My Sewing Room: Side Drawstring Yoga Waistband {a tutorial}

Every time I am asked to test a pattern or that I make something that I love I think, I should put this on my blog. You know, this one .. the one I created 2 years ago to use as my sewing journal .. this one that has one previous post from the day I set it up .. 2 years ago and 100 garments and bags etc. later.

Well folks, today is the day!!

I feel that with this latest pattern from Sarah at EmmyLouBeeDoo that I am testing, I actually have something to contribute. A tutorial of sorts. Actually two tutorials in one. The first may be something new to you but the other is just an easy method I use that I thought I would share.

Side Drawstring Yoga Waistband

(*This is my first attempt at a tutorial. If something seems off or doesn't make sense, please let me know.)

Here we go...

You should have already marked the quarter marks on your knit waistband.

Fold the waistband in half as if you were getting ready to sew it on.

We will be using the side quarter marks for placement of the drawstring.

Using the fabric marker of your choice, draw a straight line from the raw bottom edge up to ~0.5 inch from the top fold of the waistband.

Draw another straight line from the raw bottom edge all the way to the top folded edge 0.5 inch on both sides of your first line.

Mark a line 0.75 inch from the raw bottom edge. This is where you will need to make holes for your drawstring to come out of the waistband.

Unfold your waistband and make your holes on the outside only. Do not sew through both layers. I used the eyelet maker function on my machine. You could use tiny buttonholes, metal eyelets or any other method you fancy.

I used a tiny scrap of interfacing on the back to stabilize my eyelets.

Carefully cut your holes open making sure to only cut through the outside layer.

Fold your waistband in half again and stitch through both layers on the lines you drew. Back stitch several times at the top of the center line. This will create the channels for the drawstring.

Before sewing make sure all of your quarter marks are matching and the band is folded neatly.

Outside

Inside (notice, no eyelets)

Make your drawstring. Or use what you'd like. You can buy drawstring by the yard at most fabric shops. I use 1 inch strips of fabric.

And here is where you will find my second ~~somewhat~~ tutorial.

Turning these tiny tubes is no easy task to say the least. You can purchase a tube turner doo-dad that I hear is fab. I don't have one so this is my method. Fold the strip in half with wrong sides together and press. Place a piece of yarn inside of your fold as far away from the long raw edges that you will be sewing as possible. Leave some yarn hanging out of both short ends.

Stitch across the yarn at one short end of your tube and try not to stitch on the yarn as you sew the long seam.

Pull the sewn short end inside from the open end with the yarn that is hanging out. You will have to finagle it a little to get it started but then it will just slide right through.

I cut the sewn end off and that removes the yarn and leaves a lovely turned tube. I tuck the raw ends back up inside of the tube and tie a knot on the end after I have threaded the drawstring through whatever it is I am making. You could sew them closed also. TaDa!

You will want to make the channels on both sides of the waistband and sew it onto your pants before inserting your drawstrings.

Attach a small safety pin to one end of the drawstring and insert it into one of your eyelets.

Feed the drawstring up and around the shorter middle stitch and back down the other side. This can be a little tricky but go slow and easy around the curve. I know you can do it!