How to sew a slip
This season there are so many sheer tops and sheer dresses showing up in stores. The trouble is that you need to wear something underneath those sheer tops and dresses!
I just got this silk sheer dress last weekend but all I had was a white camisole/tank top - which would not work and clearly you can see right through it :) So a slip is going to be perfect!
Since I want to wear this dress tonight I had to take action and make a slip today! I went to JoAnn's fabric and bought an ecru knit that was $5.99 a yard - on sale for $2.99 - and I bought one yard. The fabric was 60 inches wide.
Here's a tutorial so you can easily sew a slip for yourself!
TUTORIAL: How to sew a slip (size XS is shown)
1. Gather materials: 1 yard of 60" wide knit fabric, measuring tape, scissors, pins, fabric marker, ballpoint needle, thread, sewing machine, camisole/tank that fits you
2. Measure the length from the top of your shoulder to the top of your knee (you can measure higher or lower here as needed) Write that down. My measurement is 29 inches (I'm petite)
3. Fold your camisole in half so you are looking at the front of it. Take the right selvaged edge of your knit and fold it over towards the left until you can lay your camisole on the fabric, along the fold.
4. Trace around the bust, underarm and down the side of the camisole one inch away from the side. (HINTS: I do not want my slip skin tight like a camisole, so I added an inch of width. I also rounded off the upper bust into a slight curve so the binding will sew on easier. Measure from the top of the straps to the final length you want your slip to be plus 1 inch. (Mine was 29 inches long, so I measured down 30 inches.) Continue tracing down the side until you reach that mark. Then draw a line perpendicular to the fold for your slip's bottom hem.
5. Cut around your drawn lines. Repeat until you have 2 pieces for your slip.
7. Lay your slip pattern pieces right sides together and pin down ONE side seam.
8. Pin each strap in half right sides together (so they are each 3/4 inch wide) and pin down each long side.
Serge if desired. Trim threads. Turn straps right side out. Press straps and press seam of the slip open with an iron.
10. Spread out your slip right side up. Measure across the top border of your slip and add 2 inches. I need 33 inches + 2 inches = 35 inches. Cut a piece of knit 1 inch wide by the length you need. I need 35 inches. This is your binding.
11. Fold your binding in half and pin your binding from one side to the other along the top of your slip with right sides together. Sew along your pinned edge using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Press binding up with an iron and press the seam down towards the bottom of the slip.
Topstitch 1/8 inch below the binding seam to secure the binding in place with a straight stitch.
12. Lay your slip right sides together and pin down the remaining side seam. Sew using a 3/8 inch seam allowance.
13. Pin straps on the inside of the slip at the front and back according to the strap placement on your camisole tank. You want the raw edges to overlap the binding seam 1/4 an inch.
14. Sew on each strap.
15. See the difference? Now go out and WEAR it!!
Love it? Pin it!
