Anyone about who's experienced in sewing with elastic thread?

[lucysmam]

I've been working on a blouse over the past couple of weeks & it uses sherring elastic to add definition at the waist.

However, when I lift my arms, the top then stays up where the elastic is & I have to pull it back down again which is irritating me.

Does anyone know if using a longer stitch length might loosen it a bit? So it comes back down again when I put my arms back down (no I'm not wandering round with my arms up but if I reach for something it's going to lift and irritate me).

I like the style of the blouse & would like to make another in a better quality fabric maybe, but only if I can figure this part out :)

bump :)

I don't think a longer stitch would help make it looser but potentially less rows of shirring would as the more rows and the closer they are the tighter the elasticated effect gets.

@TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 it's interesting you say that - when I re-did it, this afternoon, I noticed that my first row was rather loose. Then when I tried it on, it did the funny lifting up thing.

I wonder if 3 rows, with slightly more distance would be better. Or even just the two outermost rows?

(I've attached a bad photo that I got dd2 to take last week when I was trying to work out how to make it not do it as well)

Ignore the sleeves - they're also a work in progress

I think 3 rows equally distanced could work.

With that style of top, I'd almost be tempted to leave out the elastic, add some belt loops and a fabric belt In the same or a complementary fabric. That would give you the waist cinching but you could adapt the tightness to your comfort level.

The belt could either tie or use a plastic/wood buckle.

ooh, I like that idea! And, I think I should have enough of the same fabric to make a belt.

I might just try the middle row tomorrow and, if it's still frustrating me, then make a belt instead!

In fact, I like the idea so much I'm wondering about navy with a pale pink belt next time maybe!