Replacing an Elastic Skirt Waist
May 11, 2011 by Violet
Continuing on the idea of remaking and reworking old clothes into better versions of themselves today I’m posting a quick easy fix I did for a skirt given to me by Celeste. It was super cute and had nothing wrong with it other than the fact the elastic was crunched up and a bit past it’s used by date.
Quick fix: replace the elastic.
What you need:
- The skirt in question
- Flat, thick elastic, same size as is in the skirt already so it fits in the channel
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
In most elastic waisted skirts the top is a band which encases the elastic and allows the fabric to bunch up when the elastic is not stretched. In that section there is generally a vertical size seam which will allow easy access to the elastic once you snip the stitches. Locate it and using a very small pair of scissors carefully cut the stitches making sure not to cut or damage the fabric around it.
Through the hole you should be able to pull out the elastic. See how it’s all twisted and crinkly?
Cut the loop of elastic so you have two ends hanging out of the hole. Take your new piece of elastic and roughly stitch it to one of the ends of the old elastic. You could also use a safety pin to pin them together if you have one handy.
Now carefully pull the old end of elastic (the one that’s NOT attached to the new elastic) out of hole in the skirt. What should happen is that as you pull, it will drag the other end of the elastic through and around the casing and it will bring the new elastic through with it. You might need to be fairly delicate pulling it so you don’t damage the hole in the fabric and it doesn’t catch on the inside.
Keep feeding it through and pulling until the good elastic is all the way through. Then detach the good from the bad and sew the two ends of the good together. Make sure they are the correct way around so the whole waist band is flat, you don’t want to have a twisted waist and have to redo it :S Once you’ve stitched them together, push the whole thing back into the skirt band and flatten it out, you should be able to do this by holding the waist from the inside with your thumbs and gently stretching it out so the fabric settles around it.
Stitch back up the hole with the needle and thread.
Done! Now it’s as good as new and has a nice flat (and much more flattering) waist :D
So this took about 15 minutes to do and saved a perfectly cute skirt ^_^
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Great job, princess!! I’m looking forward to seeing you wearing that cute skirt:D
:D Thanks Minnie!
Such a clever trick! It was definitely worth saving such a cute skirt.
:D I can’t wait to wear it now!
Once again, Princess MacGuyver saves the day :P. I’m so bad at stuff like this. Thank God Brisbane now has the monthly suitcase rummage for me to sell off my old clothes otherwise i’d really be in trouble given the rate I buy clothes I don’t need nor really want :(.
Mwaha Princess MacGuyver, now that’s a nickname that could stick!!
I never would’ve thought of using the old elastic to pull the new elastic through! If I was doing this I probably would’ve pulled all the old elastic out straight away then have to sit and feed all the new elastic through, making it take twice as long XD
I used to do that, or put a safety pin and feel it though, this is much quicker :D
An adorable skirt for sure. I would love a plaid skirt like this. It is good that you were able to fix it easily
Now I just need to find an outfit for it :D
Thanks. it is your great post.i liked this your article.
Glad to hear it :)
Cant wait to see this gorgeous skirt in one of your outfit posts.
I just need to think of how to wear it! I think it would be super cute with black stockings and the shoes you sent!
It’s alive! :O On a serious note, an awesome way of replacing the elastic waistband in the skirts. I can somehow see this becoming handy in the future, so thanks for sharing. :)
No problems :D
I might have to try this on some old doll clothes that have lost their elasticity. Thank you so much, I love all of your tutorials, and they are exceedingly easy to follow! :)
:D I’m really glad to help!