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Member since 5/22/04
Posts: 509
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Posted on: 9/30/06 10:24 AM ET
Can/should I use clear elastic when my fabric has lycra? I looked up clear elastic on the boards and in Deepika's tip she specifically says "with no lycra in them." I need to finish the neck and armholes on a sleeveless dress. It is very stretchy so I want to stablize the finish. Or does the lycra take care of this so I don't need to worry? Thanks!
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 7614
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Posted on: 9/30/06 1:04 PM ET
It's OK to use clear elastic with fabric that have lycra. I can't imagine why you couldn't. I've done it a few times.
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Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com

If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 5885
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Posted on: 9/30/06 10:21 PM ET
I finish all sleeveless armholes on any lycra knit with elastic. Also scooped neckines. I ususally use 1/4 or 3/8 wide knit elastic. I haven't had the best luck with clear, I only use it for sheer knits such as glistenette.
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My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.
  
Member since 7/11/05
Posts: 3783
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Posted on: 10/1/06 3:23 AM ET
I've just made several tee shirts and tanks and used clear elastic on all of the shoulder seams and around most of the armscyes of sleeveless things to keep the armscyes from gaping/sagging/stretching out of shape--which is a constant problem for me--(that nasty bra-band exposure thing makes me NUTS on sleeveless tops.) I didn't bother using it on the armscyes of the lycra tops with sleeves--the recovery is good enough without it. My armhole-gaping problem is a function of my anatomy more than it is of fabric qualities. I don't have much trouble with necklines (but I WOULD consider using the clear elastic on ANY future crossover/wrap top.)

I have found that it is helpful to have an awl or another pointy thing on hand to poke the end securely under the presser foot at the beginning of stitching on some fabrics--but the lycra blends I used (from Wazoodle) were MUCH easier to apply it to than the softer, limper knits I used. The clear elastic seemed to "grip" the lycra and stay flat much more easily. My shoulder seams are fabulously stretchy and springy and my sleeveless tops are in no danger of becoming vulgarly over-exposing. YAY!!! I LOVE the stuff (clear elastic, I mean. Lycra too.)


A caveat: If you muck it up, it can be a terror to take out of looser, loftier knits. I do have one rib knit tank top wadder--my bad--not the elastic's fault.
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I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work.

Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer

Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage

St. Augustine
  
Member since 12/3/05
Posts: 6572
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Posted on: 10/2/06 9:35 AM ET
Last night I applied 1/4" twill tape around the armhole of the jacket I'm sewing to prevent it from stretching out of shape (a trick I learned from Sandra Betzina). However, it was very hard to follow the existing seam line and I ended up with a small bit of puckering in a couple of places where my new seam wandered off course.

It occurs to me that 1/4" clear elastic might do the trick. The advantage is that I could see through the elastic to see the underlying seam, especially if I had used a contrasting color of thread on the fabric below.

Do you think clear elastic would work well enough to keep the armhole of a jacket from stretching out of shape? I'm very tempted to try this the next time around so I don't have to risk the puckering.
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No sewing project is ever a complete success nor a total failure.
  
Member since 5/15/05
Posts: 1390
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Posted on: 10/2/06 10:02 AM ET
I have a terrible time using clear elastic. Do you use a 1:1 ratio when you guys use it on necklines and armsye's?
  
Member since 12/3/05
Posts: 6572
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Posted on: 10/2/06 10:25 AM ET
Yes Mermie, I use a 1 to 1 ratio without stretching the elastic. This prevents a garment from stretching out of shape and won't create unattractive gathers.
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No sewing project is ever a complete success nor a total failure.
  
Member since 5/15/05
Posts: 1390
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Posted on: 10/2/06 11:52 AM ET
In reply to nancy2001
Do you use a zig-zag stitch when you apply the clear elastic?
  
Member since 7/11/05
Posts: 3783
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Posted on: 10/2/06 7:14 PM ET
In reply to Mermie
Kathy,

I've only used it on knits and usually I a cutting it about an inch shorter than the opening I am applying it to. I usually run two passes of stitching. The first I do with a long straight stitch, holding the elastic very taut in front of the presser foot as I sew. I only use 4 pins (when I use them at all) Then I can kind of rearrange/re-destribute the fabric before I do the next pass using a tiny zig zag and a fairly long stitch length. ()n my ancient Singer, 10 to 12 stitches per inch.) The only thing I had trouble with the first few times was starting the seam, until I got out an awl/stiletto tool and used that to make sure the end of the elastic was flat and secure when I lowered the presser foot on it before I started to sew. Then I lower the needle into the first stitch with the handwheel.

I also mainly use a 1964 Singer that sews a perfectly straight & even stitch almost in spite of me, which I'm sure helps a lot.
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I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work.

Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer

Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage

St. Augustine
  
Member since 7/11/05
Posts: 3783
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Posted on: 10/2/06 7:32 PM ET
In reply to nancy2001
I'd give it a shot. It probably depends on the fabric. It is really sturdy stuff and IT snaps back with great recovery, but it also stretches WAAAYYYY out, which might not keep the fashion fabric from stretching too far with your reach. Now, I've only seen 1/4 inch clear elastic, but if there is a wider one, it might be more effective. I'm also a big fan of basting in things like sleeves first then redistributing any puckers before the final seam is sewn.

I have to admit, too, that twill tape scares me a bit. I'm more nervous about using that than elastic--just because it seems so....stable and tight. I'd probably have to work up to having the confidence to put it on a sleeve opening by practicing with lighter weight rayon seam binding for a while. It just seems to me it would be easier to manipulate around curves than twill tape. Twill tape just seems like an awful big committment to me!

I HAVE used the open weave but pretty stable "stay tape" that comes on rolls in the notions aisle. That's pretty easy to manipulate around curves, too, and you can kind of see through it as you sew. It seems to me the package is beige with red and black accents....can't remember who makes it but I got some at Joann's.
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I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work.

Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer

Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage

St. Augustine
  
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