Elastic tape for clothing is essential in garment construction, providing flexibility, durability, and comfort. It’s used widely across fashion for everything from casual wear to sports gear, making it a versatile addition for any sewing enthusiast or professional designer. This guide explores what elastic tape is, its various uses and types, price considerations, and tips for sewing with it effectively.
What is Elastic Tape?
Elastic tape is a type of flexible, stretchy fabric strip used to add elasticity and comfort to garments. Made from materials such as polyester, rubber, or nylon, elastic tape provides a secure fit for clothing parts that need to stretch and retract with the body’s movements. It’s especially useful for achieving a comfortable yet snug fit in areas like waistbands, sleeves, hems, and necklines.
The elasticity in these tapes comes from rubber or spandex threads woven or knitted into the tape, allowing it to stretch significantly and return to its original shape. This makes elastic tape ideal for applications where the garment needs to be flexible but still maintain a defined shape. Additionally, elastic tape is available in various widths, thicknesses, and textures, allowing designers to choose the best match for different garments, whether for durability in workwear or softness in baby clothes.
Uses of Elastic Tape
Apparel Applications
Elastic tape is widely used in clothing design to add flexibility in areas that need a fitted yet comfortable feel, like waistbands, cuffs, and hems. In these applications, elastic tape provides a stretchable yet firm hold, allowing the clothing to move with the wearer while maintaining a tailored look. Its use in sportswear is notable because it enhances mobility without compromising on style or support. Whether it’s a skirt waistband, a fitted sleeve, or the hem of a jacket, elastic tape ensures the garment retains its shape while adapting to the body’s movements.
Decorative Edge Binding
Beyond functional uses, elastic tape also serves decorative purposes. For instance, fold-over elastic (FOE) tape can add a colorful, polished finish to garment edges, such as necklines and armholes. FOE is folded along the fabric edge and sewn into place, creating a clean, professional finish that also adds stretch. Decorative elastic tapes often come in various colors and patterns, allowing designers to incorporate a unique touch to the clothing’s finish. This makes them particularly popular in lingerie, dancewear, and fashion garments where both appearance and comfort are key.
Baby Clothing Applications
In baby clothing, elastic tape is an essential component because of its gentle stretch and comfort. Since baby clothes need to be soft, non-restrictive, and safe for sensitive skin, elastic tape is used in items like diaper covers, hats, and even mitten cuffs. The elasticity allows for easy dressing and undressing, while its softness ensures that there’s no irritation to a baby’s skin. Elastic tape is also lightweight, so it doesn’t add bulk to tiny garments, keeping them comfortable for the child to wear throughout the day.
Alternative for Binding and Piping
Elastic tape can replace traditional binding and piping in certain sewing projects, especially when stretch is needed around garment edges. For example, fold-over elastic can be used in place of standard binding on stretchy fabrics, providing a durable, flexible finish on lingerie, swimwear, and activewear. Elastic binding is particularly effective in areas that encounter frequent movement and wear, like the armholes and leg openings of athletic outfits. Its use in these areas ensures a comfortable, secure fit without restricting movement.
Accessories and More
Elastic tape has applications beyond clothing; it is also widely used in accessories. Hair ties, headbands, and stretchy bracelets are popular items made using elastic tape. These accessories benefit from the elasticity, allowing them to stretch over hair or wrists comfortably and securely. FOE is especially popular for creating hair ties, as it comes in a wide array of colors and patterns, making it ideal for decorative uses as well as practical purposes.
Variants of Elastic Tape
Elastic tape is available in multiple variations, each suited to specific purposes:
- Material Types: Elastic tapes are made from materials like rubber, polyester, or nylon. Rubber-based elastics are highly durable and offer strong stretch, making them suitable for heavy-duty garments like sports and workwear. Polyester and nylon elastics, on the other hand, are softer and more comfortable, commonly used in casual wear and baby clothing.
- Width and Thickness: Elastic tape varies in width from narrow bands, which are ideal for fine details like lingerie straps, to wide tapes suited for waistbands and heavy-duty garment sections. The thickness of the tape also affects its elasticity and strength, allowing designers to choose according to the garment’s functional requirements.
- Decorative Elastic: Some elastic tapes are designed with patterns, textures, or colors, making them visually appealing. These decorative elastics can enhance the aesthetic of any garment or accessory, making them suitable for uses where appearance is just as important as functionality, like lingerie and children’s wear.
Elastic Tape Price
The cost of elastic tape varies based on its material, width, and decorative features. Basic elastic tape for clothing typically starts around $0.50 per yard, making it an affordable choice for everyday sewing projects. More specialized tapes, such as fold-over elastic or decorative elastic with intricate patterns, can range from $1 to $3 per yard. For larger sewing projects, buying elastic tape in bulk is often cost-effective, reducing the price per yard significantly. Prices also differ depending on the tape’s elasticity strength and durability, with high-quality options priced higher due to their longevity and performance.
How to Sew Elastic Tape
Sewing on Stretchy Fabrics
When sewing elastic tape onto stretchy fabrics like knit or jersey, a zig-zag stitch is recommended. This stitch pattern accommodates the fabric’s natural stretch and prevents the seam from breaking. Stretch the elastic slightly as you sew to ensure a consistent gather and a secure fit. This method is ideal for waistbands, leggings, and any area that requires significant stretch.
Sewing on Non-Stretchy Fabrics
For non-stretchy fabrics, elastic tape can create a gathered, ruffled effect. When sewing, stretch the elastic tape lightly as you attach it to the fabric. Once relaxed, the tape pulls the fabric together, forming gentle gathers. This technique is popular in skirts, dresses, and tops where a decorative ruffle is desired.
Choosing the Right Elastic Tape
When selecting elastic tape for a project, consider the garment’s function, the area of application, and the wearer’s comfort. For items that require gentle elasticity, such as baby clothes, choose a soft elastic that won’t irritate the skin. For heavier-duty uses, such as waistband reinforcements, select a thick, durable elastic tape with strong recovery. Decorative elastic can be ideal for visible edges where both appearance and stretch are essential.
Elastic tape for clothing is an indispensable tool in garment design, blending flexibility, durability, and style. With numerous options to choose from, it’s easy to find elastic tape that suits the unique needs of any sewing project.