1. Braided elastic: Braided elastic is probably what most of us think of when picturing elastic. It has parallel ribs going along the length of the elastic and it narrows when stretched. It also looses its stretch when pierced with a needle, so it’s not the best choice for sewing through. Braided elastic is commonly used inside casings, such as the necklines shown in the dresses at the top of this post, or in sleeve hems.

2. Knit elastic: : Knit elastic is a good choice for a lot of garments. It’s soft against the skin, doesn’t narrow when stretched and you can sew through it with without weakening or distorting the elastic. Knit elastics are suitable for light to mid-weight fabrics

3. Woven elastic: Woven elastic is stronger than the other elastics previously mentioned and can be used on mid- to heavy-weight fabrics. Woven elastic has the distinctive vertical and horizontal ribs and is often labeled as “no-roll” elastic.

4. Fold over elastic: Fold-over elastic (commonly called FOE) is a great way to finish edges on stretch fabrics or garments where you want a smooth close fit that still retains the stretch..

5. Lingerie elastic: Elastic for lingerie is a subcategory in the elastic world. Most commonly knit elastic, it comes in a lot of different colors and textures and is designed for bras, undies and lingerie..