Thread: how to measure and add elastic to waist/upper hip of skirt??

ok I know this is such a silly question to most people, but I am very challenged when I comes to sewing/altering costumes. I'm just wondering what the right way is to measure how much elastic you need to tighten the upper hip part of a skirt and how to sew it in properly.

for example, last time I tried this I measured tightly around my hips with the elastic, cut and sewed it in around the waist band... it did nothing!!! I don't know what I did wrong?? :(

the costume I need to do this to now only needs to come in about 3 inches (just so it sits tight and won't slip down), so I don't know if I even need to go all the way around or just add a small strip of elastic.... So if anyone can help me with this I would really appreciate it!

I'm sorry, I know its a dumb question!! Thanks in advance :)

Sorry I can't help, but would LOVE to know the answer, thanks for posting.

Have thought about posting this very question- thanks for posting it!

My general method is:

1) Drive to my seamstress

2) Have her do it

3) Pay her

I'd love to be able to do it myself- my sewing skills are minimal, but I can fix minor things, sew hooks, bra lining, things like that. I hand-sewed my son a pillow with a pocket for him to put his tooth for the tooth fairy!

Originally Posted by amarasdance

Have thought about posting this very question- thanks for posting it!

My general method is:

1) Drive to my seamstress

2) Have her do it

3) Pay her

I'd love to be able to do it myself- my sewing skills are minimal, but I can fix minor things, sew hooks, bra lining, things like that. I hand-sewed my son a pillow with a pocket for him to put his tooth for the tooth fairy!

LOL!!! I know, thats my usual go-to (or my mom, haha!). But I'd love to be able to do it myself so I can just get it done when needed

there has to be someone here that knows...

To determine the right tightness, put the elastic around your lower hips (the largest part), and using both hands pull the elastic till it can't get tighter. Use one end of the elastic to mark with a pen or a straight pin where it lays on the other end of the elastic. This is the maximum tightness you can do while still being able to get the skirt on and off. The minimum tightness would be if the un-stretched elastic is the same length as the circumference of your upper hips. Mid way between these two lengths is probably your ideal tightness.

To attach it, follow these instructions. Shushanna Designs: Elastic Waist Bands

Also, you can always close your elastic with safety pins instead of sewing it shut, so that you can tighten it more later.

Originally Posted by shushanna

Also, you can always close your elastic with safety pins instead of sewing it shut, so that you can tighten it more later.

Yay! all of your sewing articles are awesome!!! thank you soooo so much! I'll try it tomorrow and let you know how it went ;)