Sunday, August 02, 2009

Giving It The Slip


Slips are considered old fashioned by some, but all the same, there are times when I do not want transparency under my skirts (and not all my skirts are lined).

It's hard to find slips for sale in stores. (Being they're old fashioned and all.) The solution for me? This will shock you...I make them.

Here's how. Using PowerDry and some lace, along with some simple elastic, I cut a length of 43" by 16 1/2 " PowerDry. No need to cut two halves and sew them together at the side seams - I took a cue from the RTW slips I have and simply made them from one full length of fabric.

I cut the chosen length using the following rough formula. Since my hips measure 39 inches around, and I wanted 3 to 4 inches wearing ease (because PowerDry is not a very stretchy knit), and my seam allowance totalled 1/2 inch, that gave me about 3 1/2 inchesof wearing ease around the hip on the finished garment. Plenty, for this PowerDry garment, which I wanted very loose fitting. I wanted the finished length of my slip to be approximately 21 inches; my lace trim totalled 6 1/2 inches in length, and about 1/2 inch was taken up in length by the elastic waistband application. (I cut the elastic for the waistband about 4 inches smaller than my waist).

I applied the lace hem using a zigzag stitch. After sewing on the lace, I trimmed closely with applique scissors near the stitching. Then I sewed the side seam (again, one seam only was needed). Then I sewed my elastic in a circle then applied my elastic to the slip body, stretching the elastic to fit the slip fabric. I used my coverstitch machine to finish off the waistband elastic.

The colors are fun, and the PowerDry will make this a comfortable all-season garment.

9 comments:

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

I keep saying that I'm going to do this because like you say not everything is lined...and I never get around to it!

I love your magneta slip!!!

Gorgeous Things said...

I always recommend slips for semi-sheer or sheer garments. This is so pretty, and you can find lace/tricot in more blending colors.

Little Hunting Creek said...

What a good idea! I like slips too, and nice ones are so hard to find.

Liana said...

Beautiful slip! I make them too, and I can't imagine not having one handy when you need it.

Marie-Christine said...

Good for you! I cringe when I see everyone lining absolutely everything. A couple petticoats (or the pants equivalent) will do you for an entire wardrobe, and be a lot faster than linings it all.

gwensews said...

That's a very pretty slip. Unlined skirts need slips. I've made them also, and cami's to match.

Mardel said...

Nice slip. I make them too although I've not blogged about that...hmm. I like slips, and pretty slips at that and fondly remember when slips came in a lovely assortment. I can't imagine not having slips.

Pinkscissors said...

I thought I was the only woman left who wore slips!

Trudy said...

What a beautiful slip. Thanks so much for explaining how you do it because is so hard to find good slips at a reasonable price.

If you are interested, I just posted on my blog a few minutes ago how my week with my niece is going and I added some fun pictures of my kids at NASA Space Center in Houston.

View Barbara Elfman Bell's profile on LinkedIn