Skip lining your sheer skirt by sewing a slip to go under it
Hey y’all – welcome to the last tutorial of What’s Underneath month – how to sew a half slip. Now, I realize that the number of people who wear slips is, well, slipping. While every woman used to have slips in her underwear drawer, now a days slips are optional as undergarments (and sometimes worn as outer garments).
Original post edited to add: I have received (and deleted) several comments that took this post as an invitation to tell other women what they “SHOULD” wear, and to that all I have to say is every woman should wear what makes them happy. Any future comments that are in the same vein will also be deleted.
But I still own a couple, and here’s why – wearing a half slip means I don’t have to sew a full lining for every skirt or dress I want to make out of voile or gauze or other sheer fabrics, which saves me both time and money in my sewing.
The skirt on this dress? Voile, with a slip underneath.
This skirt? Sheer crepe, with the same slip.
And while slips may not be sold in many stores any more, they’re super easy to make.
Want to make your own? You’ll need
- Fabric. I used nude swimsuit lining fabric to make this one. Depending on the length you want and your hip size, you’ll need 1/2 to 1 1/2 yards of fabric.
- Knit elastic, enough to go around your waist
Watch the video below for directions to sew your slip together. And if it won’t load or you’d prefer to watch on YouTube, you can find it here.
Kristie
I wear slips often. I like to have one that has a undershirt for the top, so I can wear it under all my sun dresses.
Thanks for sharing the how to.
Beth Kronlund
Oh my gosh – this was my very first 8th grade Home Ec project! No, I am NOT willing to admit how many years ago that was! Love that slips are coming back. Thanks Melly!!!
Lesley
Me too. After making an apron for Home Economics class we made a slip with a mantua lace seam on the hem. And two tucks to let it down over the years!
Mary
Waves hand – I still wear these with my dresses/skirts. Looks so much nicer. Thanks for posting this.
Terrie Taylor
Always wear a slip with my skirts or dresses. I think it looks better. I had no idea they no longer sold them.
Adelle
Yes I wear slips, it helps to stop my skirt sticking to my tights!
Cathy
My girls borrow mine on the rare occasion when they need one. Slips are hard to find in stores now and as I think ahead to my girls being out on their own (first is off to college in a year) I need to make some so they have them when they need one. I need to add it to my sewing list now so I’m finished in time!
Rosemary
What is even more scarce are ones in cotton. I’ve made my own for quite a while using one of my older slips as a pattern. I’v even made a long one!
Erin
I still wear slips under my skirts and dresses. They keep my dress from sticking to my undies! Thanks for the tutorial; most of my handed-down slips are in tatters.
Tanya
I am very modest, so I wear a slip under most dresses/skirts. Thanks for this tutorial…a couple of my slips are on their last leg! LOL!!
Claudia
I don’t wear slips, but I will be making a few of these. Why? Because I am going to be a 1st time Grandma in May! My daughter’s loved to go into my Mom’s drawers and get her slips for dress up! I want my Granddaughter, Diana, to get the same fun out of slips that my daughters had.
Thank you Melly for such an awesome post!
Learningnewtricks
I look forward to making my first half slip! I tried making a full slip, but for some reason, it came out all wonky….I’ll need try again. I am so glad you pointed out the time and cost-saving reasons to make your own slip.The neat thing is that I can use super cute fabrics to make custom slips. Thank you for your directions and this great blog.
LadyD
Not only are slips hard to find anymore, when I do find one it is way too short for me… as if made for a mini skirt. I don’t do mini skirts, but I do have several maxi skirts and need a slip or two that would be long enough for them. So yes, a slip or two are the next things on my sewing list.
Robyn Vaughan
I have a corduroy Winter skirt which needs the lining replaced and I’m going to make a slip to go under it rather than re-line. I find that a slip under a summer skirt or dress, that isn’t sheer, makes it wearable through Autumn (Fall), and sometimes into Winter too. Great economy for those of us who need to keep an eye on the budget.
Brenda
Thanks for posting this!
I requested a maxi-length half slip for Christmas. My daughter-in-law visited a broad range of stores in search of a half slip. She even checked the shops for tall ladies thinking a “tall” half slip would act as a maxi slip for me since I’m short. No luck anywhere.
I look forward to wearing a half slip with my summer dresses.
Christina Mano
Half slips are so practical, I totally agree with you???? I wear wool tights in winter (Norway gets reeeal cold) and half slips are great to avoid my skirts sticking to my skirts, as well as adding a layer for warmth. I also agree that it’s rational when thinking of fabric use, monetary and environmental costs as well as versatility of garment (skirt+slip in winter, just skirt in summer). Thanks for the tutorial ????
Erica
Thanks for posting! I am tired of always trying to find the right undergarments for light dresses, so I decided it’s time to make slips. :). I found the width calculations of 1.25 times the hip measurement to be far too wide. My 37” hips resulted in fabric width of 47.5”. After a few tries I ended up using the hip measurement plus one inch ease and another 1.5” for seams allowance ( divided by two, of course). I must have done something wrong or different…
Melissa Mora
That’s why sewing is great – you can adjust everything to your own preferences 🙂
Sarah
I wonder whether cotton lawn would be suitable for a slip (I overheat easily). I guess I should try it and see 🙂
jenise dick
I live in Arizona and will be making a cotton slip. the nylon slips are just too hot. finding an inexpensive cotton slip is very frustrating. thank you for this tutorial
Dara
Thanks Melly ,now I don’t have to purchase one! YOU CAN’T Please everybody.HAPPY SEWING!
gerri
sounds like a good idea the t-shirt slip and I want to thank you for the pattern I wear slips and I believe as you do as long as what I wear is decent and is is in line with the dress code at work, I am a teacher have to set a good example, what I wear is my business and as we said when I was a teen if you don’t like it don’t look
Ivia Colon
Hi Melly:
I totally agree with you. I wear wool tights in winter and half slips are a must to avoid my skirts and dresses sticking to my thighs. I had looked all over the stores and never found one. I had to ask my mom, who lives in Puerto Rico, to send me one from there. Thanks for this blog, because I can make my own now.
Lesley
Ivia, I posted below, I made my slips in lingerie silk. They are beautiful to wear and never stick. They add warmth in winter, but are cool in summer too.
Barbara J
Thanks for the tutorial, Melly. My mom recently moved into memory care and I have most of her clothes at my house, including several beautiful full slips. They don’t fit me in the bust so I’m planning to cut them for half slips. That way I can take advantage of the lovely lace at the hem. It will be a nice reminder of her from her better days.
Elaine Christensen
I recently made a half slip using batiste for the top portion aroung the waist the used flannel for the bottom to keep my legs warm. It is comfortable, Thank you for the pattern and tutorial.
Lesley
Love it. I actually made two, one black and one ivory, in lingerie silk (cut on the bias). A little bit of luxury in an ordinary life. I also made a camisole in silk for when a top needs a lining too.
Sheree
I wear a slip under my DBP dresses and tunics because dbp clings and shows all the lumps and bumps and the slip just kind of smooths everything out making it much more flattering. Slips aren’t just for modesty but so things lay better and look better 😉
Rachael
I used to wear slips all the time. Never thought about using one in place of a lining but it would be sooooooo much easier and a huge time saver to just slip into a slip rather than see in a lining!!
Cindy DeHoff
Thanks so much for your fabric suggestions. My husband and I are vintage dancers (1800-1930s), so I wear as-full-as-I-can-find skirts for rehearsals and classes because they swirl so nicely. I resorted to cutting off my long Olga sweeping nightgowns for half-slips since none of the very few half-slips in the stores had enough fabric to move with the full skirts in turning waltzes. Swimsuit lining, and someone else suggested bias-cut lingerie silk—I’ll be looking for those! 0: )
Oliva Vengoechea
I love the idea of no having half of my dress between my legs when it is windy.
Thank you for the pattern!
Maria Stahl
I have a piece of champagne-colored silk charmeuse that has been waiting for a project. I think I need a silk half-slip now!
Margaret Chambers
Where can you find lingerie silk these days? Would love to find where it is available. I made my lingerie years ago–even made “petti-pants” for under “split skirts” when I was teaching. My daughter even wore those under under her school uniform skirts when in high school. Thank you for the info and pattern.
Julie
Hi Margaret. I bought a beautiful fabric here in Canada online from Bra Makers Supply. This is the one I used for my half slip : FT-245 Beige Venus Polyester Micro Tricot/Microfibre Stretch Fabric
Colour: Beige (Pantone 14-1212) Just made it last night following Melissa’s video. The fabric is wonderful. I purchased a metre and I had too much (I am a 3X and still a metre was more than I needed) My slip is just above the knee. Good luck 🙂
Stephanie Stange
This is exactly what I was looking for! I just made a shirred dress and it’s semi sheer which makes me uncomfortable. Thank you for posting!
Sara Taylor
Melly thanks for the great tutorial. I made two last year. They were ok but yours is definitely neater!!
Shirley Lea
I made a dress last summer to wear to a family wedding. My granddaughter and daughter were visiting and patiently waited for me to finish that last seam. Lo and behold the fabric was so thin I had to have a slip. All I had on hand was a long half slip so I just whacked it off with scissors and never hemmed it. I really want to make a few new ones! Thanks for the tute!