Favorite way to sew elastic in pocket?

[amberthesugarcat]

I am making pockets with the Darling Diaper pattern and they are turning out great. I am trying to decide which way is better to sew in the elastic. I am making fleece outer/microfleece inner and fleece/flannel.

So those of you that have more experience, why do you prefer one or the other:

1. Sew the elastic down with a zigzag stitch, pulling tightly, before turning and no casing.

2. Stitch the ends of a premeasured amount of elastic down, turn the diaper and then sew a casing.

I can't decide which I like more, and I am curious if someone knows why I should prefer one over the other. I am planning on making some pockets for my sisters and I want them to be really nice.

[whimsy]

I'm wondering the same thing.

[Jillbob]

Originally Posted by amberthesugarcat

1. Sew the elastic down with a zigzag stitch, pulling tightly, before turning and no casing.
.

That's how I do it, only using the 3 step zig zag. I hate making casings, they always turn out terrible for me lol. I also make the inner layer a little narrower throught the stride (1/2-3/4" on each side) so it rolls in.

[StrawHatBrat]

I don't have any experience.. I just finished my 2nd diaper! But I've only done casing. All of the instructions I've read say not to sew through the elastic.

But if it's easier that way, I'd sure like to know how to do it.

[morlando27]

I prefer to tack down the ends & do a casing. I don't have the 3-step zigzag feature on my old machine and when I've attempted a regular zigzag, it kills the elastic causing it to lose its stretchiness. I haven't personally had to replace any elastic, but I know others have and it would be much easier to replace elastic that's just tacked down at the ends.

[rowena___.]

i mark my elastic but don't cut--stitch down the first end--fold and stitch casing--then draw up the elastic to fit the mark, stitch it in place, then cut. NO WASTED ELASTIC.

[Mickiswing]

I do the elastic like Rowena just said. I like the casings, just because then I don't have to see any extra zigzags on the back of the diaper. Not that it matters too much

[Jes'sBeth]

Originally Posted by rowena___.

i mark my elastic but don't cut--stitch down the first end--fold and stitch casing--then draw up the elastic to fit the mark, stitch it in place, then cut. NO WASTED ELASTIC.

I'm totally going to try that next time!

I usually do the tack down, casing thing. Don't know why but I'd guess because I know how to do it and it's always worked and why fix something that isn't broken!

btw... is 3 step zigzag the stitch that looks like it has a line of straight stitch, a zigzaggy bit and then another line of straight stitch? Or is it something totally different? I'm short on my sewing terminology...!

[rowena___.]

Originally Posted by Jes'sBeth

btw... is 3 step zigzag the stitch that looks like it has a line of straight stitch, a zigzaggy bit and then another line of straight stitch? Or is it something totally different? I'm short on my sewing terminology...!

the stitch you describe is a blind hem stitch. it is used to make a blind hem (duh) but it can also be used to do applique, stitch on cording, flat baste, etc.

the 3-step zig-zag stitch goes zig-zag, just like the regular zz stitch, but it takes three short stitches in each direction--3 right, 3 left--sometimes called a broken zig-zag.

[LeosMama]

I'd really love to know what a casing is? How to do this? Please explain slowly, b/c I'm not good at visualizing. Anyone have a pic of this in progress?

Thanks!

[JLav]

I use a 3-step zig-zag to stitch as I stretch. I've tried casings with no luck. I might try it how Rowena explained, maybe that will work better. I don't mind doing the leg elastic, but I *hate* sewing the elastic for the opening on a pocket diaper. No matter how I do it, it ends up weird.

[rowena___.]

Originally Posted by LeosMama

I'd really love to know what a casing is? How to do this? Please explain slowly, b/c I'm not good at visualizing. Anyone have a pic of this in progress?

a casing is a tunnel for the elastic to go thru. you can make casings several ways, it just depends on the item and the placement of elastic as to which method you choose.

it can be an edge that is folded over, sewn to leave room for the elastic, then the elastic is threaded thru. it can be two layers of fabric sewn together so that there is a tunnel for the elastic. you can cut a strip of fabric a little wider than the elastic, stitch it down on both long sides, then thread the elastic thru. you can use purchased binding or tape or even ribbon and do the same thing.

basically, anything that creates a passage for threading thru elastic (or anything else, like ribbons) is a casing.

[amberthesugarcat]

This has been so helpful! I still can't decide which I like better. The casing gives the legs a bit more of a ruffle. From what I can tell FBs have casing, and Harleyz and GADs have the elastic sewn in without casing. I am going to make diapers both way and just try to figure out what I prefer.

[boscopup]

I'm inexperienced, but have tried a few different elastic methods recently. The one that has worked well for me is the casing, but I thread the elastic through AFTER sewing the casing. I tried sewing the casing with the elastic in there, and can't for the life of me sew it without catching the elastic. Threading takes more time, but it turns out a beautiful casing everytime for me.

I tried what I thought was a 3-step zig zag for sewing the elastic to the seam allowance, but what Rowena describes is NOT what I was using. My manual called it a 3 step zig zag, but it really didn't work well at all - there was very little stretch. So now I use a long, narrow regular zig zag, stretching the elastic VERY tight as I sew. That works well. With my so-called 3 step zig zag, the legs rolled the wrong way, and they didn't have enough stretch difference.

My last diaper I made was a fitted made out of an old hospital baby blanket (30+ years old and so soft), and I sewed the elastic to the body of the diaper, then top stitched to the side of the elastic (with the zig zag I could see where the elastic was and not catch it). This worked really well, but is incredibly ugly on the inside. So I think I'll stick with either sewing to the seam allowance and letting the leg roll in, or making a casing and threading the elastic through. Both of those I've figured out how to do properly... at least with fleece and flannel materials. Haven't tried PUL yet!

[Jes'sBeth]

Originally Posted by rowena___.

the stitch you describe is a blind hem stitch. it is used to make a blind hem (duh) but it can also be used to do applique, stitch on cording, flat baste, etc.

the 3-step zig-zag stitch goes zig-zag, just like the regular zz stitch, but it takes three short stitches in each direction--3 right, 3 left--sometimes called a broken zig-zag.

THANK YOU!

We should have a sewing terminology lesson from all the seamstresses out there who not only know can put together a nice diaper but can also describe in correct terminology how they did it (not to mention WHY they did it that way!)

Can I add another question to this thread? What's the advantage and disadvantage of each elastic method? (3 step zig zag, regular zig zag, casings)

[rowena___.]

Originally Posted by Jes'sBeth

Can I add another question to this thread? What's the advantage and disadvantage of each elastic method? (3 step zig zag, regular zig zag, casings)

3 step zig-zag
advantages: slower to stitch out means seamstress usually has more control than with regular zz

disadvantages: uses a lot of thread, fills the seamline with thread so it allows less recovery.

regular zig-zag
advantages: stitches out faster, easy for most people to learn, allows for a lot of stretch

disadvantages: usually ends up more narrow than the widest 3-step zz, doesn't require any additional fabric.

for both these, seamstress must use both hands to control elastic, or needs an elastic applicator foot to free up one hand for fabric control. however, this makes applying elastic a one-step process.

casing
advantages: does not require anything but a straight stitch, can be made without elastic in it so it is worked with the piece flat (not bunched up), allows the seamstress to only control fabric, rather than fabric and elastic at the same time.

disadvantages: requires two layers of fabric (either an additional layer applied or a layer folded over), requires elastic to have greater strength to overcome the additional layer, makes application of elastic a two-step process.

for all practicaly purposes, all the various swing needle stitches can be used interchangebly for applying elastic, as long as they are used at the longest stitch length possible. you can apply elastic to the public side of a garment and use a decorative swing needle stitch to give an extra embellishment similar to smocking.

[amberthesugarcat]

Rowena, your method sounds brilliant and I am going to give it a try. I tried sewing some casings 2 days ago and I kept on catching my elastic, plus my straight stitch was not straight and looked like I was drunk when I sewed it. I am sick of taking out seams.

So I am going to do as you say, tack it down, sew the casing, pull it through, and then tack it down.

Any tricks to pulling the elastic through? Is it difficult to do? I can't wait to try this.

[tippytoes26]

I'm actually pretty casing impaired myself. I do like the nice stretch it can give on a turned diaper though. My biggest issue is that if my casing is more narrow on one side than the other, it makes that side sort of not gather as much. I find a wider casing is better.

The only advantage to a casing, in my opinion, is that the thickness of the fabric doesn't hinder the gathering of the elastic like it can when you sew it down the entire length.

But, for AIO style, I like to do the three step zig zag thing. I find swimsuit elastic works better than the knit elastic in this case because it's a little stronger but just as stretchy. So it still gathers nicely. Knit elastic works well in a casing, but not nearly as well sewn into the seam allowance... it loses a lot of stretch that way. I say go for the no casing and just sew the elastic into the seam allowance but just use a stronger elastic than the knit elastic.
Polybraid might work well too in this case.. I'm just having a love affair with swimsuit elastic right now

Amber

[Jes'sBeth]

Thanks Rowena!

That's really useful. I think I'm going to do some elastic experimentation on scraps soon just to see all of that in action!

I feel like I'm in an online Home Ec class except I'm in the class with all the cool kids

[rowena___.]

Originally Posted by amberthesugarcat

Rowena, your method sounds brilliant and I am going to give it a try. I tried sewing some casings 2 days ago and I kept on catching my elastic, plus my straight stitch was not straight and looked like I was drunk when I sewed it. I am sick of taking out seams.

So I am going to do as you say, tack it down, sew the casing, pull it through, and then tack it down.

Any tricks to pulling the elastic through? Is it difficult to do? I can't wait to try this.

in my method, the elastic is already in the casing, it is just not cut or drawn up. so there is no threading, all you have to do is pull the elastic that is there (the long end of elastic) till you get to the mark for the length you want, then just stitch it down.

if i had an extra brain cell left, i'd remember to take pictures of this and post it for you to see.

you can also make an empty casing, and then thread elastic thru afterwards, to do that you just put a safety pin on the end of the elastic and thread it thru. you can get all kinds of gadgets to do this for you, but a safety pin is usually always handy.

before safety pins were invented, things were threaded thru casing with bodkins (or sewn in as in my method).