy to do anything other than dream up more options of how to improve my hypothetical/potential handbag!
    The good news is that I have all the fabrics chosen and a general idea of how to put the bag together. Just missing a tiny piece of hardware (for a key fob, which I thought would be handy) and I’ll finally be able to get started!
    I’m also looking forward to trying out the elastic thing! I’ll have to get some when I’m already over at the store.
    Thank you for offering a pyjamas tutorial in addition to the girl’s skirt! The skirt looks cute—but as you say, not everyone has a girl in their lives to give it to.

  3. Kathy says

    Im so excited! Im getting ready to do the skirt and I cant wait to do the pajamas. One question, when measuring out the elastic, do we use the exact measurement of the waist? Or do we cut back some? Okay, one more question, when sewing the elastic do we lay the elastic side by side and zigzag or do we lay it on top of each other? Sorry, I’m a newbie at these things 🙂 Thank you so much for these classes! The tutorials are awesome!

    • Amber says

      I measure the elastic just shy of my kid’s waist. Hmmm, I don’t think I have that in there do I? I should fix that. Do you mean when you are done threading it through? Just put one piece on top of the other and sew through them but not through any fabric or anything.

  4. Amanda Corbet says

    Thank you so much for doing this series! It has been so much fun to follow along! I don’t have little girl to wear this adorable ruffle skirt I made, so I will probably add it to my Etsy shop, but it’s been so much fun playing along! Thank you again!

  5. Emily Shelley says

    I am really enjoying this series. I just finished the hooded towel (just a little behind on them). Have made several little girl skirts so I am going to do the PJ pants. Thank you!

  6. Stephanie P. says

    I’m so excited to do this one! I’ve been wanting to do a skirt for my daughter, and have had the fabric (and elastic) for about 6 months. Just haven’t had the courage to actually do it! Now I can’t wait! Thanks!!!

  9. Jona says

    I am working on the three layered skirt. I have been looking for that pattern for a while now! I’m a little nervous about calculating the length and width, that’s where I always mess up!

    • Amber says

      I hope it goes well. I’ve done my best to give you directions to size it up but I haven’t tried it out myself. Good luck!

  11. Rachael says

    Was going to do the cute skirt bit bought the wrong amounts of material. Oh well, I have a set of jammy pants that are already cute that are calling my name! I am really enjoying your series! It has given me the push to try several projects of your’s I have been eyeing but haven’t had the courage to do!

  12. Patsy Booher says

    Greetings from snowy New Hampshire!

    I have been following your “learning to sew” series and have really been impressed! Great job!

    I do have one thing that you might want to mention regarding inserting the elastic. Be sure that the elastic does’t get TWISTED when inserting it into your casing. It feels horrible around your waist if it’s twisted.

    Again, great job on your series. I look forward to more.

    • S cottia says

      To help keep elastic from twisting in casing after you have put it in and finished sewing it all up, stitch over the casing and elastic down each seamline – front – back – and side seams right in the ditch. You won’t see it, and it really helps to keep the elastic from “rolling” in a casing.

  13. Debby says

    Enjoying your tutorials. Even though I am not a beginner but rather an intermediate in sewing children’s clothes, I am finding your very clear tutorials helpful. Good reminders. There is one thing I always get wrong when sewing elastic. When sewing the two ends together how do you ensure that you won’t get a tangle/twist. I make sure that the elastic is flat all the way around but somehow when sewing the ends together I always twist it and end up having to cut off the sewn ends and do it again. Any tips?

    • Amber says

      If you just lay one on top of the other and sew you should be ok? Although I have to admit that I do it too.

  14. Donna Payne says

    I had my own pair of p.j.’s that I started making long ago. So with your easy guidance I was able to put the elastic in. It was so easy! Now I just have to get them hemmed and they’ll be all done.

    Thanks!

  15. Karla F. says

    i have some great avengers flannel that i have been wanting to make into pjs for my son and im soooo hoping to finally do it soon!! =)

    thanks for the inspiration!!

  18. Julie says

    I made the skirt and it is sooo cute! Wish I could post a pic for you. My DD is wearing it now!
    I’m loving your series. I taught myself to sew, so I really like looking at how other people do it and your projects are to die for! {I’ll make a blog post soon with a pic at http://hisandhershomemade.blogspot.com/
    I will admit I fought the elastic FOREVER on this though. My big safety pin opened up while going thru the casing and it was a mess =/

    • S cottia says

      If you use a large paper clip instead of a safety pin, it will never open up on you. Just poke the end of a large paper clip through the end of your elastic and push it around to the middle of the paper clip, then just push it all through your casing just like you would a safety pin. Works just the same, with out the risk of safety pin opening. 🙂

  20. ANNA FINLAYSON says

    I started a pair of pjs for my daughter 2 weeks ago but have been procrastinating the elastic waist band because I was too intimidated by it. Now I say: “Bring it on!”

  21. Kim H says

    I made the skirt and it was going well until I did my last seam up the side. Somehow my fabric shifted and my layers don’t meet up. Next time I’ll sew each layer into tubes individually before attaching all 3 together and creating the elastic casing. I’m definitely doing this one again (and going to attempt the PJ bottoms for my son). Thanks so much for the great tutorials!

  22. Dominique says

    would you recommend using cotton for the pjs or can I use a knit fabric? which would be easier?

  24. Heather says

    I just finished the PJ pants for my son, and I love them! For anyone who didn’t do them yet, I almost didn’t think of this but start the hem on the back of the pants or the inside of the leg so the “knot” isn’t as prominent.

  25. Darcy says

    I’m going to make the skirt — funny this tutorial is this week because I am at the part where I am adding elastic to sleeves on a Rapunzel running costume for the Disney Princess 5k in February!!

  27. Amber S. says

    Thank you for the awesome tutorials! I can’t wait to try the skirt for my daughters. 🙂

  31. Allison P says

    I am in process of making the skirt and it is turning out so cute! I had always wondered how to make the different layers…glad it is so easy! (With your help, anyway!)

  33. Tanya H. says

    I’d love to try the skirt, but I’m sadly lacking in the little girls dept! That said, my little boys get lots of handmade pajamas!

  34. MaryB says

    Thank you so much for this series. I am a little behind but loving it all! Out of town guests will be gone in a couple weeks and I will be able to get back into things for longer periods of time.

  35. Meg Sluyter says

    I sewed the ruffled skirt and it was so easy. I made it out of some old t-shirts I had that needed to be used. My daughter loves it too. Your sewing tutorials are done so well and they are super easy to follow too. Thank you for all the great tips too,

  36. Nikki says

    Just bought some toy story material and I am going to try and make my nephew some oj pants. So excited.

  37. Becca B says

    I’ve started on the skirt for my little one (although I hve to admit I’m a little behind and just finished last week’s project)!

  38. Megan says

    I made the skirt and the pj’s!! I had so much fun making them!! They were really easy! Thanks for the tutorials and the giveaway! 🙂

  40. Lorie M says

    Going to attempt the skirt today as a gift, am I am looking forward to it!
    Thank you so much for this series, I live in a small town where the opportunity to learn a new skills close to home does not happen very often so this is perfect. I ave gotten lots of compliments about te projects we have done so far. Thanks again Amber 🙂

  42. Karis says

    I did one of each, because I have boy-girl twins & couldn’t choose just one project 🙂 The pants are awesome – super easy and SO cute. The skirt was a challenge… I used double the length of my daughter’s waist size, but it still looks like a bell skirt 🙁 Plus, the last step, where you have to sew through all of the layers of fabric and the elastic didn’t work so well for me. But the skirt turned out alright – it’ll still get worn, I’m sure 🙂

    • Amber says

      I know…some people are having a hard time sewing through that many layers. But it sounds like you did great!

  43. MissMOE says

    This brought back great memories of my mom teaching me to sew. I loved threading the elastic through. I think I did that for every project my mom made with elastic!.

  45. Joyce mosby says

    does the five pairs of pj bottoms I made at Christmas count? I like your clear tutorials.

  46. Linda says

    Thank you for these tutorials. I have made each one each week and I can see my skills getting better. My ruffle skirt turned out awesome! I hope my niece likes it.

  49. Sherry says

    Just finished a pair of M&M Pajama pants, they are adorable on my boy!! Now on to this weeks project!

  50. Marie B says

    I just wrnt over the tutorial for elastic again and I really think Now I can do it! Thank you from a beginner, beginner!! 🙂

  51. Monica says

    I too am the mom of 4 crazy boys. I’m always looking for new things to make them. Love the pjs. Adorable.

  52. stephanie says

    I really admire you. I wish I was as talented as you. I can do very basic sewing but trying to learn everything as I do enjoy sewing. I find it very relaxing and very enjoyable. Your website is the best thing I’ve come across in months , thank you. I love everything on your pinterest. Your such an inspiration to me. 🙂 x

  54. Rwbecca says

    A little confused with casing. So you start off with west but in your pictures after you’ve double folded it it looks like its right side out? Did you turn it or…are my eyes just wonky?

  56. Tuba says

    Really amazing stuff! I just started sewing and literally searched all internet for sewing lessins. I love your lessons the best! Thanks for everything. Love from Turkey 🙂

  57. Jacki says

    I am trying to add a one or two inch piece of elastic to “expand” my son’s snow pants. He just needs a little more room for them to go over his ski boots. How can I do this without ruining the pants? Thank you.

  58. Rebecca B says

    I love Stitch Stash Diva!! One of my faves is the Cars From Birch Organic Fabric. Out of all the sewing tutorials I’ve looked at, yours is my favorite. Thanks for breaking everything down and not assuming that some things are common knowledge!

  59. Patricia S. says

    I need to make myself some pj pants! Believe it or not…I have never made any for myself. Always the kids or hubby. :/

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