inserting elastic, cords

the jacket bottom would be the same. I use a tube turner tool ,I put the tube into the casing,push the fabric onto the tube till it's all gathered up on it, then I feed the elastic or in your case the cord down the center of the tube. There is a little pig tailed tool to grab the elastic or cord if you need help pulling it through. Once that is through I hold one end of the cord and the edge of the jacket and pull them off as one( assuming the cord and the jacket length are about the same or the cord is longer).When I do elastic waists,I secure the elastic onto the leading edge and then feed the fabric off onto the rest keeping it gathered until I get to the end and secure that end. The tube turner tools are not very long and the jacket may not all fit on it,maybe a length of pvc pipe would work as well. It just has to fit inside the casing.

Cindy, If possible, fold a string into the casing before you sew it. Then you can tie or safety pin the elastic to it and pull it through. Liz

Liz, that is simplicity itself, I love that idea. E

I use a bodkin, which gives me the opportunity to mutter "Odds bodkins" whilst I work. At one time in my life, I might not have realized that it was for sewing and pulling elastic, since it is a very efficient roach holder, but those days are in the past. It is long enough that you would not have to rely on sensitivity in your fingers to use it. I just love gadgets!

This should link to a picture of one.

I do that too. For narrower casings, I use what I was brought up to call a bodkin - don't know if it's the right name. It's like a completely blunt darning needle - you just thread the elastic through the eye and because there's no sharp point, it doesn't get caught in the fabric.

:) Trish

Thanks to all who responded! Many great ideas. This has really been a problem for me. In fact, it's a reason I can't hand quilt. I can't feel the needle coming through the underside of the quilt with my finger.

Thanks again, and if anyone else has ideas, please post!

Cindy

Re: inserting elastic, cords (Pogonip)

.. At one time in my life, I might not have realized that it was for sewing and pulling elastic, since it is a very efficient roach holder, but those days are in the past.

Joanne @ stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us

Ah, Cea - but did you inhale?

;) Trish

I believe that was what was called a "hitch-hiking head." Very effective in VW Beetles.

I picked up this shocking pink plastic thing, about a foot and a half long, with a plastic eye at one end. It is for threading cords and elastics through casings. It lay around in a drawer for a year, and I finally used it. Much better than a safety pin! The end opposite the eye is very easy to hold on to. I don't know what it is called, but I got it at Joanne's in California

liz young

Hi Liz,

That's the thing-a-ma-bob I was talking about. It's fine for lightweight fabrics, but it's more difficult (for me, at least) on items like corduroy. Maybe I'm just not using it right, but it seems too flimsy in heavier fabrics. I've made 2 cordoroy jackets thus far and would like to make 3 more, but am really dreading inserting the cording.

Thanks, though. I really appreciate everyone's input on this.

Cindy

really dreading inserting the cording.

Would it be possible for you to insert the cording before you stitch up the casing? Just lay the cording on the line where it is supposed to go, then carefully stitch to make sure you don't catch the cord in the seam?

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Thanks, I will probably try that! Sometimes it's hard for me to think outside the box!

Cindy

May I suggest that you baste the cording to the line so that it is easier to sew the casing. Perhaps glue pins, a very light application (fastest, of course) , or tack by hand with wash-away thread (gotta love that stuff!) .

Holly in Edmonton

all I used it on was some mattress ticking twill.

liz young

Thanks Holly,

Have never used wash-away thread but may have to get some!

Cindy

Hello

You will find the job easier if you attach the safety pin to a metal bodkin first. If you are not sure of the term get back to me.

Best wishes

Norman

wash away thread has become my absolute favorite sewing notion. I always baste my garments together first to test the fit, and make sure I am happy with everything, then sew permanently. It is way faster than hand basting, and pulls out easily after a shot of steam. I only use the wash away stuff in the bobbin since it is quite expensive.

When I have the seam lines exactly where I want them, I sew a needle-width inside of the basting line, then remove the basting. I rarely have to un-sew permanent seams. This has saved me hours of time and buckets of frustration. You do, of course, have to remember to change the bobbin when you are doing permanent sewing. I walked away from my machine for a bit, then came back to repair dh's pants pockets. they had to be repaired again after they were washed:)

Holly