Lingerie You Can Make Yourself

Lingerie is something all women wear, whether it's fancy or plain, but with homemade undergarments you'll get exactly what you want instead of settling for what you can find. Fabric for making lingerie, which is usually silky and stretchy, isn't usually found at your typical department store sewing aisle. Try a large fabric store to find tricot, soft stretchy lace, and other lingerie fabrics.

Depending upon the type of lingerie you're making you may need extra items from the notions department such as satin lingerie straps, bra straps, eyelets, buckles, satin ribbon, elastic and other supplies. Some of these items can be found cheaper at a discount department store.

One of the easiest undergarments to make is a half slip. Lay the fabric out with right sides together and measure from your waist to the area desired. If you'll be wearing it with short skirts measure it to mid-thigh. For long skirts measure to ankle length. For traditional dresses you can measure from waist to knee area. Measure around the hip area and add a couple of inches.

Different dresses require various styles of skirts. You don't want to wear a straight slip with a full skirt or a full slip with an A-line dress, so adjust the pattern to your particular needs. For a full skirt measure around the hips and add several inches. After drawing the measurements onto the fabric, with disappearing marker or colored chalk, it's time to cut the pieces. Allow the exact measurement for the length so that when you hem the slip it will be slightly shorter than the dress.

Leave the pieces right sides together and sew down one side seam. If you'll be adding lace to the hem sew it on next. Make sure you cut the slip shorter if you're adding lace. With only one side seam done insert the elastic in the waist by folding the waistband over a half inch and laying the elastic on top. Stitch with a zig-zag, long stitch, all the way across both pieces. Slightly stretch the elastic as you sew but don't tug hard. Now with elastic and lace applied, seam the other side seam, making sure to back-tack at the top and bottom of the side seam.