elastic sewing ?

[Kerrie]

So I have in my hands a fitted diaper that I would like to copy a feature of for my fitted dipes - the elastic. It looks like the elastic was sewn onto both layers at the same time. When I sew in elastic, I sew it onto the back layer then serge the back and front together. How do I sew it all at the same time? TIA!

[summerdgo]

A binder foot and foldover elastic. Regular elastic can work too, as long as it is not non-rolling. A binder foot holds the elastic (or bias tape) in place so that it gets sewn on both sides. I had to special order mine, but probably because I live in such a small town.

[Kerrie]

This isn't FOE. It's regular elastic that is sandwiched between the 2 layers and then the layers are serged together - would a binder foot work for that?

[Throkmorton]

I just sewed the elastic on the inside as I usually do, and then laid the outside over it and zig-zagged over it all again. It makes cute little ruffles at the legs.
Of course, now ds hates the cute ruffles, and wants his "boy diapers" grrr.

[Kerrie]

Just to clarify - you sew in the elastic on the lets say bottom layer, then sew on the top layer repeating sewing the elastic then serge the whole thing?

[sweetladyaz]

Well, here is how I do it, a friend gave me this advice. Place the starting end of the elastic in between the 2 layers of fabric and pin it in place. Then lay the elastic where you want it and pin around it, sort of making a little pocket or sleeve around it...like this"

-| |-
-| |-
-| |-


The " - " is the pins, and between them is the elastic inside the fabric....i hope that isn't too confusing. Then what you do, is do a small lock stitch on the pinned end on the elastic, then pull and stretch it from the loose end, it should slide easily through the material. While holding it stretched do a zig-zag stich all of the way down. The pins hold the elastic right where you want it. at the end, do a small lock stitch again and cut the extra elastic.

Hope that helps, it makes it a snap to apply elastic, and makes it go so much fabric, plus eliminates the guess work of whether or not you are getting the elastic in your stitch or not.

Amber

[Throkmorton]

Kerrie, that is exactly how I do it.
I also sew the soaker pad to both the inside and outside of the diaper. Really, the serging is that last step.