Elastic: Beginner’s guide(Part II)

There are many types of elastic used for the waist and cuffs of clothes.

There are various uses for elastic, such as putting it inside clothes or showing it on the front.

In this article, we would like to introduce how to choose the right elastic for such uses and purposes.

In Part I, we have talked about elastic cord, so this time, let’s discuss flat elastic together!

Knitted Elastic

Braided elastic is an elastic made by knitting warp threads on a warp knitting machine. When braided elastic is pulled, it appears transparent like gauze, and is characterized by its thinness and high breathability. It also has the advantage of being quick-drying compared to other types of elastic.

Braided elastic

Braided elastic is produced by assembling threads on a lacing machine.

While other flat elastic sizes are denoted in MM, call elastic is denoted in 4-call or 6-call if the number of strands of elastic used is 4. The width varies depending on the thickness of the elastic used, so even if the same 4-calls are made by different manufacturers, the width may be different.

B101 Lycra Soft [elastic] 500 BRAIDS & WEBBING

You can see this article: Braided Elastic: How to select the right one for your design for more detailed information about braided elastic.

What is a well-designed flat elastic?

So far we have mainly introduced elastic to be put inside clothes, but are there also highly decorative elastics .What kind of elastic can be used for waist belts? Let’s find out together!

Lycra 

You often see “Lycra used” written on some of the elastic band. LYCRA is a synthetic fiber classified as polyurethane developed by Toray Industries, Inc.

LYCRA® fiber is “a synthetic fiber that is as thin and transparent as spider silk and has excellent elasticity, stretching up to 4 to 7 times its original length when pulled, and quickly returning to its original length when the force is relaxed. (From Toray Operontex Co., Ltd. website)

Some of the advantages of LYCRA elastic are

• Fewer thread breaks during sewing
• Resistant to deterioration even after dry cleaning
• Less shrinkage even when washed or left in nature due to its special finish.
• The special finish reduces shrinkage even when washed or left in the natural environment.

It is recommended to iron Lycra at 120℃ or less as chlorine bleach may deteriorate the elastic.

Conclusion

In this article, we have introduced the classification of elastics and the applications suitable for each type of elastic.

There are still many variations so please visit ApparelX Elastic product list!