Hi everyone,
I thought it might be fun to have a “sew-along” with me. We’ll do it over 2 days because I have so many pictures of steps to show you. So why don’t you go to Hobby Lobby or get in your stash and dig out a roll of tulle/netting and follow along with me. At the end, you’ll have a nice slip for your doll. I’m showing my tutorial for a slip that fits the 13″ Dianna Effner Little Darlings, but you could easily adjust your length and do one for the American Girl dolls.
This is what we’ll be making…
Okay, this is what I’m using for my slips… tulle that comes on a roll. You could cut your own but it’s easier to show you this way the first time.
Cut 2 or 3 lengths of tulle 1 yard and 12 inches long…(48″ total) (the pink slip has 2 layers and the white slip has 3 layers)
Set your machine on a basting stitch…usually 4 on most machines.
Lay them on top of each other and use just one pin to hold them in place. If you try to pin it all the way down the length you’ll go nutty…Lay them under your presser foot and stitch a basting stitch along the edge about 1/4″ or less from the edge.
Keep the edges lined up by holding it about 8 inches out and just sewing a little bit at a time…
Run another row of basting alongside the one you just did, making sure NOT to cross over into the first row of stitching or your gathers won’t pull up. It should look like this…
Now take that and lay it across your doll having the top edge at about belly button level… you’re going to be marking where you want the bottom edge to be. If you want it to peek out from under your dolls dress, you don’t have to do a thing. The width is usually too wide for the dresses I make, so I generally cut off about 1/2″ to 3/4.”
The easy way to cut it off is it pick a mark on your machine and lay the 3 loose edges against it. In my picture you can see where I’ve got my slip edge lined up. Just use the same basting stitch and stitch across the bottom…
It should look something like this…
Now take your scissors and cut off right below the basting…(Or as Cindy Rice just pointed out below in her comment…if you cut it ABOVE the stitched line, you don’t have to remove that thread…Smart cookie, that Cindy is!)
…and pull out that row of basting…carefully so you don’t fray your tulle…
Tie a knot at one of the ends…
Now go to the other end and grab to top 2 threads and begin to slowly and carefully pull them up…
Pull them up till it looks something like this…
Okay, sorry but this is all for today…come back tomorrow for Day 2… I’ll give everyone a chance to catch up.
If you have ANY questions just hit the “Contact Me” tab at the top…put your name and your email in and leave your question…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, my gosh, you got this “stuff” to behave and you make it look so easy!!! Well, I was pinning all the way across and I WAS going nutty, as you know. I will have to try again with the red tulle I have. A question, is the length 36″ + 12″, so I would cut 2 or 3 pieces at 48″? Also, would it work to cut on the other side of the hemline basting stitch so you wouldn’t have to pull it out?
Thanks, Jeanne!!! Don’t know if I will get to this today, but I will let you know how it goes when I do. You’re so sweet for sharing. Your slips are so very pretty.
Hi Cindy,
I wanted to show you how easy it was to do… I really felt for you getting all frustrated and taking your tulle back. Yes, it’s a total of 48″ long… I corrected my post to convey that, and you got mentioned…And yes, cutting it above the line would keep you from taking out that thread…SEE, you taught me a way to skip a step!
I will be waiting to hear from you and your SUCCESS!!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow…I actually have a roll of that so I’ll get busy!
Hi Kathie,
We might have to have a “Show and Tell” with all your slips!
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, thank you for the tutorial on slip making. Anytime you have given instructions in your blog on a technique you use I make note of it to help me be a better seamstress.
I am looking forward to the next step and the completion of the slip!
Thanks Jeannie,
I hope this helps you make the perfect slip!
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
Thank you for this information. I can’t wait to see tomorrow..
Judi
Hi Judi…thanks for taking a peek
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne–just curious–how wide is the tulle on rolls? I don’t have that, but do have yardage, so might just use that. It would be good to have a starting point as to length. Thanks. Charlotte
HI Charlotte,
The tulle on my rolls is 6″ wide.
Thanks, Jeanne
Thanks, Jeanne!
Jeanne, this is such fun! Is this something I could do by hand? I don’t have a machine. thanks.
HI Kathy,
I’m sure you could make one by hand. The basting up of the top edge could easily be done, but I would use 2 rows of thread basting, because it holds in more even. Then as you pull it up and stitch it to your stretchy lace, just work a little bit at a time and back stitch every so often to hold what you’ve done in place. I think you could easily do this. You’ll have to let me know if you try it and how it turns out!
Blessings, Jeanne