Sewing Vloggers

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Let's make a pants slip!

 


While this may not be the most attractive undergarment you will ever own (it could be) I guarantee you will get miles of use out of it.  I have really come to appreciate the value of pants slips. Why bother with pants slips?

                     *  They save sewing time. You don't have to line every pair of pants that needs 
                         a lining. Just finish your seams and wear a pants slip and you have all the
                         benefits of a lined pair of pants.

                     * They offer versatility. Sometimes, in my cold climate, I wear pants with tights
                        underneath AND a pants slip for extra warmth. The pants glide right over the                                tights with the slip.  Pants slips smoosh right down and can even be worn very                                unobtrusively with jeans, when you need just a little extra warmth in winter. 

                     * They give you choice. Sometimes, in summer, I wear my linen pants with a pants
                        slip, sometimes I don't. All depends on weather and such. 

                     * Because She said so! Who is she? Claire Shaeffer, that's who!  When I took my 
                        Chanel class with the great Claire,  one of the students, a college level textiles 
                        professor, asked about lining couture pants. Claire informed us that couture pants
                       were not lined and were always worn with pants slips. She said she wore pants 
                        slips for all her pants. That was the real clincher for me.

So, for those reasons, I am a pant slip aficionado and just made another pair. I'll go over here how I did that and my philosophy regarding pants slips. 

      



            I am aware that pants slips can be made of tricots and silks and decorated with the most glorious of trims. My preference is to have something that will hold up to frequent laundering and worn with minimal fuss. I tend to use two different fabrics. My first choice is Bemberg rayon. It is reasonable in price, usually readily available, and comfortable to wear. Research tells me that many people find it warm. I don't  and it is my favorite lining for most sewing projects. If I can't get my hands on it quickly, as in this case, one of those gotta sew it now moments, my second choice is an anti-static poly. I have used the version from Joanns and it has worked just fine, launders well, and I have not found it to be warm on my lower body. Just make sure the bolt end says anti static.  This is what I have used today. I don't add trims as I want to make these as quickly as possible and spend my creativity on garments that are on my public side. I also don't want anything on these, as in trims,  that will telegraph through to the public side of my pants. 

           The number one rule of making pantslips, IMO, is to have as little bulk as possible. Keep that in mind as you go through the process. 


The pattern:

If you use the two fabrics I mention, they will smoosh under your pants and not be noticeable pretty much most of the time. It is ok if the pantslip is a bit bigger than your pant leg. I used my pants sloper, which you can see above, to cut my slip. Most of the pants that I would wear this with are straight legged and cut straight down from the hip curve that you can see above, so this liner will be smaller than most pants I will wear it with but still have room to move. Very important here--notice that the sloper has darts and there are two on the front and one on the back. You must have darts but you will not sew them!!! 


For your casing you will need, preferably and hard to find, elastic CORDING, the type being used right now in masks. If you can't find that, you can use beading cording, which is very strong and what I used this time or 1/8th inch elastic. The cordings work best for bulk reduction. 



Construction:

To keep bulk down, all seams were pinked only and given a hard press. I don't iron these. I just pull them from the dryer quickly, hand press, and they are fine. That poly seems to remember where the seams are suppose to lay from that original hard press. The hem is serged with a three thread finish, folded up an inch and a 1/4  and given a hard press as well. 

I like my hem to end two inches above what any regular pant hem would be.  You could make slips for cropped pants and slips for long pants, your decisions. 


Above is the waist seam. The arrow points to the tuck that is made from the dart in the pattern. 

Fold your darts into tucks that will lean in the OPPOSITE direction of the way your pants darts are ironed. Back to keeping bulk down here! 

Your waist seam is 3/4 inch wide. It is serged or pinked and then folded to the inside and stitched to make a small casing.  You may have to leave the side seams separate to get them to fold down without pulling. You will understand once you try it. It's OK.  In other words when you stitch up the side and crotch seam stop when you reach the casing area and tie off. This makes it easier to fold down the casing. 


The side seam where you want your opening slit will end about 6 inches below the casing. Make sure this measurement works for you  to get over your hips. In the pic above you can see that the slit is simply the pinked side seam pressed back and topstitched about a 1/4 inch away.  

Cut a length of elastic cord long enough to go through the casing and tie in a bow with a double knot. Don't make this too snug. You will rarely untie this. Run the cording through and your closure is done once tied. 

This is simple, neat sewing, no fuss.  You can make a pantslip easily in an afternoon or less. While the casing area looks ruffly, it will smoosh out of the way and you won't know it is there. I like my open slit on the left side, even if there is a center front fly because it keeps the tummy area smooth. You will also find the pants slip slides right over your hips for those bathroom moments as you pull down your public pants along with it so you are not dealing with any closure issue. 

This simple project can really make getting dressed and your sewing easier and more productive. I hope you give it a try. I have really enjoyed having these in my wardrobe. I am going to make another this week, an anti static out of gray. A supply of these in neutral colors is a great addition. One caveat-----brush up on your seam finishing skills. With unlined pants, you want the seams to look great and be well finished to hold up over time. I recommend Hong Kong seams whenever possible. Let me know if you give this a try or if you already have.....................Bunny 



27 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great reminder. I used to have these... Probably store bought. I haven't worn them for years but I'm about to sew some woolen pants and I was going to line them with silk but I'll make a pants slip instead and then more woolen pants!

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    Replies
    1. A silk charmeuse pant slip would be quite dreamy. Hmmmm....

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    2. I find silk to be VERY static inducing. I love it, and have made many wedding dresses with it, but have to do gymnastics to keep it from hugging the bride. What do you think?

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  2. I’m guessing that an easily washable slip/lining might cut down on having to clean the outer pants as often too. Will be trying this soon. Karen

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    1. Another good reason to make and wear them! thanks, Karen.

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  3. I have made a pair or two in the past using a pajama pattern. It works just fine for me. Reminds me that I need to make more. Annette

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  4. If the hem of the slip isn't attached to the trouser hem(by a swing tack or 2), how do you keep the slip from clinging to your hosiery and/or twisting around your leg? I read "anti-static", but I've never ever believed that. I'd rather just line the trousers.

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    Replies
    1. The fabric is definitely anti static and I live in a climate where that is a big issue. I have had no experience with the pant slips riding up and have yet to tug them down. They are roomy but not too much. They are a fair amount shorter than the pants as I am in fear of the lining hanging out. I have no explanation for you. I think if that were the case I could always safety pin them to the fashion pants seam allowance but have never needed to. Perhaps someone else can explain better than me.

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    2. I do like the hems at least that 1 1/4 inches and sometimes will double them to provide that bit of extra weight. Perhaps that keeps them from riding up as opposed to a light lace trim or thin hem.

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  5. Omigosh. Facepalm. I have had pants slips in the past and loved them; keep thinking I should make some in my *ahem* current size and just haven't gotten to it. In my head, I would leave the darts unsewn and just gather the rest in the waistband but...yes, an opening that doesn't have to close right up is obviously the answer. The lightbulb has gone off. Thanks so much for sharing your secrets!

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    Replies
    1. Lisa, they literally take an afternoon to make. Let's get going!

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    2. Bunny, I'm just not getting the opening on the side. If it doesn't close, how does it stay up?

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    3. The elastic cord is run through the casing and tied in a bow. I will go back and allude to that in the instructions. Sorry I forgot to mention it. The cord you see in the pic is actually elastic beading cord. It is very strong. Just run it through and tie. Double knot and you should not have to undo it again except for a rare adjustment. If you can find it, regular elastic cord and the 1/8th inch elastic also work.

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  6. Like the other commenters, I've had pants slips in the past and forgotten. Time for more. Love your tip for the opening. I always thought dress slips were the dreamiest garment ever. I always felt elegant wearing a slip. Sigh....the good ol' days.

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    Replies
    1. Visions of Liz Taylor in Butterfield 8, sigh............I think we all wanted to look like that in a slip, and still want to!

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  7. I remember having some rather lovely pant slips (by another name) but my true favorite was the bra slip, which was so comfy, and perfect with a mini dress!

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    Replies
    1. Does the word "pettipants" ring a bell? Haha! I remember bra slips. They were nothing like spanks misery and felt wonderful. They need comeback for sure.

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  8. From: clothwear
    Here’s my Q—linings are sewn into pants wrong sides together, thus finished seams are worn against the skin. It looks like your pants slip is designed with pinked seams against the skin—? My pant slips are made finished side against my skin—they feel, wear and look great.

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    Replies
    1. This is a dilemma I still have not totally come to terms with. For now I am going with this theory: I have had moments when pants linings, not mine but retail, have hung out from below the garment when my legs were crossed or a similar position. The world then faced the raw side of that lining. I don't want the world to see that. I want them to see a smooth and lovely finish. I have no problem with the finished but not ready for the public side being against my skin where only I know what exists there. It is still smooth and comfortable to me. It is a personal choice and the sewist can choose to make these whichever way they prefer, IMO.

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  9. I used to have some of these garments. We called them pettipants and my mother bought them for us to wear under the skirts she made us. I think that ladies slips were going out of style but our school did not allow girls to wear pants to school yet. The time period was the early 1960's, I believe.

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    Replies
    1. I definitely wore pettipants under my uniforms. They were tricot with lace hems.

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  10. Hi there Bunny,
    Thank you for this fabulous tip. What a fab time saver. This is definitely on my to do list!!

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  11. Thanks for this reminder about pant slips. I also remember Nancy Zeiman stating this also. "Great minds think alike"!

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  12. Bunny, I love this! I'm 51 years old and I've never heard of a pants slip. :-) I love wearing slips with dresses - like 365 dresses, they always feel elegant to me! Thank you so much for all your helpful blog posts - I don't usually comment, but I always read them and often bookmark them for future reference!

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  13. Thanks for this post! I love your blog! I had just made two pr of pants from Rayon Tencel(unlined). I love them, but they do feel cold to the touch. Your post came at exactly the right time.

    I hate Bemberg. I hate cutting it. I hate sewing it. I hate trying to hang it n a hanger with my pants. But it is a great lining!
    My pants are an elastic-waist TNT pattern based on Sure-Fit Designs. I simply made the same pants without pockets, serging and then topstitching. Do you think I should have made them looser than the pants? tighter? Do you cut the same size as your outer pants?

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    Replies
    1. I have only just found this request as my comments are so many and often so old but I gladly answer now.......Yes, Bemberg does have a mind of it's own on the cutting surface. That can be helped by spray starching the fabric with a couple light coats of spray starch and pressing and then washing the garment with a few swishes in the sink when done. Another technique is cutting on some tissue or medical paper that people use for pattern making. It's hard to say how loose or tight your pants slip should be. My pants are generally staight leg or wider and I use my basic Sure Fit Design as well. You can't see it hanging in the third picture from the top. It curves in at the hip to a classic fit. For my patterns I extend the SFD sloper out to make wider straighter legs. I use the same sloper for the slip, but as is. So,,,,,,in my case the slip is a bit smaller. Think of what type of pants you make and you decide. I have worn these slips often with jeans and with the thin fabric they literally are invisible. They squoosh down and feel totally comfortable. They are pretty versatile with various leg widths.

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  14. I guess, I am the only one that never heard of the idea of slip pants. I find it wonderful and amazing. I can't wait to make a pair for myself!
    Thanks for the awesome and informative post :)

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