Can someone please explain the different ways to put in elastic?

[lhowlett]

HI,
I'm pretty new to this board, but it looks like it will be super helpful. Here's my question for today.
Can someone explain the different ways to put in elastic (casing, no casing, blind ?, TandT, etc) and the pro's and con's of each way, or basically compare the different methods. I'm mainly interested in pockets, but I'm making a little bit of everything.
Also, I plan on using lastin, but it isn't here yet . If I use normal 1/4inch polybraid elastic, will it hold up well, and should I just use it in covers maybe so the urine doesn't get so close to it?

Thanks!

Leslie

[tuffykenwell]

There are basically three ways to do elastic that I use.

1) Sew down a precut length of elastic at either end and then sew a casing after you have flipped the diaper.

2) Sew the elastic down with a 3 step zig zag or short zig zag and pull as you go. I don't sew a casing when I do this.

3) Use fold over elastic in place of other types of elastic. I do this for my covers and I have seen some people use it for diapers/AIOs. Basically you pull the FOE when you want an elastic effect and leave it unpulled when you are just binding (so for a cover as an example, pull at the back and front and both leg areas and leave unstretched at the tabs.

They all have their uses and I have used all of them at different points. When I do my pockets I prefer the look of a casing at the pocket edge so what I do is sew down the elastic inside what will eventually be the casing. Leave the elastic unstretched and sew the casing all the way to the end. Then pull the elastic as tight as I want it to be and sew the other end. That only works with pocket openings though LOL!

For my leg and front elastic (I sew side snappers generally) I sew Lastin with a 3 step zig zag on the fleece side. I sew a casing at the front because I just want a gentle gather there and I let the fleece flip out at the legs.

Steph

[amberthesugarcat]

First, normal polybraid works great, but I would only use 1/4 inch in medium or small diapers without tons of heavy layers. I use polybraid, knit and cotton swimsuit elastic and they all work great, in either 3/8 or 1/4 inch.

OK, I will go over a few elastic techniques I know of. I always sew in the elastic before turning the diaper (I turn and topstitch) so it will be on the side that I want to roll in, after I have staight stitched the outer and inner right side in before turning.

1. Casings- Sew the elastic in the seam allowance on the fabric you want to turn in after finished. Either measure and tack down each end, or sew it in while stretching it tight with a zigzag or 3-step zigzag stitch. Then after turning the diaper use a straight stitch and start at the beginning of the elastic, pull the fabric and elastic tight, and stitch folllowing the elastic but not catching it in your stitches. Then tack it down where the elastic ends.

2. Just sew on the elastic on the side you want to roll in with 3step zigzag, in the seam allowance. Turn the diaper and it is done.

3. Sew the elastic on the seam allowance or to the left of the seam allowance. This makes a nice edge once turned. You can even just sew on the elastic to the fabric and not worry about straight stitching where the elastic will go.

I probably like 2 and 3 best because they are faster. If you make a casing it looks nice, but it is so easy to catch your elastic in your stitches which result in nasty looking legs... Plus the casing makes them look less narrow in the crotch I think. It is easier to stuff a pocket without a casing.

However, I always do a casing on the back of the pocket, after stitching the elastic down with a 3step zigzag across the seam allowance. I think it looks more finished with a casing.

I have never used lastin so I can't give you any advice with that!

[boscopup]

The blind method is used for serged diapers - you have your inner and outer layers rightsides out, place the elastic between the layers, then sew with a 3-step zig-zag all the way down the elastic (but you can't see it because it's under a body piece - you have to feel where it is). For serged diapers, you can also sew the elastic to just the inside or outside body piece. I've only done outside body piece. I plan to try the blind method soon.

Pros/cons of different methods...

Serged diaper methods...
Blind - keeps your serged layers together nicely so it's not as poofy, and I think Amber said it can give a tighter leg and hold stuff in better? I don't have a diaper sewn this way, so I'm not sure It's harder to sew this method, since you can't see the elastic, but it's easier to serge the diaper afterward, since all body layers are equally elasticized.
Sewing to either body layer of a serged diaper - This is easier to sew, but then it's more tricky to serge.

T&T diaper methods...
Casing with elastic tacked down at either end - This gives a nice gather because the elastic is "free" in the casing. It can be a pain to sew, because you either have to tack down the ends, then hold the elastic out of the way while sewing the casing. Or you have to sew the casing before tacking down (you can thread it through or have it tacked on one side only as a PP mentioned), and that all requires lots of turning back and forth. Some people experience wicking through casing stitches. I've not experienced this, but if you have a heavy wetter, you might look into another method or spray the casing with DWR waterproofing spray.
Casing with elastic sewn to the seam allowance - This is very easy to do - just sew it to the seam allowance, turn it out, then sew the casing without catching the elastic. The elastic is sewn into place, so it's easy to not catch it. Again, you have the possible wicking factor for heavy wetters.
No-casing with elastic sewn to seam allowance - Here you want the leg to roll in or out, depending on your materials. The downside to this is that sometimes it's harder to get the leg to consistently roll the correct direction, and that would require tucking in (or out). You can cut the PUL bigger than the internal body layers, and you can also sew the 3-step zig-zag without sewing the seam closed first - someone posted this method the other day and got great results with it. I haven't tried it yet. So far, I've found that cutting the PUL bigger works pretty well if it's "bigger enough".
And one more method I think I saw in HHs... Don't they have the elastic tacked down on both ends with no casing and no sewing it to the seam allowance? I *think* that's how they're done, but I only had one very briefly, and I wasn't making diapers yet, so I didn't study the construction that long.

I personally like the look of a casing, and I think it works pretty well for my child. But everyone has their own preferences! For serged diapers, I tend to sew to the outside body only, but I'm going to try the blind method next time and see IF I can do it.