It seems like everyone in the sewing world is loving lingerie right now. It\’s a movement! I find it interesting to watch these trends–remember a couple years ago when everyone was making \”cake\”? And I think \”capsule\” or super-organized wardrobe planning sewing started last year and is still sort of popular, but no where near as popular as bra-making. Almost every day there\’s bras all over my bloglovin\’ feed!
I\’m not quite ready to start making bras (stretch fabrics scare me) but a slip? I can manage that.
This is Simplicity 4218, a lingerie collection from the late 50s or early 60s. The pattern\’s Vintage Patterns Wiki site has an interesting note, saying \”Instructions indicate a Copyright date of 1958, although the pattern number would indicate a 1960s issue or re-issue.\” Hmm.
You may recognize the fabric I used from my last post–it\’s left over silk/cotton from my wedding dress!
I\’m currently working on the full slip as well, and both have sort of weird finishing. I\’ve been going along with it in some places (this exposed elastic waistband) and ignoring it in others (topstitching just doesn\’t look good on a silk full slip!). I think for a slip, this is a fine method, but not the most lovely I\’ve ever seen. I wouldn\’t dare try and unpick all those triple zig zag stitches, but if I made this again, I would just make a little casing with some more bias I think.
The interiors are french seamed (not called for in the instructions, but nice). Even with french seams, this was a very quick project. The hardest part, I thought, was cutting out the bias silk/cotton (I think it\’s 65% silk/45% cotton). I used lots of pins and my roller cutter, and it only took me a few hours start to finish, and I think I will get a lot of wear out of it–I\’m always reaching for slips to wear under my full skirts and this is my first handmade one!
Do you wear slips? I find it very difficult to find practical slips that aren\’t shapewear! Half slips are a little more common, but especially for full slips, everything is either Victoria\’s Secret-style (i.e. not actually to wear under clothes) or shapewear, and if you find anything that isn\’t one of those, it\’s polyester and very ugly and utilitarian. I suppose that\’s why we sew!
That's lovely! I've been meaning to make a slip too – I've done a fair bit of bra-making now, so I'm almost intimidated when I look at the long slippery seams I'll have to sew on my charmeuse full slip! I really love lingerie sewing though, I see it as a great excuse to do really delicate pretty sewing that garments and outerwear don't often call for 🙂
You have inspired me to make a slip. Thank you!
I've had a full slip in mind for a while but its just not as exciting as some other things and I'm a bit clueless on picking a fabric. I didn't consider something like silk on a bias. You always give me good ideas.
So pretty! I haven't made a slip before, you can find them quite easily over here so I've never had the need to. I might try it one day though.
It's kind of boring but it nice if you want a relaxing hand sewing project, it's perfect!
Bra-making is not one of my skills, but a slip is a great way to practice your hand sewing! Mine has improving a lot now that I've been practicing–imagine that!
It was pretty easy! I think the cotton content in my fabric makes it less slippery than most silky fabrics.
I'm jealous! Slips are impossible to find here it seems. Last winter I accidentally forgot a slip while wearing tights and a cotton sateen skirt and thought I would just pop in to a department store for one but there were NONE anywhere! It's nice to have a nice silk one though as the one I do have is a slippery poly knit.
I just bought this pattern and have loved reading both of your blog pieces on it! I'm excited to try this pattern traditionally as you did. But also as a straight up dress using more structured fabrics! TY for all this work!