Beginner · 30 minutes · 7 steps
How to sew an elastic waistband
An elastic waistband is the most-used waist finish there is, and the two things that go wrong are always the same: the elastic is cut too short, and it twists inside the casing. Both are easy to prevent.
Why it's worth learning
Elastic waists appear on trousers, skirts, pyjamas, shorts and children's clothes. They also remove waist fitting from the equation entirely, which makes them the fastest route to a wearable garment.
What you'll need
- Flat elastic, 25–40 mm wide
- A bodkin or a large safety pin
- Iron
Fabric notes
- Light and medium wovens gather neatly into a casing.
- Thick fabric needs a wider casing and often looks better with a separate waistband than a folded one.
The steps, in order
- 01
Cut the elastic to your relaxed waist
Wrap the elastic around your waist at the height you'll wear the garment, comfortable but not tight, and add 2 cm for the overlap. Never cut it to the fabric measurement.
- 02
Finish the waist raw edge
Overlock or zigzag the top edge before folding, or turn it under a few millimetres. A raw edge inside a casing frays and eventually catches the elastic.
- 03
Fold the casing slightly wider than the elastic
Add 5 mm to the elastic width so the elastic can move freely. Press the fold all the way round for an even waist.
- 04
Stitch the casing, leaving a gap
Topstitch close to the folded edge, leaving a 5 cm opening at the centre back. Backstitch either side of the gap.
- 05
Thread the elastic through
Attach a bodkin or safety pin to one end and feed it round. Pin the other end at the opening so it can't disappear inside.
- 06
Try it on before joining the ends
Overlap the ends temporarily and try the garment on. Adjust now — once the ends are stitched, changing the fit means unpicking.
- 07
Overlap, stitch and secure against twisting
Overlap 2 cm and stitch a box or a few rows back and forth. Close the gap, then sew short vertical lines through the casing at the side seams so the elastic can never spiral.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Cutting the elastic while stretched
The waistband then digs in and rolls over as you wear it.
A casing exactly the elastic's width
The elastic jams and the waist bunches unevenly. Always add a few millimetres.
Skipping the vertical securing stitches
One wash and the elastic is twisted inside the casing, permanently.
Practise it on a project
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