Replies

1. 
   suesew | Jul 17, 2006 10:14pm | #1

   Remove the old elastic (which can be a miserable job.) Wind elastic thread onto your bobbbin (by hand) and leaving long tails on each end, sew the rows of elastic again using a long stitch. Now use those long tails to draw it up exactly as tight as you need and tie them off securely. Not my favorite job but it can be done.
   You can also sew a facing behind it by sewing along the existing stitching lines (pull them flat as you stitch them.) This will form rows of channels that you can thread narrow elastic through and this looks very similar to the smocked look.

1. 
   fgray | Jul 18, 2006 08:30am | #2

   Thanks!  I'll try that.  What size sewing machine needle?  (I am working on a dress made out of t-shirt knit that is kind of thin.)

    

   Fran

1. 
   suesew | Jul 18, 2006 07:06pm | #3

   Use a ball point or jersey needle whenever you sew on knits or elastic - for this fabric maybe a size 70 or 80. They will pierce the fabric and elastic instead of cutting their way through.