1911 - garter building

Garters make a corset more fun. I've decided to make the garters on this corset extra festive and cover them with aqua satin to match the bias trim. Covering the elastic is the same process no matter what width of garter hardware you are working with, you just make a tube of fabric that's cut longer than the elastic and slip the elastic inside. For these garters the covering is 11 inches long and the elastic is 7 inches, so it ruffles up but is not too bulky.

I often use bias trim to cover garters, just lay two 2 inch wide pieces together and stitch the length on both sides. The example is on the left in the photo below. For this corset I'm using pre-made satin binding because it was the only thing in all of JoAnn Fabrics that was the right shade of blue. It's silly to cut it the binding half and sew seams on both sides, so the satin is folded in half with a seam on one side. The example is in the center below. The end result for either technique is the same, a tube as wide as the garter hardware.

Of course the seam allowance should be pressed open. I have a wooden spoon that is only used to press seam allowances on tubes of fabric. It's the perfect tool for the job.

Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch and pull the tube right side out. Depending on how slippery your fabric is this may involve some swearing. Then press again. The elastic doesn't need to be as wide as the fabric covering it. I'm using 1 inch wide elastic and the fabric tube cover is 1 1/2 inches wide, so I sewed 1/4 inch from each side leaving just enough space for the elastic in the center. Pull the elastic through the tube and sew together at one end.

Bunch the covering up and trim the elastic to 7 inches. Don't cut a 7 inch piece of elastic first then slide it into the covering. Fishing out the short end is tedious. I know because I've done it. After you've trimmed the elastic secure it to the fabric at the other end.

Here's the covered elastic next to the tool used to pull it through, and also used for turning fabric tubes right side out. It makes those tasks much quicker than pushing things with a pencil or grasping with pliers.

The steps for assembling the garter hardware to the elastic are here. I couldn't write them any better a second time. Below is a partially constructed garter and a finished one.

How many of you sewing along are covering your garters?