Work in progress on Umbra from an old t-shirt. Not for showcase
It was an easy sew up to the point where I tried doing a knit band waist and leg finish. At the point I started having sewing machine mechanical issues and realizing that I need an entirely new set of skills for working with jersey knits. It’s far enough along to look at v2 with some minor sizing adjustments.
What I need help with:
What to look for in elastic trim for both waistband and leg. The black material used here is very stretchy and has a strong tendency to curl up. My keyword searches have yielded confusing results.
Suggestions for body fabric as well.
Suggestions for guides working with knits. I’d like to try some t-shirts as well but working with the black fabric (purchased from Michaels) was a bit like giving a cat a pill.
In the US, but if I have a better idea of what keywords to look for, it would make my search easier.
I’m a relative newbie, too, and I also find knits challenging. Surprisingly, I also have made a couple FreeSewing.eu underwear garments from old T-shirts. It’s a great way to learn without spending/wasting any money.
A knits expert may come along and give you/us some advice. I know that waistband elastic comes in many types, such as knit or woven and some are anti-roll, and they can feel to the user like anything between plastic-y and rough to silky & soft. My first ones all feel very rough. Sometimes patterns include options to cover the waistband with body or lining fabric so that it’s softer.
If you’re in north america, I use Wawak for a lot of sewing notions, and for underwear, there’s lingerie elastic that’s slightly fuzzy on the side that’s intended to touch your skin. The main issue is that most of it is narrow to be comfortable around leg openings, and the wider elastic often comes in limited color choices, so you might have to search around a bit to find what you want
Edit: I forgot to add that lingerie elastic comes in a bunch of styles, including fold-over, picot edge, silicone back, and more. It’s just thinner and more supple than regular waistband elastic for comfort and invisibility under your clothing
If you have any Vacuum and Sewing Centers near you, they’ve been stocking notions since Joanne closed. Maybe other places that sell sewing machines do too
I also did a search to see if Mood carries lingerie elastic, but they don’t have the kind I would use. I did find this online source for wider waistband elastic for underwear in a few colors, including black Lingerie Elastic | Surge Fabric Shop
I’ve never bought from Surge Fabrics, but as far as I can tell, they look legit
