I've been mulling over in my mind the idea of sewing some training pants for DS, but the thing that I don't understand so well - or, at least I wouldn't be confident about, is the elastic. I COULD just go for it, and experiment, and take a lot of time and maybe waste fabric to figure it out, or I could just ask all you wonderful sewing mamas!

IS there a typical ratio of the length of elastic you should use to the length of the fabric edge to which you will be attaching it?

And if you're creating a pattern based on body dimensions... how can you ensure that the elastic/fabric lengths provide a tight-enough fit without being too tight?

What I'm hoping to sew is something based on the size and fit of the underwear that we've been using with him. I have some PUL, and so I was thinking about an outer layer of PUL with a thin inner layer - but the legs need to fit securely enough to prevent any squishy stuff from coming out, should he be in that situation... He's basically potty-trained at home, but we can't trust that we won't have accidents when we're out.

ANY and ALL advice would be welcome! (And if you know of a pattern that would make such training pants - VERY thin like undies, able to fit a VERY thin little boy... I'm open for any help!)

I just used the waist and thigh measurements as guide for cutting the elastic. If you're using Fold Over Elastic, only stretch the areas that need give (i.e., waist and thighs), and use the rest as a trim without stretching.

When you get to the point that needs to be stretched, sink your needle into the fabric and GENTLY stretch the elastic as your sewing that particular area.

With regular elastic and lastin (swimsuit elastic) tack and anchor at one end and gently stretch while sewing until you get to the other side. Then anchor the other side.

NOW THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: Use a WIDE Zig Zag stitch to apply any elastic. This way the thread gives as the elastic is stretced.

Here are some pictorials to help you out, too:

~*~ EasterBunz ~*~ (http://easterbunz.com/trainers.php?osCsid=ce6b6fbb9cbbc10ec5aa156bba3e93 88)

Cloth Diaper Fabric, Diaper Patterns, Cloth Diaper Sewing, Sewing Cloth Diapers - Product » Foldover Elastic Binding (http://www.diapershop.com/index.php/action/item/id/140/prevaction/category/previd/18/prevstart/0/)

HTH,

Angela

Thanks! That was really helpful - and yes, I think I'm going to get some fold over elastic if I pursue this project. I already have some regular elastic and thought about being thrifty... but the fold over would really be more suited to what I'm doing.