AboutSharon Vogel Expertise I can answer general sewing questions as well as tailoring, heirloom, menswear, children's wear, craft sewing, quilting and just about any fabric or notion. I can also help with some sewing machine repair and maintenance.
Experience I started sewing at the age of 3...thanks to my mom and grandmother, and I am now in my fifties. Home economics classes in junior high and high school helped me to finesse my skills.
Education/Credentials Palmer and Plesch tailoring class
Basically, self-taught...give me the instructions and I will figure it out and then make it better!
Awards and Honors A few blue ribbons at fairs along the way
Question how much elastic per inch should i use for gathering leggings and swim wear i know the elastic should be shorter thank you
Answer Dear Cindy,
In my experience, the tightness of elastic depends on the type of elastic used, the weight of the fabric and how tight you like it to be. Most patterns have you measure your waistline then cut it an inch shorter. I usually take a piece of elastic at least as long as the measurement of my waist, insert it in the casing and adjust it to fit then sew it together. The same would go for the leg openings of a swimsuit. But if the elastic is to be sewn in as you go, it is a little more difficult to judge the correct length. In that instance, I would wrap the elastic around the upper thigh and adjust to a comfortable tightness then allow about a half inch extra for overlap when cutting the length of elastic. Always allow extra length to overlap!
