Prym 977770 Knitting-in Elastic Instruction Manual

1. Introduction

The Prym 977770 Knitting-in Elastic is a versatile transparent elastic thread designed for various textile crafts, primarily knitting and crocheting. This elastic provides flexibility and shape retention to your handmade projects. Its transparent nature allows it to blend seamlessly with different yarn colors, making it an ideal choice for adding stretch without altering the visual appearance of your work.

2. Product Overview

The Prym 977770 Knitting-in Elastic is supplied on a spool, offering 200 meters of transparent polyester elastic. It is specifically formulated to be integrated directly into knitted or crocheted fabrics, enhancing their elasticity and durability. This product is suitable for a wide range of applications where a subtle, flexible finish is desired.

Image: A spool of transparent Prym Knitting-in Elastic, 200m length.

Key Features:

• Material: 100% Polyester
• Length: 200 meters (approximately 7874 inches)
• Color: Transparent
• Application: Designed for knitting and crocheting, also suitable for shirring and other sewing applications requiring elasticity.
• Durability: Provides lasting stretch and shape retention.

3. Setup & Preparation

Before incorporating the elastic into your project, ensure your tools are ready. For knitting or crocheting, the elastic can be held together with your main yarn. For machine sewing applications like shirring, the elastic thread is typically wound onto a bobbin.

Winding Elastic Thread onto a Bobbin (for machine sewing/shirring):

1. Prepare the Bobbin: Take an empty bobbin compatible with your sewing machine.
2. Manual Winding: Do not use the automatic bobbin winder on your sewing machine for elastic thread. Instead, manually wind the elastic thread onto the bobbin. Hold the elastic with slight tension as you wind to ensure it is taut but not overly stretched.
3. Fill the Bobbin: Wind enough elastic thread to complete your project or a significant section.
4. Insert Bobbin: Place the wound bobbin into the bobbin case of your sewing machine as per your machine's instructions.

4. Operating Instructions

For Knitting and Crocheting:

The Prym Knitting-in Elastic is designed to be worked directly into your knitted or crocheted fabric. This method is ideal for adding elasticity to cuffs, necklines, waistbands, or any area where a flexible edge is desired.

1. Combine Threads: Hold the elastic thread together with your working yarn. Treat both threads as a single strand.
2. Knit/Crochet as Usual: Proceed with your knitting or crocheting pattern as you normally would, ensuring the elastic is consistently incorporated into each stitch.
3. Tension: Maintain a consistent tension. The elastic should be held taut enough to provide stretch but not so tight that it distorts the fabric or makes it too rigid.
4. Finishing: Once your project is complete, secure the elastic ends as you would with regular yarn.

This method creates a subtle, invisible elastic effect within the fabric, allowing it to stretch and recover its shape.

For Shirring with a Sewing Machine:

Shirring creates decorative gathers and elasticity in fabric, commonly used for garments like dresses and blouses. This technique uses elastic thread in the bobbin.

1. Thread the Machine: Use regular sewing thread in the needle and the elastic thread (wound onto a bobbin as described in Setup) in the bobbin.
2. Adjust Tension: Set your sewing machine's upper thread tension to a higher number (e.g., 4-5) to allow the bobbin elastic to pull the fabric. Test on a scrap piece first.
3. Stitch Length: Use a longer stitch length (e.g., 3.0-4.0) for more pronounced shirring.
4. Sewing: Sew parallel lines across the fabric where you want the shirring. The elastic in the bobbin will automatically gather the fabric as you sew.
5. Steam/Iron: After sewing, gently steam or iron the shirred area to encourage the elastic to contract and create a more defined gather.

5. Care & Maintenance

To ensure the longevity and performance of your projects made with Prym Knitting-in Elastic, follow these care instructions:

• Washing: Garments or items incorporating this elastic can be machine washed. Use a gentle cycle with cold or warm water.
• Drying: Air drying is recommended to preserve the elastic's integrity. If using a dryer, select a low heat setting.
• Ironing: Iron on a low to medium heat setting, avoiding direct contact with the elastic if possible, especially if it is exposed.
• Bleach: Avoid using bleach, as it can degrade the elastic fibers.

6. Specifications

7. Troubleshooting

While Prym Knitting-in Elastic is generally easy to use, here are some common issues and solutions:

• Elastic not stretching enough: Ensure you are not winding the elastic too tightly onto the bobbin (for sewing) or pulling it too taut when knitting/crocheting. A looser tension might be required.
• Fabric puckering excessively (sewing): Adjust your sewing machine's upper thread tension. A slightly lower tension might reduce excessive puckering. Also, ensure your stitch length is appropriate for the desired shirring effect.
• Elastic breaking: Check for any sharp edges on your knitting needles, crochet hooks, or sewing machine components that might be snagging the elastic. Ensure the elastic is not being overstretched during use.
• Elastic visible in project: While transparent, in some very dark or very light, thin fabrics, it might be slightly visible. Consider using a matching color elastic thread if transparency is not sufficient for your specific project.

8. Support & Warranty

For further assistance or inquiries regarding your Prym Knitting-in Elastic, please visit the official Prym store or contact their customer support.

Prym Store: Visit the Prym Store on Amazon

No specific warranty information is provided for this product. Please refer to the retailer's return policy for details on returns or exchanges.