Elastic thread is used in a variety of things from underwear to outerwear. Sports suits and children's clothes cannot exist without it. This article tells you what elastic tape is and how to use it.
What are sewing elastic bands used for?
Sewing elastic is a material that is practical to use for making small gathers on a product. Such gathers made with elastic can be gathered along the neckline, sleeve hem, chest line. And if you stitch three rows of lines, you can beautifully decorate a children's dress or decorate maternity clothes.
Elastic band for sewing is visually very similar to ordinary threads in a spool, has a variety of colors. But it is much wider than a simple thread and the second feature is that it stretches like a clothesline tape.
Both of these factors determine the possibility of its use on an overlock. You can work with such a thread on a machine only if you use it as a lower thread, because as an upper thread it will break due to its elasticity.
Below is a description of the types of elastic threads that can be used.
Types of Sewing Elastics
There are five types of sewing tapes. Each of them is intended for a different style of product and type of fabric. Below are all types of elastic tapes and clothing elements in which they are used.
Knitted elastic band
Many materials contain elastic bands. They can be transverse and longitudinal, as well as lace and relief, but they all have one advantage - elasticity.
The structure of the threads allows you to give things the desired shape. Many types of products (T-shirts, sweatpants, underwear) cannot be sewn without using tape, they will simply fall off the body. These are the most popular types of clothing, so knitted is needed just to hold things. It is used to create both underwear (panties) and various jumpers and blouses.
Knitted braid can be of several types:
- Lightweight - can be classic or edging. Used for sewing children's clothes and bed linen.
- Durable - can be classic or perforated. Used for women's clothing and underwear.
- Reinforced - used for sportswear, medical corsets.
- Openwork - these ribbons are used to decorate clothes.
- Latex - mainly suitable for underwear.
Rubber band for cleaning
Made of latex. Used as a reinforcement and fixing tape in various clothing parts. These elastic bands can also be used for external finishing of things. The main direction is sewing and repair of underwear, trousers and skirts. Support tapes can be neutral, colored and patterned. Patterned elastic bands are more suitable for decorating clothes.
Elastic band threading
This tape is mainly used in the production of children's clothing and underwear. It has been known since the Soviet Union, it was threaded into pants, underpants and other items of clothing.
Openwork elastic band
Regular elastic bands are used to make things comfortable. For pants, underwear and skirts. They help clothes not to fall off the body. And openwork ribbons are used mainly to decorate products. They can be ornamented or flowered.
Jacquard elastic
Wide elastic for sewing has a wide range of uses: as belts for clothes, decorating shoes and underwear. Can be used everywhere, the main thing is to turn on your imagination.
Hat elastic
It looks like a spool of latex thread with an outer heavy polyester sheen. The degree of elasticity of the cord depends on how many inner threads are used.
Thin threads are more suitable for light summer clothing, and thick ones for sports equipment.
How to sew
Step-by-step sewing of the tape:
- Use regular pins to secure the elastic band along the edge of the open cut on the outside of the material;
- Sew a thread along the bottom edge with a classic stitch, being careful that the stitch does not go over the scalloped edge. The stitch length is about 4 mm;
- Carefully trim off excess material, trying to do it closer to the line.
- Fold the openwork elastic to the inside and sew with a classic stitch with a stitch length of 4 mm.
The process of edging things:
- Pin the ribbon as shown above;
Using a classic stitch, sew the elastic along the bottom edge. Remember that the cut on the fabric and the top edge of the elastic thread should not shift or slip; - Carefully trim off excess fabric and threads;
- Fold the elastic to the outside and sew.
Elastic tape can also be transparent. Its price is quite reasonable, from 60 to 100 rubles per spool.*
How to use
There is also woven tape, it is characterized by high strength and rigidity. It is made from the same fibers as the others, but using a different weaving method. The loops in it are not noticeable, unlike knitted elastic. It is completely smooth.
It is mainly used for sewing warm clothes (sports suits, tourist equipment, special clothing). It withstands severe frosts and heat, easily tolerates a large number of washes.
Very often, elastic bands are used to decorate evening or cocktail dresses. They are mainly sewn to the bottom of the product, thereby giving it openwork and elegance.
You can decorate children's things, such as bodysuits or sundresses, with an openwork ribbon. You can even sew it to various accessories, such as handbags or cosmetic bags. The main thing here is to use all your imagination.
Such tapes can be used not only for working with clothes, but also for handicrafts. Below is an option for edging a kitchen potholder.
Fold the elastic in half lengthwise so that one side is slightly larger than the other. You can bend it using a ruler. It is quite difficult to bend. Therefore, you need to press hard on it.
Place the potholder on the work area. Now you need to place the potholder in the folded elastic band.
Please note! The larger side is placed on the inside and the smaller side on the outside.
Now you need to secure everything tightly with pins. Next, you need to start the process of basting the elastic. When stitching, you need to leave 1 mm. The potholder for the kitchen is ready.
Very often, openwork ribbons are used when making crafts using the patchwork technique.
When purchasing a tape, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer. You can not choose the cheapest materials, because after several washes, it can lose its elasticity. It is better to buy such materials in a sewing accessories store.
Care of products
Items with elastic threads should be washed at a temperature no higher than 60 degrees. High temperatures spoil the properties of such tapes, unless of course these are specialized tapes for workwear.
Ironing is permitted only without using steam and at a temperature of 100 degrees.
How to understand that the tape is of poor quality:
- After the first wash it started to get shiny;
- Bends easily with light pressure;
- Has almost no resistance when stretched;
- Easily pierced with a regular thin needle;
- It has a pungent chemical smell, not like textiles.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the correct choice of elastic band plays a big role in the quality of the entire product. You can not give preference to cheap materials, this is fraught with the fact that the finished product will last until the first wash at most. Even a novice seamstress can handle sewing on an elastic band.
*Prices are valid as of July 2019.
