The Sewing Place

Elastic Confusion

Lolli

Elastic Confusion
« on: March 06, 2018, 10:46:20 AM »
I need some white 6mm elastic for leotards. I'm after knitted or woven (can't find knitted 6mm in white) and tried to look on eBay. The listings are confusing, some saying corded is woven, others saying corded is braided. Some saying it's flat others not. Looked on Google too and pages from USA have a different description also. I've been looking for an hour getting more and more confused the more I search. I'm pretty certain I'm over thinking it, please can anyone clarify because my mind and eyes are boggled  :S

Morgan

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2018, 15:42:20 PM »

You probably know most of this -

Braided elastic has fibres wrapped around cords or ribs of the stretch fibre.  The strands of stretch stuff are 'braided' into a strip.
It has distinctive parallel, lengthwise ribs and when stretched it loses it's shape and narrows across the width.  It loses it's shape and stretch retention when stitched through so is best used in casings, whether on waists, sleeve/leg edges.  Often it's described as 8cord (braided) elastic, 12 cord (braided) etc. as well as braided elastic. 

Cord elastic - Braided elastic cord is a round cord of elastic (one thick strand of stretch stuff or several thin strands ) covered with a braided (plaited) thin sheath.  For examples, think of thick or thin bungee cords, round covered stretch cords, round hat elastic, etc.

Knitted elastic is made by knitting an elasticated yarn (fibre wrapped around stretchy stuff).  It's possibly the quickest type of flat elastic to manufacture and has less 'stretchy' stuff in it than other forms of elastic because some of it's stretch comes from the knitted construction.  The stretchy stuff is more about recovery of the knitting if that makes sense.  It's usually quite soft, strong and lightweight.  I doesn't narrow when stretched and because of it's knit construction needle piercing doesn't alter it's shape so it's ideal for clothing in casements or directly stitched on. 

Woven elastic is strong and is often thicker than other elastic types.  It has a crisscross windowpane look because it has both crosswise and lengthwise ribs.  It stands up well to needle piercing which does not weaken it and it does not narrow when stretched.  It comes in a wide range of weights/sizes.  The lightweight types can be used on clothing and the thicker heavier woven elastics are used for home dec, bags, accessories, upholstery, car upholstery and other heavy duty applications.

Clear elastic is usually a transparent polyurethane.  It's a synthetic product and tends to be used for specialist applications.  It's very stretchy, recovers well but care has to be taken when applying it with stitching to keep needle penetrations to the minimum.

You can buy 6mm wide elastic in     woven,     knitted,   braided    and    clear (the links are examples only not recommendations)

The quality, life and recovery of elastics is related to what it's made of and the amount of the 'stretchy' product in it, which is usually rubber/latex or synthetic rubber.
For elastics in leotards, dancewear, activewear, etc.  it's recommended to choose better/best quality over cheapness.

« Last Edit: March 06, 2018, 15:48:41 PM by Morgan »

Lolli

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2018, 16:10:16 PM »
Thank you so much for that info. After reading that, I continued to look on the internet at online haberdashery shops and they also say woven 8 cord/woven 12 cord. So does that actually mean braided?
« Last Edit: March 06, 2018, 16:30:41 PM by Lolli »

sewingj

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2018, 16:13:17 PM »
Lolli - just to say - always listen to Morgan.  She knows Everything!

Morgan

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2018, 16:30:32 PM »
try phoning these people, at worst they can only say no.

Lolli

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2018, 18:01:09 PM »
Thank you

Lollipop

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2018, 19:07:16 PM »
Was Sewnanny

Lolli

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2018, 19:59:52 PM »
Lolli - just to say - always listen to Morgan.  She knows Everything!

I have lol. Through the links Morgan posted (as I could see what I was looking for) I've managed to order some

Lolli

Re: Elastic Confusion
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2018, 20:05:28 PM »
I got mine from here Lolli http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Fashion-Avenue-UK?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Do you buy the 7mm elastic?

Just looked at it properly and noticed it's 6mm. I think I've been far too specific with this elastic business (just didn't want to get it wrong). Oh well I got some woven stuff, will save that eBay seller for next time. Thanks Lollipop
« Last Edit: March 06, 2018, 21:11:58 PM by Lolli »