Do you want to finish off sleeves, trouser legs or the neckline of your self-sewn clothing in an aesthetic and functional way? Then it's best to make a cuff. Elastic fabric cuffs are used on pants, jackets, sweaters, T-shirts and skirts to guarantee a good fit and provide a decorative finish. You can even sew an elasticated tube skirt from cuff material, which will not stretch out thanks to its elastic properties.
Different fabrics are available for different areas of use. In addition to soft jersey, which is mainly used for children's clothing, elasticated cuffs are particularly popular for finishing sleeves and skirts. Depending on the choice of fabric, you will need to use different formulas when measuring the cuffs to achieve the perfect length.
Cuffs – whether plain or ribbed – are available from any specialist fabric store. As the threads are knitted together as loops during production, the material has a high elasticity and is therefore ideal for creating a close-fitting finish to garments. So if a cuff on your sweater or T-shirt breaks, you don't have to dispose of the garment. With our tips for measuring the cuffs, you can easily repair the garment.
In addition to sleeves and trouser legs, cuffs are also used for hoods and inset pockets in sweaters or jackets. Cuffed fabric stretches considerably and must therefore be cut slightly shorter than the soft jersey. To measure the exact length of the cuff, first measure the area to be closed off by the material using a tape measure. Insert the measured value into the formula: Length of the neckline x 0.7. It is best to work with a ruler when cutting the waistband to size. As the fabric rolls up a little, you can use the ruler to straighten the material.
If you don't want to sew the waistband on for yourself, you can also measure the length of the waistband directly on the person. To do this, place the waistband on the garment you are wearing. It shouldn't be completely taut, but of course it shouldn't wrinkle either.
And another tip for more sustainability: sometimes a cuff that is still elastic can be reused on an old item of clothing. To do this, simply separate the fabric from the old garment and cut it to fit the new garment. Of course, this only works if the new project does not require a larger waistband than was sewn into the old garment.
Caption: With the right accessories and our tips, you can measure the length of your cuff in no time at all and move on to sewing.
Jersey is particularly suitable for the neckline of garments. The soft fabric is particularly suitable for children's clothing, as it is not too tight and therefore does not restrict the young wearer too much. Once you have measured the length of the area where the jersey waistband is to be attached, multiply this value by 0.8. The jersey waistband must be slightly longer than the waistband fabric, as the thinner material does not shrink as much. Once you have calculated the exact length and cut the waistband to size (tip: sharpen your scissors if necessary), you can start sewing.
Another tip from us: as jersey is a thin fabric, it is better to use an elastic band. This guarantees a good hold, especially when finishing off trouser legs, and the waistband remains stable for longer.