Elastics For Sewing

Elastic is the simple notion that’s used in so many different textiles. From clothing to accessories, wrap bandages, shoes, boots, backpacks, and luggage, you’ll find some form of elastic bands. It’s useful anywhere you need to add stretch and ease to a project. When elastic is correctly installed, it allows for a range of movement while keeping a garment in place.

Invented in 1820 by Thomas Hancock, elastic was initially used as a fastener in gloves, stockings, shoes, and suspenders. Since then, elastic has become a universal piece of sewing and manufacturing that does everything from closing a garment to making life-saving medical equipment.

Elastic has come a long way since its invention. Made from a combination of core threads of spandex or rubber that’s woven into cotton, nylon, or polyester, it’s then knitted, woven, or braided. While the sewing trade has long enjoyed a wide range of types, sizes, styles, and colors, it’s only in recent years that hobbyists and home sewers have had access to some of the same newly available elastic options.

What Kinds of Projects Utilize Elastic?

Elastic has a wide range of uses, but is most commonly used in:

  • Athletic wear (swimsuits, dance costumes, yoga gear)
  • Lingerie/underwear made with textiles
  • Hoodies
  • Sweats
  • Pajamas and pajama-style pants
  • Baby clothes and gear
  • T-shirts
  • Casual wear

Other Uses for Elastic Include:

  • Belts
  • Hats
  • Suspenders
  • Shoes and boots
  • Bags, backpacks, and luggage
  • Medical items, such as bandages and other “clingy” items

Elastic’s versatility means it can be used in a wide range of projects, from apparel to other items like face masks and safety equipment. Anywhere holding and flexibility is needed in an item is where you’ll find some type of elastic.

What Are The Different Types of Elastic and Their Elasticity?

Several types of elastic bands are suitable for garments, each with a specific application. Below, you will find the most common types of elastic used in sewing projects:

  • Braided elastic is typically lightweight and narrows or curls when stretched. You can insert it into a casing or sew it directly onto the wrong side of the fabric. Braided elastic is made using materials such as polyester and rubber. It's most commonly added to waistbands, sleeves, necklines, and leg bands, and it has a long lifespan. You can sew directly onto fabric or your casing. Since it's made with coverings & rubbers, a braided elastic is more shrink-resistant and will typically be unaffected by saltwater and chlorine. Goldstar tool offers black and white braided elastics for sale. 
  • Knitted elastic resists curling when stretched. It is a very soft and comfortable option that is used in a variety of applications, including waistbands, gloves, suspenders, belts, face mask straps, sporting goods, pajamas, sweatbands, horse blankets, elastic pockets, and swimsuits. Knitted elastic can be used in garments with and without casings, and it is comfortable when placed directly on the skin. 
  • Non-roll woven elastic remains flat and unrolled when inserted into casings, but it isn’t suitable for a direct application because of its slight abrasiveness. It's excellent for waistbands in skirts, slacks, shorts, pajama or legging waistbands, children's clothing, and sports bras. This elastic is a firmer medium weight that resists rolling or twisting. It’s also shrink resistant, machine washable and dryable, and usually unaffected by chlorine bleach. 
  • Elastic thread and cord is comfortable against the skin and has optimal give. Its small size makes it perfect for doll clothes and baby garments. It’s also used for buttonhole loops on garments where a buttonhole may not work, such as high-necked tops and dresses, as well as the backs of bridal gowns.  
  • Clear or silicone elastic (also called “silicone elastin”) is a great way to add stretch discreetly. Silicone elastic is available in both black and clear and in ¼” and ⅜” sizes, making it great for knits and swimwear. It’s ideal for stabilizing necks, shoulder seams, and is chlorine-safe, as well as dry-cleanable. Silicone or clear elastic may also be suitable for those with allergies to latex. 
  • Elastic or Stretch Thread is a specialty item that can be used in a number of ways. You can use it to easily stitch up knit garments with a straight stitch and reduce broken stitches. It’s also the best and fastest way to create shirring for sundresses and other garments quickly. It’s used both in the top thread and the bobbin for a perfectly gathered top that stretches easily.

What Is The Right Size Elastic for My Project?

Once you’ve decided what type of elastic best suits your project, you’ll need to know what size you need. If you’re sewing from a pattern, it will tell you what size elastic you’ll need. However, if you’re designing your own pattern for a project, you’ll need to determine the right size as well as what type. Below is a list of recommended widths for different applications:

  • Waistbands ­– ¾” to 1” (most garments), or ½” (for kids)
  • Necklines – ⅛” to ¼”
  • Sleeves – ⅛” to ½”
  • Swimwear – ¼” to ¾”

Any elastic you use should be able to withstand regular washing and drying, including activewear like bike shorts and yoga wear. Swimsuits also need elastic that can withstand repeated exposure to saltwater and pool chlorine. One of our best elastics for swimsuits is our Small Roll Woven Elastic Girdle/Sport. It’s soft, and comes in two sizes, but has additional support things like swimwear and girdles.

Lingerie and other delicate projects call for Trim Elastic. It’s lightweight, available in white, in seven sizes and styles to put a finishing touch on your designs. It is also heat resistant, and best on raw edges.

Some projects just don’t look right with white or black elastic. For those projects, we offer our ½” Foldover Elastic in ten colors in addition to black and white, and it is sold by the yard. It’s perfect for covering raw edges and can be used in place of bias tape.

For projects that require both waistband elastic and a drawstring, our Draw Cord With Elastic can handle two tasks simultaneously. It’s available in black and white in 1½” and 2” widths, in lengths from 10 to 500 yards.

Elastic Colors

GoldStar Tool offers a wide range of elastic colors, making it easy to match any sewing project. We have the following colors in stock:

  • Snow White: White as fresh as snow.
  • Off White: A soft, subtle white.
  • Black: Classic for everything.
  • Brown: Earthy, warm for natural looks.
  • Yellow: Bright, and sunny for happy designs
  • Orange: Bold, energetic for accents.
  • Pink: Soft, playful for fun projects.
  • Light Blue: Sky blue.
  • Navy Blue: Deep blue for serious looks.
  • Purple: Royal, rich for a regal touch.
  • Red: Striking, passionate for big statements.
  • Light Green: Refreshing, calming for nature.
  • Dark Green: Forest green for grounded pieces.

Whether you’re working on fashion, jewelry, home decor, or crafts our color ranges will complement your creative vision.

Tips for Using and Sewing Elastic

Elastic sewing takes a little practice to get it right. If you’re not comfortable sewing with it, try these tips to make it easier.

  • Sew with a ballpoint needle.
  • Choose a thread that’s compatible with your fabric.
  • The elastic must be loose enough for the finished product to be comfortable, but taut enough to stop the fabric from drooping.
  • Test your elastic stretch before cutting it to determine the correct amount.
  • Elastic must be smaller than the edge it’s applied to in order to keep the garment or other objects in place.
  • Ideally, use either a zig-zag stitch or a long straight stitch for the elastic.
  • If a project calls for the direct application of elastic instead of a casing, cut it about 8% shorter than the ideal length to allow for stretching during stitching onto the fabric.
  • Clear elastic requires a little more patience. If it’s sticking to your presser foot, try one of our non-stick presser feet with Teflon.

Once you get the hang of sewing elastic, you’ll be handling it like a pro in no time.

Elastic Tools

In addition to our range of elastics, we also have tools and machines to make working with elastic and drawstring a little easier.

Our adjustable elastic foot for industrial 6.4mm machines make sewing elastic as easy as stitching a seam for ¼, ⅜”, and ½” elastics with adjustable tension with a simple turn of a screw. Throw the elastic into the foot, attach it to the machine, and start stitching. We also carry a high-shank elastic shirring foot to apply it and control the amount of stretching.

For industrial single-needle drop feed lockstitch machines, this Elastic Tension Guide Bracket will facilitate faster and easier stretching of elastic during sewing. It works on any type of elastic, and sizes up to 2½”. This bracket doesn’t attach to the machine like a foot, but can be bolted to the machine table, or quickly taped down to use and removed when you’re finished.

Threading elastic and ribbon into a casing is made a lot easier with a set of these. With three different sizes of threader, you’ll be able to add elastics of ⅛″, ½” and ¾” widths quickly and easily without snagging or twisting them in the process. A lost drawstring in a casing is easily retrieved with our drawstring threaders. This set of two makes adding a drawstring easier, as well as fishing out the end of a lost drawstring quickly.

Our ¼” Hanger Tape is technically not elastic, but it does have a stretch. It’s stitched into the shoulders of dresses and other items to hang them up carefully. But Hanger Tape is also used to stabilize sheer fabrics during the sewing process. It’s sold by the yard on our website where you can buy as much or as little as you need (minimum one-yard purchase.) 

Why Buy Elastic From Goldstar Tool?

We have one of the internet's biggest selections of elastic supplies in stock and available for same-day shipping. Have questions, or need something specific? Call us at 1-800-868-4419, or use our online contact form to get in touch.

What type of raw materials does Goldstar use to manufacture elastic products?

We use several types of materials to manufacture elastics. For our clear elastics, we use a proprietary silicon material. We use spandex and rubber for our plastic elastics, which we encase inside polyester and cotton. By using different types of materials, we make our elastics safe and easy to use.

What types of sewing machines are compatible with Elastics?

Most sewing machines can be used to sew elastics. Goldstar sells and manufactures a variety of presser feet (for different types of projects) that can be attached to any serger or coverstitch machine.

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What Are Sewing Scissors Used For?

Fabric-specific scissors and shears are used for one thing: cutting fabric.

They should cut smoothly and cleanly and feel comfortable when you use them. You should always use the appropriate type of scissors and shears for your fabric if you want them to last and you want your fabric to cut cleanly.

Using your sewing scissors to cut anything but fabric is a quick way to ruin a good, and possibly expensive, pair of scissors. Keep them sheathed or otherwise properly stored when not in use and always use a different pair of scissors for paper and other non-fabric cutting applications.

Choosing the Right Scissors for Your Fabric

Different types of scissors have specific functions, such as spring-mounted thread clippers, which are perfect for opening buttonholes and snipping off thread ends in everyday sewing. Dressmaker shears are designed to cut just about any type of fabric, from fine silks and cotton to the heaviest denim and leather.  Synthetics tend to shred a little with dressmaker shears and standard fabric scissors, so serrated-edged scissors are a much better choice. These Mundial shears have cushioned handles and micro-serrated stainless steel edges that ensure clean cuts without slipping.

What to Look for In A Pair of Scissors or Shears + -

Of course, you want to look for a good quality brand. At Goldstar Tool, we carry brands like Mundial, Wescott, Wiss, and our own Goldstar brand of scissors. Scissors can be expensive, but price isn’t always a good indicator of how good they are. Just because they are pricey does not automatically make them good. Stainless steel forged blades are strong, sharp, and will last a long time. When choosing a good pair of blades, you should ask yourself… Are they comfortable? If they don’t feel right when you’re cutting, they’re not right for you. A good pair of shears should be sharp and cut cleanly through your fabric from the start to the end. Of course, with use, they may need sharpening, which should restore them to a like-new condition. However, if they don’t cut well when they’re new, sharpening really won’t help, and it may be time to invest in a better pair. When you buy new shears or scissors, ask yourself… Is it the right type for your needs? Do you need a longer set of dressmaker shears, or would a pair of offset scissors work better? Will they cut thin fabrics as well as thicker fabrics, or do you need a separate pair for heavier materials? Remember that a good pair of scissors is an investment, so put some thought into your choice and be sure to take care of them. Repeatedly buying inexpensive scissors that you throw away can add up to a costly expense. 

Types of Shears + -

Dressmaker shears are the most important scissors to have. Heavier than traditional scissors, they’re designed to cut fabrics of all types and typically do so very well. These Mundial shears are engineered for right-handed or left-handed users, and come in 6”, 7” and 8” models (including left-handed 8”.) Our Goldstar brand 8-inch forged stainless steel shears cut the entire length of the blade, all the way to the tip. If you prefer pinking shears, we have two types from the GoldStar line. Our heavy-duty shears have classic metal handles, and the other has cushioned plastic handles. For the quilter, Mundial professional quilting scissors in either 5 ½,” 8 ½, or 9 ½” offer soft grip cushioned insert handles for comfort and extended use.  Do you enjoy applique work? Our Mundial applique scissors help you make quick work of trimming around appliques, as well as evenly trimming Are buttonholes your nemesis? Our exclusive buttonhole scissors have a screw that stops you from cutting through your carefully made buttonholes. Safer than regular scissors or a scalpel, the screw limits your cutting length, so you cut exactly the length you need.

Other Cutting Products + -

Keep your scissors handy with a leather belt/hip holster, animal print belt holster or a lanyard that hangs around your neck. These will keep your shears handy and always available. Rotary cutters are a great way to do precise, fast cuts with ease. Goldstar Tool’s rotary cutters make fast work of whatever you need to cut. We also carry the replacement blades for all of our rotary cutting tools. Straight paper cutting is fast and easy with Westcott Titanium Bonded Paper Trimmer. It trims up to ten sheets of paper quickly with a completely safe, no-touch covered blade assembly.

Caring for Your Shears and Scissors

Caring for Your Shears and Scissors

Keeping Your Shears and Scissors in Tip Top Shape + -

The first thing you should NEVER do is cut anything but fabric with your scissors and shears intended for fabrics. The second is to never cut into a pin or needle since it will damage them permanently. When you’re finished using your shears, the best thing you can do is wipe the blades with a dry cloth to remove lint, threads, dust, and other small particles that can make them harder to use. Synthetic fibers can also dull the blades. Clean away the dry particles after every use. Keep your shears and scissors working smoothly with a small drop of quality sewing machine oil in the fulcrum or the pivot screw. Carefully open and close them a few times (point down) to distribute the oil, and wipe them, spreading some of the remnant oil over the blades. You want to oil your scissors and shears about once a month, more if you use them daily.  Of course, be careful not to drop them, or they could be damaged to the point of being unworkable.

Sharpening Your Shears and Scissors + -

When they just don’t cut like they used to, sharpening is a must to prevent damage to your fabrics. You may have heard that cutting through aluminum foil steel wool and/or sandpaper as a way to quickly sharpen your dulled scissors. Despite their popularity, we don’t recommend these methods. Think about it—if you shouldn’t use your sewing shears and scissors for paper and other things, or attempt to cut through a pin or needle, why would you use either of these to sharpen a blade? There are better ways to sharpen your shears at home or in your commercial shop. Need something small and efficient to keep around? These handy Scissors And Blade Sharpeners are economical, convenient, and sharpen on the fly. Our ExtremEdge V2 Knife and Shear Sharpener is a fast, easy way to sharpen non-serrated scissors and knives safely. The bottom section holds it in place for simple one-handed operation, and it’s sold for a reasonable price. If you have more than a few pairs of scissors, sending them out for sharpening can shut down operations. Our Wolff Industrial Twice as Sharp Scissor Sharpening System is an investment that will save you and your workers time and money, and keep your scissor arsenal sharp and cutting perfectly every time. Priced at under $500, you can sharpen your tools in-house whenever you need to. Plus, it comes with instructions so that anyone can learn to use it for fast on-demand sharpening.  Pinking shears, like our own soft-handled or heavy-duty shears, are best sharpened by a professional. There’s no reason to keep working with dull scissors and shears. Get one of our exclusive sharpening tools today.