The self-drafted thingymajig
Ok, so what would you call this?
What would you call this?
An underskirt? A slip? A half slip? A waist slip? A petticoat? Something else?
Anyway, I wear these a lot. I sew lots of cotton dresses: often they aren’t lined and I usually wear tights underneath. These thingymajigs stop my dresses from sticking to my tights, and they stop them from riding up.
Now, sometime last year my good friend Amy passed onto me a bunch of fabric she had decided she had no use for (thank youuuuu!). Amongst it was two metres of real, proper silk charmeuse! Lucky me! I was very excited after having done the burn test to have some real silk on my hands. But what to do with it? Of course you already know the answer… I used it to make a thingymajig!
Having looked, albeit briefly, at the construction of my other thingymajigs, I saw it was extremely simple. Like – two rectangles with elastic at the top and lace at the bottom. I thought I couldn’t go wrong…
Four toiles later…
The first toile was too tight at the hips and the waist felt too loose. I cut into it to see how much to add in, which is why it’s cut open on the photo. The second toile was too tight all over because I shaped it in line with my measurements but there was no closure so it was difficult to get it on (d’oh!). I ripped that one off – hence the giant tear in the picture! The third toile – I overcompensated and it completely drowned me. After that, I stopped arsing around, got myself some dot and cross paper and actually drafted a proper paper pattern, and it worked! Huzzah!
Lace trim!
And after making the fifth, and final incarnation of the thingymajig, I am now suitably experienced in the art of stretching elastic like crazy and attaching it to a waistband with a three-step zigzag stitch!
Behold: a red silk thingymajig!
I’m glad I put the silk to good use – this is practical clothing and luxury combined. It will get worn much more than if it had become the lining of only one dress, and much more than if I had made a blouse with it.
And if I ever happen to come by any more silk, I have my pattern ready to go!
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Good job! Looks too nice to hide under your clothes! 😀✂️😀
I know LOL! I’ll be showing everyone!
Your underskirt looks great! Slip probably sounds better but when I grew up in t’north, we called it an underskirt. Good job!
My gran and mum also called it an underskirt. As a kid I used to hate them; I saw them as being old fashioned. I think that’s why nowadays I’d rather call it something else!!!
I wish I had some slips like this one. Nicely done.
Thanks Leila! I’m sure you could knock one out in no time with your mad sewing skills!
I call this a lovely half slip! And by the way I’m so jealous of your cool sewing space.
Thanks Amy!
i didn’t know that there are FANCY underskirts you can wear under those nasty thigh-clinging cotton dresses (One of the reason why I don’t like to sew with cotton)! Thanks for the inspiration – I will definitely put this thingy and cotton dress on my to-sew list!
Excellent!
I’d call this a half-slip. And I love the red! I have two simple white ones, but red is so fun!
I now have red, white and black. Red is my favourite but black will probably still get worn the most!
Beautiful and I’m sure I’ve said this before but I ADORE your sewing space!
Ah thanks. I love it too. Two years after moving in I’m still so grateful to have that room! 🙂
Real silk! You lucky girl! And to make it in to a slip- I am envious! I will some day have several silk slips- (by the way I call them half slips) … And I was just thinking the other day I need to make myself a few!
It certainly feels very nice on! 🙂
What a pretty slip! I take my hat of to you for making all those toiles!
Believe me it was not my intention! I should have been more careful! LOL!
I’d call it a slip. But whatever it is, it looks wonderfully luxe. Bet it’s great to wear.
Thanks Catherine! I am enjoying wearing it.
I’d call it a slip and you know, it never occurred to me 1) to sew my own or 2) to make it out of silk charmeuse. But what a great way to practice with a fabric that I have been told is hard to sew. Now I will buy some the next time I see a good deal on it at Fabric Mart!
Great! Hope it works out well for you.