The Best Fix for Worn Out Velvet Skirt Waistbands...Almost No-Sew!

Doodle T and Me!
by Doodle T and Me!
2 Materials
$10
30 Minutes
Easy

Ahh...Velvet Skirts...My Favorite...But the fabric is weighty and without a sturdy waistband to hold it securely at your waist, the skirt will easily slip down...Not a good look!


My Green and Red Velvet Skirts are old friends, but they were becoming cumbersome to wear - constantly slipping down and dragging around my ankles.


I was ready to donate them, until I realized that perhaps they can be saved...

Can the Problem of Old, Saggy Waistbands be Fixed?


Let's Try to Save these Skirts with a Simple DIY!


How to Refashion Velvet Skirts with New 1" Elastic!!


Ready??? Let's Go!!

First: With the New Elastic, Measure Your Waist...Cut a Strip of New 1" Elastic so that it snuggly encircles your waist.


1" Elastic...Amazon LINK.

Next: Cut a slit in the skirt waistband the width of the elastic...Carefully Pull Out the Old Elastic...YIKES! the Elastic in the Green Velvet was very dry and brittle...it was crumbling in my hands.

The Old Elastic was also totally stretched out...Compare the old elastic to the new - totally stretched out to almost 1 1/2 times the length...Wow!

With a pin attached to one end of the new elastic, gently work the elastic through the waistband.

Once through the waistband, pin the two elastic ends together to secure...

Now for Red Velvet Skirt...Same procedure as the Green Velvet...Snip the waistband...Pull out the old elastic...


Red Velvet Fabric...Amazon LINK.

Snip the Elastic and Remove the Elastic from the waistband...

The Red Velvet was a skirt I designed and sewed...but major "Elastic Mistake" in Construction...the elastic was too skimpy and thin and definitely not sturdy enough to hold up to the weight of the velvet...hopefully, the 1" elastic will be a welcomed improvement!

Pin one end of the 1" elastic and work through the waistband...

Secure the ends with the pin...

Now - Sew the Elastic ends together...

Simple...and Fast.

Trim off any excess elastic...And You're Ready to Go!!

Final Step: Insert the elastic back into the waistband...all neat and tidy.

Perfect!!!


No more Green Velvet Skirt slipping down and dragging around my feet...

And No More Hiking Up the Waistband of the Red Velvet Skirt..


The Velvet Skirts are Secure and Finally Fun to Wear...Again!


Hello Nutcracker Ballet - I'm Looking at You!!!


For All the Magic - Jeanne of Doodle T and Me!

Suggested materials:
  • 1" Elastic   (Amazon)
  • Red Velvet Fabric   (Amazon)

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Comments
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 2 comments
  • P P on Nov 07, 2022

    If you will stitch a few stitches, or pin, to attach the new elastic to one end of the old, then cut the old & pull the other end of the old, out, it will pull the new elastic thru & take less time than re-threading the new elastic thru with a safety pin or a bodkin!

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