Here is a QUICK tutorial on how to use fold over elastic OR FOE! You can use this on my new Emma pattern in place of the lingerie elastic or the clean band option.

FOE is widely available and inexpensive, so it is a good alternative to the lingerie elastic if you can’t find the right color or need to order online. FOE has a line down the center and that is where it folds. You cut your FOE the same measurement in the tutorial for the lingerie elastic. I’ll be showing how to do the sleeve edge in this tutorial, but you can use the same method on the neck. Give your elastic a few stretches to prep. Fold your sleeve in half to find center and your FOE piece in half to find center. Match centers and pin, just like in the tutorial for the lingerie elastic.

Place the wrong side of your sleeve edge along the center line, on the wrong side of your FOE. Note there is a shiny side and a matte side to the FOE, it doesn’t matter which side you want to show, it’s all preference!

Now you will need to stretch the end of the FOE to the end of your sleeve and zig zag stitch in place.. Remember to stretch the FOE only and not your sleeve.

Now fold your elastic OVER the stitching on the sleeve edge and zig zag stitch in place. You will have to stretch your elastic again as you stitch to fit.

I think the FOE is a little trickier to work with, but with practice it becomes an easy way to finish off knits. I would practice on scraps a few times before you start on your dress! It looks OH SO cute on the Emma dress, so give it a try!