Barbara, I finally got this information for you… I know you’ve asked a few times and while I was making slips, I decided to take pictures as I did it… so here you go!
It was easiest to show how to do this on a smaller slip, so I picked Ten Ping… this is what you’ll need…
Some kind of tulle or netting with a little bit of body… not the kind of tulle on those rolls…it’s too fine and will drive you batty if you try to make one using it… but not the bigger holed kind… it’s TOO stiff!
You’ll need a piece 18″ long and 4″ wide
You’ll need a piece 6″ long and 1″ wide
You’ll need a piece of 3/8″ elastic that’s 4 1/4″ long. I use the picot edged elastic… on the softer side too. (You can use whatever you have really…) :o)
Okay, let’s get started…
Take your 4″ wide piece of tulle and fold it in half length wise… then using a basting stitch, stitch the full length next to the folded edge… about 1/8″ away from the edge…
Then make 2 more rows of basting the full length… it should look like this..
Pull your basting stitches up until the are pretty tight together…distribute them evenly…
You’ll want the drawn up length to be the same length as your 6″ piece of tulle…
I usually pin one end, stick it under the needle and make a few stitches to hold it in place… then distribute your gathers evenly as you stitch to the end of the 6″ piece… keeping your edges lined up…
The 6″ piece should be laid on the machine and the gathers should be on top when you are stitching it…
Flip it over when you are finished and pull out any basting threads that are below your stitched on yoke…
If you have a serger, finish the edge you just sewed… trimming off the edge of the gathers and the 6″ piece…
Then, stitching on the top side, topstitch close to the edge of that seam you just sewed. It just helps hold the skirt yoke in place better.
It should look like this now… your gathers should be even all the way around your slip…
Take your 4 1/4″ of elastic and lay it on the top edge of the 6″ piece… overlapping onto the tulle just a bit…1/8 -1/4″, whatever you want your yoke width to be… set your machine to a small zig zag… mine it about a 1/8″ zig zag… backstitch a few times to make sure the elastic is anchored securely… I generally grab the tail threads from where the elastic has been added and pull them gently with my left fingers, and gently stretch the elastic across the top of the slip, zig zagging on the edge of the elastic, just about an inch at a time, then reposition, and do it a little more, stretching and pulling as you go…
Make sure you keep your elastic the same distance from the yoke seam to where you are stitching it on or the yoke section will look lop sided.
Try not to pull too much or you’ll end up with all your gathers on one end and have no fabric left for the rest of your elastic… this just takes practice… The elastic and the fabric should look like this if you get them evenly spread across the fabric…
It will curve around like this…
Flip it so it’s wrong sides facing out and pin the top edge and the seam for the yoke… then starting at the top back, stitch 1/4″ from the top edge, backstitch, and then stitch all the way down the back to the hem… backstitch at the bottom too… Clip your threads…
It should look like this from the wrong side…
Take those little tabs and you’re going to stitch them down… at the elastic part and then at the yoke seam part… this is just to make your seams lay flat…
You did it! You made a dolly slip!
Ten Ping asked if she could try it on…
Well, I hope that helped you, Barbara… and anyone else who was wondering…
Charlotte sent me some pictures from Sewing EXPO and I’ll be sharing them tomorrow… Rebecca and Karn are “supposed” to be here Monday… it’s FINALLY “Christmas” at our house! I’ve been flitting from wrapping last minute things I forgot about, cleaning house, and trying to do a little sewing…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks for the excellent tutorial on the tiered slip, Jeanne! Everything was very clear and easy to understand, and the pictures were great. I would add one thing for those who aren’t super confident about “eyeballing” the elastic in place–mark the center of the the elastic with a pin, and the center of the slip; that way you only are matching/sewing half at a time.
Glad you got the pictures. I will try to answer any comments that come in tomorrow.
Hi Charlotte,
Glad you enjoyed and could understand the tutorial! Yes, a mark on the center of the elastic would be a nice way to let you know you were half way across he gathers! Thanks!
I would love to go to one of those sewing EXPO’S.. but a friend did remjnd me Sunday of the upcoming Quilt Show in Paducah, KY.
Hmmmm… it’s always fun!
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Great tutorial! Jeanne makes it look so easy. 🙂 When I was first reading instructions, I saw that “reverse the needle.” Being groggy this morning, my mind was trying to figure out how to actually put my needle in backwards. It took a couple of reads to figure out that it was just a simple “backstitch.” Ha ha. 🙂 Anyway, thanks so much for the lesson. Really cute slip. 🙂
We have rain! At least I don’t have to tromp around in the mud pulling weeds/blackberry today. 🙂
Hi Joy,
I changed the “reverse your needle” to backstitch in my post.. I should have caught that. Glad you liked it…
Our yard is still soggy from the 2 days of rain we got a few days ago… glad you got some!
Blessings, Jeanne
So happy to hear your Christmas will be coming soon! Enjoy and have a wonderful time with your family!!
Hi Paula
Rebecca just called and said she is packing!! YAY!
It’s gonna happen this time…
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jeanne. I did make a pest out of myself about this slip thing not realizing that you had actually done a tutorial before. I think maybe before I joined the blog. This time you gave measurements and I think I’ve got the proportions figured out for how to do slips for bigger dolls. I’ll write them down when I do different dolls so I won’t have to figure things out all the time. I have done elastic at the tops of doll pants, etc., and do mark the halfway point. It does make it easier.
So using the tulle on the roll is more difficult. Thanks for mentioning that. I bought a bunch of colors in that for making tutus so I’ll look for something else for slips. I have a bunch of those little bows and flowers and tons of pretty elastic I bought for the tops of thigh highs, so I think I’m good to go on those. Back when I was working we gave a baby shower for one of our co-workers. They used a pretty yellow netting for decoration. When it was over and we were disassembling things, I saw someone take all the yellow netting and head for the trash bin. To make sure I asked her if she was going to throw it away. She said of course what else would she do with it. I said give it to me. It was on a roll but it was not as soft as some of the other rolls I have so I have used it for many things, especially for attached slips for dresses. Waste not, want not as they say.
The weather here today is amazing. It was warm, overcast and muggy yesterday, but we had a storm come through during the night and woke up this morning to beautiful sunshine and temps in the 60s. And a lovely breeze. I love days like this.
Hi Barbara,
I’m sorry it took me so long to get this post done for you. I really hope it helps you!
You “can” use that tulle on the rolls, but its better to use something with a little bit of body. If you do use that tulle, you’ll probably need 5 or 6 layers to make a nice slip.
I have a couple bolts of the regular thin tulle. I was on the 100mile yard sale and a lady was selling full bolts of her fabrics for $2.00… couldn’t pass it up… I have used it a few times for things… :o) I’m right there with you on not tossing it out…
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne,, this was one of those days I didn’t comment early, and then forgot to later on! , I don’t mKe those darling slips, since I get them from Jeanne Marie! It’s nice that you could show others how you make them, and pictures always are a big help too,
So excited for you to have Rebecca and Karn making the trek to Carbondale finally! Looks like you will be busy for a couple of days. You might want to consider taking off a bit if you feel the need. No one would deny you that and we would completely understand.
HI Linda,
Rebecca called again today as she was packing! Yippee! She has so much planned in her short week here, I just might take a few days off, or just show some slide shows from the past…
I can’t wait to see them.
Blessings, Jeanne
Could you possibly give the measurements for the netting and elastic that you use for the slips for 18 inch dolls and 14.5 inch dolls? I would very much appreciate it. My dolls need slips.
HI Dena,
The Ag dolls slips would need these size pieces of tulle…
2 layers of tulle 55″ long and 5″ wide
The yoke should be 15″ x 1 1/5″ wide ( sometimes I do 2 layers of the yoke piece)
The elastic is 11 1/4″
The RRFF dolls need:
2 layers of tulle 50″ long and 4″ wide
The yoke is 10″ x 1 1/4″ wide… (sometimes I use 2 layers for the yoke)
the elastic is 6″ long
Hope this helps…
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you for sharing step by step how to make your slip with us. I find it very educational. Your work is always so impeccable, My question is, where do get your tulle? I have tried to find it but there are so many to choose.