If you have a piece of clothing that just doesn’t seem to be fitting right because of the tight elastic, you can make some quick adjustments to better them for you. Luckily, you can make these adjustments without the use of a sewing machine. You can either stretch the elastic enough so that they fit comfortably, or you can entirely remove the elastic.
StepsMethod 1Method 1 of 3:Heating the Elastic
1Turn on the iron and dampen a cloth. You want your iron on and set to the highest setting. Run a face cloth or hand towel under water until it is damp, but not soaked.
[1]XResearch source[2]XResearch sourceAdvertisementMethod 2Method 2 of 3:Stretching the Elastic
1Find a chair. If you have a chair that is the right size to stretch the elastic, that will work perfectly. If you don’t have a chair that’s the right size, you can try using the side of a small table, an empty drawer, or an empty poster frame.
3Let it sit. Let your elastic sit, being stretched, for 24 hours. If the desired size still isn’t reached, put the elastic back in the stretched position and leave it for several days. Leave it in a warm place to help the elastic band stretch.[3]XResearch sourceAdvertisementMethod 3Method 3 of 3:Removing the Elastic[4]XResearch source[5]XResearch source5Pull the elastic out. If you want to still be able to tie the pants snugly, affix a long shoelace or ribbon to one end of the elastic using a safety pin. When you pull out the elastic, pull on the end without the ribbon. This will guide your new tie through the waistband. If you do not want a tie, then just slowly pull the elastic out, being careful not to catch a lose string and bunch your fabric. Once the elastic is out/replaced, your clothes are ready to wear.You can sew the slit closed if you want to, but it’s not a necessary step before you wear your clothes.Advertisement
