Want to remove jersey elastic

[weathergal]

I'm practically the poster child for the pear shaped body type (12 1/2 inch difference between my waist and hips). Thus, I find elastic that they put on the hem of jerseys to be annoying in the extreme. It always ends up bunched up in a poof around my waist. I do have some jerseys that have no elastic and notches in the sides, which I find to be more comfortable and flattering. However, my elastic-waisted jerseys are pretty or cute (especially this one), and I don't want to get rid of them, just the elastic.

So before I get out my seam ripper, how should I handle this? Are these type of fabrics easy to re-hem? Can you use a regular sewing machine, or do you need a serger? Or is it better just to take it to a professional and have them alter it? I did take sewing in 4-H and home ec, but was never very good at it.

[Veronica]

I do mine at home. It's not always pretty or straight when I'm done. But that doesn't bother me.

V.

[Kano]

I LOVE that jersey! I need to get one for ME!!!!!

(I think the term was invented for me!)

You can do this at home -- and you don't need a serger. I'd suggest a narrow zig zag stitch for some stretch in the hem (I'd take the elastic out of the sleeves too, myself) and you can probably even open up the side seams a bit to put those "vent" things in if you want them without any problems. If your machine has a "bartack" stitch, do that at the top of the vents, otherwise, do a straight stitch across a couple of times with a fairly tight zig zag over that to make it look a little prettier!

OOOh, just thought of something to add -- there's a product called "Wonder Tape" that will wash out the first time you wash your jersey after you do this job. It's a double sided basting tape that will hold everything snugly in place so you can have a really neat job. The one called "Wonder Tape" is "cleaner" -- doesn't get your needle gummy, so you don't have problems with the thread breaking, so it's worth looking for that brand, even though it's a little more expensive than some of the others.

Karen in Boise

[weathergal]

Thanks for the tips! I guess I'm not going to be graded or receiving a ribbon on any of this, so I probably shouldn't stress out too much.

[annie]

I do mine at home, also. I'm short, so usually the jerseys are a bit long anyway. I cut right above the elastic, so no seam-ripping needed. Then stitch my own hem. I have occasionally made side slits, using a Shebeest sleeveless top as a pattern. But usually I'm too lazy to do that. and just re-hem. No elastic ride-up.

Annie

[Aggie_Ama]

I am just wondering if this is a simple as this sounds....

DH bought me a jersey without elastic for our anniversary and I absolutely love it! I rode 30 miles without needing to adjust my jersey. I only have 2 jerseys that the elastic doesn't drive me crazy, so I would like to alter the other 5 or 6. My mom is a pretty good seamstress, but I am concerned with the technical fabric. You all make it sound simple and I am not worried about it being perfect, but is it pretty easy?

[bmccasland]

Funny, that's what I was doing yesterday. I have this jersey: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20828
(Rosie the Riveter, if I messed up the link), and the elastic bottom winds up around my waist, thus driving me nuts. So after I washed it, I picked out the elastic, then rehemmed it, using a narrow zigzag stitch with a ball-point needle on my regular machine. (I don't have a serger anyway). I had hopes that a "lady's" cut would stay down but not all do. My team jersey I had to remove the elastic, but they only offered men's cut. Grumble.

[SouthernBelle]

Does anybody actually like elastic in the hem of their jerseys?

[Resi]

Does anybody actually like elastic in the hem of their jerseys?

NOOOOOOOOOOOO... I can't stand it. Thinking all the time to take the elastic out, it shouldn't be to difficult.

Maybe the Jersey maker should think of something better than this elastic which does not do what is should...

Resi

[Skierchickie]

I'm not entirely sure what the point of it is, anyway - other than to ride up. I was just faced with this problem yesterday - tried cutting little slits on the inside, and cutting the elastic, but found out it is sewn right into the hem. Grrrrr. My arms suffer the most, actually (too darn tight). I don't sew (okay, since home ec in jr high, and the two shower curtains I made 10 years ago - how hard can it be to sew two rectangles together?). I do have a 40 year old machine that I don't know how to use. I'll have to study Karen's instructions - hope I don't botch it!

Jan

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Does anybody actually like elastic in the hem of their jerseys?

Completely ANNOYING!!!!! Always slides right up to my waist too- the elastic is simply seeking the smallest circumference! What are they thinking?

[Aggie_Ama]

For some reason the Pearl Izumi Elastic stays at my hips. The rest of it- completely annoying! Even when I was 20 lbs lighter my jerseys were uncomfortable. My mom and I are going to try removing the elastic from a Primal Wear jersey I only paid $24 for. I really hope we can do it!