Q&A for How to Measure Elastic for a Waistband

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Question

How long should the elastic be to go in a waistband?

Margo West
Professional Tailor
Margo West is a Professional Tailor and the Owner of Margo West Bridal Alterations in Dallas, Texas. She is renowned for her expertise in bridal alterations, custom wedding gowns, wedding-related design, and pattern making. Her 44 years of bridal experience has earned her the prestigious WeddingWire Brides Choice Award, Couples Choice Award 2013-2019, and The Knot Best of Weddings 2018-2020. Margo was also featured in House of Diffa 2018 Jacket Collection and Modern Luxury Brides Magazine 2020. She will launch her new bridal gown collection for fall 2021.

Margo West

Professional Tailor

Expert Answer

The elastic for a waistband should be approximately 2" smaller than your waist measurement.

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Question

How do you replace an elastic waistband?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You’ll need to use a seam ripper to remove any stitching that’s holding the elastic in place, and then use scissors or your seam ripper to cut a small hole in the casing around the elastic. Pull out the old elastic band, then attach a safety pin to the end of a new band and thread it through the casing. Sew the ends of the new band together, then sew up the hole you made in the casing.

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Question

How do you shrink an elastic waistband?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

If the waistband isn’t sewn into the material, you can make a cut in the casing, pull the waistband to the desired length, and tie or resew the ends. If the waistband is stitched in place and can’t be easily removed, thread a new elastic into the casing alongside the original, then stitch or tie it off so it’s smaller than the original waistband.

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Question

How do you make an elastic waistband bigger?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can remove the original elastic entirely and replace it with a new one, or cut the original waistband and sew on a little bit of new elastic of the same width as the original in order to expand it to the desired length.

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