Finery and Frippery

For most of my life, I paid as little attention to clothing as possible.

( random autobiographical rambling behind the cut )

Which brings me to my current predicament: a number of the broomstick skirts purchased when I was first building a teaching wardrobe (read: the first time I both needed business-casual sorts of clothes and had the money available to buy them) have entered one of the typical failure modes for such items of clothing. The elastic has failed. To my chagrin, on at least three of the skirts the elastic is the only thing that has failed on the skirt; it is otherwise perfectly serviceable, without rips or stains.

Now, the ones that have obvious fatigue or other issues, I am perfectly willing to retire. But there are those three that I really would prefer not to send to the fabric-scrap pile without at least trying to revive them. So, those of you who are somewhat familiar with sewing: how difficult would it be to either replace the elastic, or, failing that, add a drawstring to the skirt? Can the second be done without cutting multiple holes in the waistband? Is there anyone local with a sewing machine who can give me a hand?

Finery and Frippery

For most of my life, I paid as little attention to clothing as possible.

( random autobiographical rambling behind the cut )

Which brings me to my current predicament: a number of the broomstick skirts purchased when I was first building a teaching wardrobe (read: the first time I both needed business-casual sorts of clothes and had the money available to buy them) have entered one of the typical failure modes for such items of clothing. The elastic has failed. To my chagrin, on at least three of the skirts the elastic is the only thing that has failed on the skirt; it is otherwise perfectly serviceable, without rips or stains.

Now, the ones that have obvious fatigue or other issues, I am perfectly willing to retire. But there are those three that I really would prefer not to send to the fabric-scrap pile without at least trying to revive them. So, those of you who are somewhat familiar with sewing: how difficult would it be to either replace the elastic, or, failing that, add a drawstring to the skirt? Can the second be done without cutting multiple holes in the waistband? Is there anyone local with a sewing machine who can give me a hand?