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Have you ever noticed how the body of your slip outlives the
lace and elastic? Not quite sure how to salvage the slip, so you end up
throwing it away? We can help! Here are some suggestions.
Problem: Lace is
disintegrating, coming off slip.
Suggestion #1:
Remove the old lace and brighten it up with new lace in the width you desire.
Suggestion #2: As so
many of the skirts are shorter today, cut the slip to the length for your skirts
and then give it a lettuce edge on your serger or a shell edge from your regular
sewing machine. Both of these are very attractive and easy to do.
How to do a "lettuce"
edging: Use the rolled hem feature on your serger, place the
slip edge under the presser foot and as you start sewing gently pull the fabric
towards you. You will notice that you are getting a curled decorative
edge. The more you pull the fabric, the curlier the edge gets,
resembling a lettuce leaf.
How to do a "shell" edge:
You will need a zigzag machine for this. Almost all zigzag machines will
have a stitch that looks the opposite of the blind hem stitch. Set your
machine to sew this stitch. Now, as you fold under 1/4" on the slip
bottom, sew just close enough to the edge that when the needle moves outward it
catches the bottom of the fabric, drawing it in towards the other stitching,
making little shells or scallops.
Problem: Elastic
lost its stretch or coming away from the slip top. There's nothing worse
than walking and all of a sudden you feel your slip falling down. Believe
me, I know! It happened to me ONCE!
Suggestion: Replace
the elastic! Not sure where to start? Follow the step-by- step
instructions given below, and presto! you'll have a "new" half
slip!
1. Remove the old elastic, being careful not to tear
the slip.
2. To determine the length of new elastic you'll need,
measure your waist and deduct an inch from that measurement.
3. Choose a "soft elastic" (plush backed,
picot edge, fold-over, stretch lace elastic) so that it will feel good against
your skin. Cut the elastic to the measurement in step 2.
4. Sew the ends of the elastic together.
5. Divide elastic into fourths. Place straight
pins to mark your "fourths".
6. Divide the top of the half slip into fourths.
The seams on the slip already mark the "halves". Simply bring
the seams together, keeping them together. Now run your fingers along the
edge - when you get to the end, you have another part of the "fourth".
Repeat this on the other side to get the remaining "fourth".
Again, mark the "fourths" with straight pins.
7. Now all you have to do is match your pins and pin
the elastic to the slip. As you sew, stretch the elastic between the
pins.. I use a multiple zigzag stitch on my regular sewing machine, with
the width usually set at 4 or 5 and a short length.
This FREE CLASS was provided by Fay Brittingham, owner of
http://FaysFabrics.com.
If you can't find the lace and elastics locally, please visit her website or
give her a call at (850) 455-2410. She carries trims, laces, tricot,
spandex, and a huge variety of lingerie supplies.
To learn the quick and easy method of making your own half
slips in a variety of styles, click on the following link to purchase Fay's
entire slip class.
SEW203
- Lingerie Half Slip - $9.95
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