How to Add an Elastic Waist to a Dress: A Drastic Elastic Refashion
A few months ago, I showed you how to add a fantastic elastic waist to just about any dress!
A lot of you asked why I cut the thing in two and restitched it before adding the elastic. I thought it gave it a cleaner line, but heck! Let’s try it another way!
I started off with this coral-y bathing suit coverup-looking thing…
I thought the hue of this frock was just a wee bit to light for fall/winter/whatever this cold thing is that we’re in, so….I reached for these!
After the dye bath, I still needed to deal with how shapeless this dress was. While I usually just add a belt or a sash (because it’s easy and I like ’em), I want to make sure I show you guys other tips and tricks too.
Here we go!
I turned my dress inside-out, then I used my tailor’s chalk to draw a line all the way around my dress where I wanted my new waistline to be.
I also made a mark at the center front and center back of my dress.
Next, I wrapped a section of elastic around my waist and pulled it to where it was snug, but not too snug.
Then I cut it off.
I stitched the two ends together.
I folded the elastic in half and used a fabric marking pencil to mark the ends of the folded bits.
This meant I had a mark for every fourth of the elastic waistband. Don’t worry. It’ll make sense in a sec. 🙂
I then pinned each of the marked bits to the center front, center back, and each side seam.
This makes it easier to evenly distribute the rest of the elastic.
Time to stitch it down! Just use a straight stitch, but make sure you pull the elastic a bit as you go to keep the fabric from getting bunchy.
It’s finicky, but it’s not that hard!
And just like that, you have a dress with an elastic waist!
I rolled the sleeves up a little, pressed them down, and was good to go!
However, me being me, I couldn’t resist putting a belt on it! 😀
Sadly, the building I work in is in a constant state of frrrrreeeeezing, so all my coworkers got to see was this:
C’est la vie!
Cheers!
34 Comments
Karen Smith
I like the dye you used for this dress. Most especially, though, I wanted to say I enjoy your attitude and sense of humor! I hope you are feeling well. I look forward to more of your work.
smithtabby
This is so cute! Love the color.
Stephanie
Cute! Also, as I read this I noticed I’m wearing the same socks. You have good taste.
Erin R (Erienne4)
I love the last comment and picture – office arctic winters are for real
Nancy
Thank you for changing the title of this post.
Charmaine
how on earth do you know what colour combinations to use when you dye?? I would never have thought of combining red and tan let alone to dye a salmon dress.
gwen
Love it! I might actually be able to do this version of elastic. By the way, if you ever want to sell that owl necklace, I’d love to buy it!! It makes me happy every time I see it!
Victoria
Oh it’s so cute! Adding the waist really brings out the cute fringe on the bottom!
Victoria
Sparkles
Super duper adorable! Love the color, too.
Shirley
You know, I would have thought that one would never turn into anything cute but here you go again! You have a great eye for seeing potential in everything! I really like it!
mims
Of course it helps that you have a lovely figure – you look great in everything!
TaraLee
Really like this one. Love the color. I also love the haircut!
yvette
Keep on keeping on…….
Ms Mur
Those boots! Dress is adorable too.
Kat
Awesome thanks!
cadderly2
Super cute! Love the color. That’s how I do elastic~
krzmarzick
Great color! I always thought I needed to use a zigzag stitch, too. Well done!
blissinger
So THAT’S how you do it. I have to say I’d probably go with the zigzag (like Gia). But yours came out looking very good.
Gia
Cute dress! You should really avoid a straight stitch with elastic though (unless you have a stretch stitch setting on your machine). You should aim to use a zig zag stitch. Even if you are pulling the elastic tight to the fabric when you stitch, you risk having loose stitches when you relax the fabric. If you don’t pull the elastic tight to the fabric when you stitch, you risk breaking the stitches when the elastic is pulled. The zig zag stitch gives the stitches a little more wiggle room to be flat when needed, but allow for stretch without breaking.
Connie
Gee,how I love your work and your creative ideas!! They are truly something for me to aim for, however, just a reminder that you may want to watch your use of the word “spactic”. I am in special education and this kind of use of the word is a real no-no.
Thanks!
Anna
Thanks for steering me towards belts. Thanks to you and a couple other influences I’ve been slowly adult-ening up my style from my former hippie-festival look. 🙂
danielle
Hi lovely. I love your blog but tge term “spastic” is actually offensive. do you tjink you could change it. 🙂
Melody
The belt really makes it! Stay with what you know…you have a good eye for finishing touches!
Valerie
loving the socks with the leggings and the cute boots!
Elena
Very cute, love it. Question: How did you know to mix red & tan fabric dye? I notice your very adept at doin this…practice?
ReFashionista
I just play. 🙂
Becky
Jilly, I follow you all the time but never comment. I had to this time because this is a “wow, you hit it out of the park” dress!!!
Kiki
Love this! Though I never see a bad refashion. You are brilliant!
Tasha
Cute! Adding elastic usually makes me feel like it’s kind of a silly way out of a poorly fitted garment, but it really does work in cases like this.
I am not sure if you are aware, but “spastic” is generally considered an offensive term towards people with disabilities.
ReFashionista
You know what? I definitely don’t want to be a jerk, so I’m going to change it right now! 🙂
Alison
I’m so glad you changed the title. i couldn’t believe it when the original dropped into my mailbox.
Jen
My daughter is special needs with Spastic Quadriplegia, a form of cerebral palsey (her muscles are all tight so she has a very hard time making them do what she wants them to do, so she can’t walk or talk, but can stand or sit with help). I have never heard it used as a offensive term, only as an actual medical term. And we took no offense to this.
ReFashionista
I think it’s just a British thing, (sort of like how the word for cigarette there is extremely offensive here). I have a lot of readers from across the big pond, and am glad I know about this alternate meaning for the word. And I certainly didn’t meant to hurt anyone’s feelings.
wallynanna
awesome sauce. cute dress!!