What's the best way to ruin the elastic in the waist of a sweatshirt?

Surround yourself with “clingy” 3 year olds.

You could try ironing with a high heat/steam setting while you stretch it out as much as you can.

Next time, buy a different brand. Seriously.

Why not take the inside of the shirt near and slice into it enough to cut through the elastic. The material that you cut schouldnt fray but you could stitch it up if you want.

I’m not that desperate yet, @stanleybmanly. :)

I buy 2nd hand exclusively, @zenvelo, so I don’t always get to pick the brand. I had thought of ironing them, the steam is a good touch.

Net one I get disgusted with, I’ll try that, @Unbroken.

I did my undies in by using too much bleach.

If you go with the steam idea I would a freeze aspect… Steam freeze rinse repeat…

Yeah, I’m not going that route, @RocketGuy Go check out the “Deal with failure?” thread.

Freezing is a great idea that I hadn’t thought of. Boiling water, too. Maybe stretch the band out and pour boiling water through it?! Thanks, @Unbroken.

I don’t actually know what I’m talking about @ibstubro so let us know what happens.

Well, you’re pulling great stuff out of your as hat, @Unbroken. I think it’s possible the freezer alone might work. If so, I could just hang them outside in winter and ruin them on the line!

I pulled a sweatshirt from the closet today with with elastic waste. Below zero tonight so I’m hanging it outside. Tomorrow I will stretch the frozen elastic before I bring it inside.

Fingers crossed.

How did it work out? I’ve been anxiously waiting by my keyboard for 9 months.

I’m guessing the elastic did not break in the cold. It is designed to work in cold weather.

Oh, no, the freezing did not work.
Nor the boiling.

It seems that on the older sweatshirts it’s not just the elastic drawing the waist in. The band itself is smaller than the bottom of the shirt, so that the shirt is gathered as it’s sewn. When you stretch them to the limit, they appear the same and is seems as though you can ruin the ‘draw’, but in fact you can’t. It would require breaking the stitching, i.e. ruining the shirt.

Thanks for the follow-up!