How To Sew In Elastic-Make Gather with Sewn in Elastic

Sewing gathers with elastic is a great way to add texture to your project without sacrificing comfort. Sewing in elastic is quick and easy. Here is a tutorial on how to sew in elastic.

It is perfect for leg holes and waistbands in baby clothes because it allows for free range of motion for little ones.

I use is all the time when sewing baby clothes or cloth diapers.

Step 1: Cut Elastic

Cut a piece of elastic shorter than the length of fabric you will be sewing.

The shorter the elastic the more scrunched up it will become. Be careful not to use too short of elastic per length of fabric or the elastic will be under too much stress and not stretch.

Step 2: Pin Elastic

Pin the beginning of the elastic to the start of your sewing path and the other end to the end of the sewing path.

If you are sewing a particularly long length you’ll probably want to pin it in the center too. To do this, fold your elastic in half to find its center point. Then fold your fabric in half to find its center point. Pin the center point of the elastic to the center point of the fabric. Lastly, pin the ends the same way mentioned above.

Step 3: Stretch & Sew in Elastic

Insert your fabric and elastic under the presser foot and bring down the needle.

Stretch your elastic so it is of equal length to your fabric and begin to sew. An average straight stitch or a stretch stitch will work when sewing in elastic.

Keep the elastic stretched as you sew the length of fabric.