I’ve been wanting to try out a maxi skirt for a while. The really gathered ones just don’t suit me. Gathering around the waist in general is a no no for me. (I’m too straight up and down, so any gathering at the waist just makes my waist look thick). But when I saw this slim fitting jersey maxi dress, I thought it would make a cute skirt….
Nothing really wrong with the dress. But another no no for me are racer backs. I need a bit of “soft scaffolding” to keep my “ladies” sitting where they ought to, and I have a thing about not having my bra straps on show. So I just chopped off the top section and added an elasticated waistband….
Now I know many of you won’t need the full deets on how to add an elasticated waistband, because, well, it’s one of the first and easiest things we learn. But I’m mindful too of the fact that I will occasionally play host to some readers just embarking on their sewing “journey” 😉 So I wanted to document this process for my archives….because of it’s versatility it kinda HAS to be in there…just in case anyone ever needs it 🙂
Encased Elastic Waistband:
1. If like me, you’re refashioning a dress into a skirt, then start by cutting in a straight line, straight across, and remove the top portion.
2. Turn under and press a 5/8″ hem, (stitch if you like but not necessary) then turn over again, according to the width of your elastic (mine was 1.5″ wide) plus 2-3mm extra. Pin in place.
3. Stitch close to the inner edge, leaving approx 2″ open/unstitched. I used a stretch stitch because I was working with jersey, If working with a woven fabric, a simple straight stitch will suffice.
4. Put your length of elastic around your waist. Stretch it around until it’s under tension and feels like it would hold your skirt up, but still feels comfortable. Holding it in place with one hand, use a pen to mark on both ends, where you want to join the elastic.
5. Attach a safety pin to one to one end of the elastic
6. Feed the safety pin through the gap you left in the waistband
7. Start feeding the elastic through
8. As you ruche the fabric and pull the elastic through, take care that the elastic doesn’t twist.
9. Keep feeding the elastic through until it comes out the same place you started. Again making sure you don’t twist it.
10. Line up the marks you made earlier
11. with the two ends of elastic overlapped, and the pen lines lined up, stitch and back stitch along these lines
12. Trim the excess elastic close to the stitching and then slip stitch or machine stitch that little opening closed; and it’s done 🙂
Such an easy waistband. Probably the easiest there is; and with so many different applications for all manner of garments whether woven or knit fabric.
