Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Replacing elastic in trousers or a skirt starts with checking how the old elastic is installed: freely inside a tunnel or sewn to the fabric. If it’s in a tunnel, a small opening is unpicked, the old elastic removed, and the new elastic threaded through with a safety pin. If it’s sewn in, the tunnel is fully opened, the old elastic removed, and the new elastic either sewn in or threaded into the formed tunnel.
When elastic replacement is needed
- the elastic has stretched and the garment slips from the waist;
- the elastic is wrinkled or rolled inside the tunnel;
- you hear snapping when stretched – elastic threads are breaking;
- the elastic is too tight and leaves marks;
- the garment is being repaired or altered in a workshop.
Stretched elastic is a normal result of ageing, heat from tumble drying, and frequent stretching. Often the garment itself is still in good condition, and replacing the elastic gives it a new lease of life.
How to tell how the elastic is installed
Feel the upper edge. If the elastic moves freely inside and the fabric slides over it, it’s in a tunnel. If the fabric is gathered and stitched together with the elastic – with one or several rows of stitching through it – the elastic is sewn in. Factory tracksuits and leggings often have sewn elastic with cover stitching; pajamas and lightweight trousers usually have elastic in a tunnel.
Replacing elastic in a tunnel
- Find a suitable spot. The most convenient place is inside, at the side seam or centre back.
- Unpick 2–3 cm of the inner seam of the tunnel.
- Pull out the old elastic and cut it. Keep it – you will use it to measure the width.
- Attach the new elastic to the old one with a safety pin or a few stitches if the old elastic is still in the tunnel – pull the old elastic to thread the new one through.
- Thread the elastic with a safety pin, holding the other end to prevent it from slipping inside the tunnel.
- Try the garment on before permanently joining the ends.
- Join the ends overlapping about 2 cm and sew a flat seam with a rectangle or several rows of zigzag stitches.
- Close the opening with a straight stitch or by hand.
Replacing sewn-in elastic
- Unpick the seam attaching the elastic. For cover stitching, pull the bobbin thread – it unravels more easily.
- Remove the old elastic and clean off any thread remnants.
- Decide whether the new elastic will be sewn directly or a tunnel will be formed. If the fabric has enough height, a tunnel is an easier repair solution.
- For direct sewing, divide the elastic and waist into four equal parts, mark, and sew with the elastic stretched, using an elastic stitch.
- Fold inward and topstitch if the design requires it.
How to choose new elastic
| Garment | Type of elastic | Width |
|---|---|---|
| Pyjamas, home trousers | Soft knitted | 15–30 mm |
| Tracksuit, sports trousers | Knitted or soft woven | 25–40 mm |
| Linen or cotton trousers | Woven, non-rolling | 25–40 mm |
| Skirt | Woven or knitted depending on fabric | 20–40 mm |
| Children’s trousers | Soft knitted | 10–25 mm |
The width of the new elastic should be equal to or slightly smaller than the tunnel. Too wide elastic won’t fit and wrinkles; too narrow twists. If the elastic has rolled, choose a firmer woven elastic. For soft home and children’s textiles, knitted elastic is suitable.
What length to cut
Do not copy the length of the old elastic – it has probably stretched. Measure the waist circumference where the garment will sit and cut the elastic slightly shorter – check the required shortening by stretching tests depending on the elastic type. Add about 2 cm for overlap. Before joining the ends, pin them with a safety pin and try the garment on.
Common mistakes when replacing elastic
- The elastic is cut to the length of the old stretched elastic – it remains loose again.
- The elastic has twisted inside the tunnel – check its entire length before closing.
- The ends are joined face to face – creating a hard lump.
- The elastic is not secured inside the tunnel – it twists after washing. Sew vertically through the tunnel at the side seams.
- Too soft elastic is chosen for heavy fabric – the waist sags again.
How to extend the life of new elastic
- Wash at the temperature indicated on the label, avoiding very high heat;
- Avoid tumble drying at high temperature;
- Do not leave the garment to dry on a radiator;
- Do not iron directly on the elastic part with a hot iron.
Workshop and tailoring repairs
For clothing repair workshops, elastic replacement is one of the most common orders. It’s convenient to keep rolls of elastic in several main widths and in white and black, as well as soft knitted elastic for children’s clothes. This way most repairs can be done immediately. All types are collected in the elastics category.
Replacing elastic in a skirt with lining
For skirts with lining, the elastic is often in a tunnel formed between the outer fabric and the lining. Unpick a small section of the lining seam, not the outer fabric seam – so the repair remains invisible. Thread the new elastic, check that the lining hasn’t twisted relative to the outer fabric, and sew the opening closed by hand with a hidden stitch.
Wholesale elastics from Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of haberdashery for clothing, based in Sofia. We supply knitted, woven and covered elastics in various widths and colours for ateliers, tailoring workshops and brands across the EU. Minimum order quantities depend on the item. Contact us via the contact page for samples and quotes.
