a method for applying self - adhering elastic strips to a flexible base material includes adhering a tensioned first strip of the self - adhering elastic material to a flexible base material by sandwiching a less - or untensioned strip of the self - adhering elastic material between the tensioned strip and the base material . tensioning the first strip in order to impart a sufficiently high degree of elasticization to the base material reduces the inherent strength of adhesion of the strip to the base material . accordingly , the less - or untensioned intermediate strip insures good adhesion strength of the composite of the two strips to the base material . the resulting article comprises one having elasticized portions formed by adherence of the tensioned composite strip of self - adhering elastic material thereto .