Waistband
Definition
A waistband is the band of fabric that finishes the top edge of a skirt or pair of trousers, holding it at the waist with a closure or elastic.
A waistband is usually a straight strip folded in half lengthwise and sewn to the waist seam, with interfacing for firmness. On curved or low waists, a contoured waistband, cut in shaped pieces, follows the body better, and some garments replace the band with a facing.
Typical dimensions for a straight waistband:
- Finished width: 2.5 to 4 cm (1 to 1 1/2 in); cut it twice that plus two seam allowances.
- Length: your waist measurement plus 1 to 2 cm (3/8 to 3/4 in) of ease, plus an overlap of 3 to 4 cm (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in) for the button or hook, plus seam allowances.
- Interfacing: fuse it to the half that will be on the outside, or to the whole band on soft fabrics.
Sewly gives large plain rectangles such as waistbands as cutting dimensions instead of printing them, to save paper: you measure and mark them directly on the fabric.
Elastic waistbands are a different construction: the elastic sits in a casing or is sewn to the band, and no closure is needed. Skirts such as the A-line skirt can be made with a waistband and zip or with a pull-on elastic waist. To size elastic, use the elastic length calculator.