This is the week that I am supposed to start sewing something for myself. It doesn't have to be anything new, I can just finish up a few UFOs, but it has to be for me. I am tired of sewing things for other people.
My first goal was to make a slip for the wine cotton skirt that I altered in the early summer and never finished after I left the lining out.
My idea was that I would just make a bemberg slip that I could wear with the skirt because I was too lazy to rip out the waistband again. I know, I know, I am probably making a simple project harder. But wait; it gets worse.
I have a couple of a-line bemberg slips that I absolutely love. They came with a wool skirt with cut-outs and the idea was that you could change the lining/slip to have a different color underneath. These slips are fabulously comfortable and they drape really well. Each one is just two pieces of fabric with hooks and eyes at the opening. How hard could this be?
Well, I underestimated the available time and didn't get to this project until after 10 tonight. I had the bemberg washed and pressed, and I had the original lining/slip, but I hadn't looked at it that closely.
Then, when I was about to trace it off to make a pattern I discovered something I hadn't anticipated, although I should have: the slip is cut on the bias. This should have been obvious because there are not darts and it fits perfectly — duh.
So my simple project is not so simple.
I have never made a pattern for a bias garment before. Do I just trace the slip to paper, or is there some adjustment that has to be made because it has been worn before? How do I account for changes as the skirt is sewn or hangs out? I am not sure I have enough bemberg to make two if I mess up the first one. What kind of seam allowances do I add as all the seams and hem will be on the bias too?
Is this even worth doing? This skirt is a little shorter than the one the original slip was made for. If I make a lining for the maroon skirt, can I also wear it with the wool cut out skirt? Am I putting a lot of effort into a slip for a skirt that really isn't likely to last more than another season?
Maybe I should just use the original lining pattern, cut a new lining and attach it the proper way. It might be faster to just redo that waistband than fiddle with this new idea.
It might be even easier to just forget the whole lining thing and just wear the skirt with a slip since I don't think I will alter it again, or probably wear it beyond this fall.
Whatever I do, it isn't going to happen until tomorrow.
Comments
6 responses to “Slip-Up”
Sandra Betzina covers the straight to bias conversion in Power Sewing. Just add extra width in the SA (1″ extra on each side is usually sufficient for tightly woven fabrics). Then hang the skirt pieces up for a couple of days to let it grow. If you are impatient, you can even wet the fabric or attach hem weights to speed up the growth.
After the pieces have grown, trim them to your pattern size and sew with a narrow zig-zag to allow extra give in the seam. Good luck.
Bemberg for a slip. Now, why didn’t I think of that?
Sandra Betzina covers the straight to bias conversion in Power Sewing. Just add extra width in the SA (1″ extra on each side is usually sufficient for tightly woven fabrics). Then hang the skirt pieces up for a couple of days to let it grow. If you are impatient, you can even wet the fabric or attach hem weights to speed up the growth.
After the pieces have grown, trim them to your pattern size and sew with a narrow zig-zag to allow extra give in the seam. Good luck.
Bemberg for a slip. Now, why didn’t I think of that?
Marcy Tilton did an article for Threads magazine called “Bias 101”
see http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00007.asp
Marcy Tilton did an article for Threads magazine called “Bias 101”
see http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00007.asp
Mardel, what a good idea. I would try what Grace said–trace and add extra to the SAs; the most important thing is to hang the skirt before hemming it so that it stretches fully. I would sew the side seams first, though, and go back and change them if all the excess doesn’t hang out. I can’t think you would get into too much trouble with a simple A-line slip. Bemberg for slips is a wonderful idea; I love it as lining. So cool and slippery against the skin. My fav is the heavier weight professional Bemberg sold by Atlanta Thread & Supply, but they probably don’t have any colors. Not a problem for me, since I just like black, but I think you like colors, so maybe not. 🙂
Mardel, what a good idea. I would try what Grace said–trace and add extra to the SAs; the most important thing is to hang the skirt before hemming it so that it stretches fully. I would sew the side seams first, though, and go back and change them if all the excess doesn’t hang out. I can’t think you would get into too much trouble with a simple A-line slip. Bemberg for slips is a wonderful idea; I love it as lining. So cool and slippery against the skin. My fav is the heavier weight professional Bemberg sold by Atlanta Thread & Supply, but they probably don’t have any colors. Not a problem for me, since I just like black, but I think you like colors, so maybe not. 🙂