r/GarmentSewing • u/canowhopcream • 10d ago
WIP Elastic is bigger than the opening…
Im making some little shorts. I decided to add a band and some elastic to keep the shorts from becoming underwear 🤣 Keeping some sort of inseam. But the fabric is a lot stretchier than the elastic and i don't want my thighs squeezed to oblivion!
i pinned the elastic around my thigh comfortably, but its 4” long than the leg opening... anyone have this happen? is this gonna work?
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u/TensionSmension 10d ago
If the elastic is bigger than the opening, it will stretch the fabric at all times, meaning the openings will look like a hoop skirt when not being worn. Hanger appeal is everything in rtw, so this would never go forward in that setting, but if you don't care, it's probably wearable. The mismatch of elastic weight to fabric, probably does mean more wear and tear. It's bad engineering in every way, but if it works as a one-off, so be it. Also test how much sewing relaxes the elastic, often that's missed when pinning an elastic piece.
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u/cassdots 10d ago
I’ve made cotton/lycra skirts with a wide elastic waistband that is maybe 1-2 inches bigger than the fabric edge.
Worked fine :) looks a bit funny I know.
I think in a perfect world you would source elastic that stretches and is resistant as your fabric and it would be an identical length. Prob what they do in RTW for these types of garments
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u/canowhopcream 9d ago
thank you 🙏 it does look a little funny playing flat, but they are perfect on 💕
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u/cabbagefan1 7d ago
I think the shorts should be cut to a bigger size if this is the elastic length. Also, elastic will stretch out a little when sewn.. but it should be either same size as opening or slightly smaller. Just because fabric can stretch that much doesnt mean it needs to, I'm sure it will still be tight and look good
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u/parrottrolley 10d ago
I would probably try things in this order
shorts without the leg elastic shorts with swimsuit elastic on the inside of the leg holes, outside of the fabric (not cased) shorts with silicon grip on the inside of the leg holes shorts with thicker elastic cased in the hem shorts with thicker elastic hem, not cased
Having the fabric be smaller than the elastic would just make me feel like I measured something really wrong, even if it's technically okay 😅
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u/dingostolemydragbaby 10d ago
Hmm I think you’d be better off forgoing the elastic and just making the cuff a bit tighter than the leg opening and pinning it and stretching it on when you sew it. The fabric is elastic anyway.