Long skirts can be very warm during the winter! The trick is knowing how to wear them the right way. One of those tricks is to wear a thick cotton slip underneath.
In the summer, either a silk or light cotton slip can work well. If you are interested in silk slips, I recommend this one from newCreation Apparel. If you are interested in cotton slips, you could search on Amazon. The nylon slips from most department stores don’t work for me, so ordering my slips online or making my own has been a good solution.
For the colder months, I made my own slip, which I am able to say from experience is quite cozy and comfortable! It was also very easy to make, not requiring a pattern or any special sewing knowledge. For those of you who are interested, I will show you how to make one.
How to make a warm winter slip
- First off, you will need a pack of at least four (preferably more) men’s plain white ribbed tank tops, in the largest size you can find. I got mine from Walmart for about $11.00. I think the pack had seven shirts.
- You will be using four shirts (the others are extras in case of a mistake). Cut off the upper portions from the shirts, cutting a straight line across the shirt right under the armpit holes. This will leave you with four stretchy tubes of fabric.
- Trim off the hem from two of the tubes of fabric (leave the other two with the hem intact; this will be the bottom hem of the slip when you’re done).
- Cut open the sides of each of the tubes of fabric in a straight line from top to bottom, following the fabric ribs. This will leave you with four rectangles of cloth, instead of four tubes.
- Taking the two pieces of cloth without the hem, lay them side by side, with one slightly on top of the other at the edge, overlapping it about half an inch. Place pins to keep it in place. This will make a nice flat seam when sewed.
- Using a scrap piece of cloth, experiment with different styles of stitches to find one which will stretch easily with the fabric. After deciding upon one, use this to sew up the seam. (I’ve used blue thread so you can easily see what I’ve sewed, but you can use white thread, if you prefer.)
- Repeat this step with the loose edges at each end of the rectangle to create a large tube of fabric, twice as wide as the original shirt.
- Follow this same procedure for the other two pieces of fabric that still have the hem intact. Once done, you will have two tubes of fabric.
- Afterwards, the top tube will need to be joined to the bottom tube. Lay both parts out on the table, overlapping the edges top over bottom, pinning these in the same fashion as the side seams were done, with about half an inch of overlap.
- Sew these together with the same stitch as used before.
Here is what the front and back will look like (the side seams are not visible in the photo):
Here is what the sides will look like, where all four pieces are joined together (the sides have been placed to the front so you can see what they look like):
Now, it’s time for the waist.
- At this point, hold up the unfinished slip in front of you to decide how long you want it to be (the waistband will use up about one extra inch of fabric, folded over the elastic). Find where you want the waist to be. Cut off the excess fabric at the upper end of the slip, being very careful to trim evenly (remember, you already have a finished hem at the bottom, so you don’t want to trim that off).
For my slip, I made the upper portion about half the length of the lower portion.
Get your elastic ready (for slips, I think a soft elastic is better than a stiff one, so that the slip won’t create too much bulk and pressure around the midsection). If you prefer, you can make a drawstring waist, but these instructions are for an elastic one.
- Place the elastic around your waist. Use a marker to show where you want the ends to line up together and join. Trim off the edges so that about two inches remain at either end.
After the elastic has been cut, get ready to sew the waist.
- Fold over the fabric toward the inside of the slip, using the elastic as a guide, so that a little fabric is left over at each edge. The elastic will go inside of this. (In the photo below, I’m gauging how wide I need to make the waistband. The elastic will go inside of this cylinder of cloth, once it is sewn.)
- Sew the seam along the bottom edge of the waistband, using the same stitch as before, leaving a two-inch opening at the back of the slip for the elastic to go up into. (Don’t worry about folding under the hem edge; it’s okay to leave the edge raw with this type of fabric, since it won’t easily fray. Also, you don’t want to create too much bulk.)
- After this is completed, push the elastic through the “tunnel” of the waistband (I used a safety pin attached to the end of the elastic to do this, securing the other end to the slip with another safety pin so it wouldn’t move while I was pushing the elastic through). When you’ve done this, safety pin both ends of the elastic together where you’ve made the marks, to keep them in place.
- Try on the slip to make sure the elastic fits how you want it to, making any last-minute adjustments if needed (make new marks on the elastic with a different color, if you decide to make a change). Then, sew the ends of the elastic together where you made the marks, trimming off the excess elastic when you’re done.
- Finally, sew up the gap where the elastic was pushed through.
- When this is done, sew vertically through the elastic with a simple straight stitch at four different places on the waist, evenly spaced, to keep the elastic from twisting and to keep the slip from bunching too much in one place.
At this point, the slip is now finished!
Try it on and see how you like it. I’ve worn mine on several different occasions, and it kept me very toasty.
Because I deal with chafing, I also wear some snug-fitting, biker-style shorts underneath. I’ve discovered that anything longer than mid-thigh shorts underneath the slip will catch on the fabric and cause the slip to bunch up around the knees. This knowledge has helped me avoid the same problem with some of my skirts, too. I can wear longer leggings under some skirts, but not under others, depending on the fabric.
You may be wondering, What should I do with the extra shirts? Here are some ideas:
-Give them to your husband and/or son(s).
-Make headcoverings out of them.
-Turn some into dish cloths.
-Create a baby blanket, and sew some cute lace around the edges in blue or pink.
-Use them as warm, long undershirts for yourself.
If you have any more ideas on what to do with the extras, please let us know! Also, if you have some good tips to share for either making a homemade slip for winter, or for finding one online, we would love to hear it!
You may also be interested in these articles:
How to Sew an Easy, Modest Skirt
10 Tips for Staying Warm in A Long Skirt
~Jessica
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>>I am deeply indebted to one of my readers, Christine, for the idea for this slip. Thank you, Christine, for all your help in making my first “warmie”! I have saved all the photos you sent me for future reference. My warmest gratitude goes out to you for your kindess!<<
After viewing my post, Christine shared a few extra pointers I think could be very helpful for those of you who want to try your hand at making this slip:
-If you have a defunct flannel sheet, you can make a good warm slip which fits fairly close at the waist and upper hips (less bulk) if cut on the bias (45 degree angle). You just need to hang it for a day or so before hemming as the fabric will relax down in places, making it look uneven.
-One thing you may want to try a little differently: If you ‘snug up’ the elastic casing, so there is less room for the elastic to slide around, you can do without the vertical stabilizing stitching. It will be a little more difficult threading the elastic through and getting the gathers evenly spaced, but once the job is done, it’s done. It also means you can salvage the elastic for another project when the slip or skirt wears out. Modern elastic is pretty resilient stuff; I usually re-use the same piece in 2 or 3 garments.
-Something else you may want to try is making your elastic casing separately, then gathering or pleating your skirt onto it. Less bulk. Also, if you find your skirt hangs lopsided (front to back or side to side), you can easily make the adjustment at the waistline; that’s where that adjustment is supposed to be made, not at the hem. Doing it at the waist means the fabric stays on grain so the garment hangs properly.
This is such a great idea! Some of Papa’s undershirts are starting to wear out on top and I was wondering what to do about that. Now I think I’ll buy him some new undershirts and cut up the old ones to make slips!
Hi, Erika! I’m so glad to hear that my post gave you an idea about what to do with those undershirts. I would love to know how it turns out!
~Jessica
This looks great! I think you are right we do need a warm slip for the winter months. You did a wonderful job!
To keep warm in winter (in our cold climate) I wear long skirts around the house. If I have to go outdoors, I wear tights, etc. underneath and a high pair of warm boots. I also have on a sweater under a cozy coat, wear good quality gloves, and have a pretty scarf. It always keeps me warm.
Thanks, Mrs. White! Your ideas on how to keep warm in winter are just perfect!
~Jessica
This is a great idea! It is hard to find slips for plus sized ladies for cold weather wear. This is a great alternative. I usually wear leggings and boots under my long skirts in winter but then sometimes I get overly warm indoors. Thanks for sharing a frugal alternative.
Hi there, Beth! Great to know that my post was helpful to you! Yes, I have a hard time finding slips, too. They sell nylon ones in the stores, but they cling so much! Cotton doesn’t cling nearly as much, if at all.
Thanks for your comment,
~Jessica
Hello! I wanted to share I have one of the silk slips from newCreations and it is so wonderful. I waited months trying to figure out if I should buy one, then I read a review of someone in AZ wears it in the summer and she is comfortable, and someone else wears it in Co (were I live) and she loved it. I am so grateful I did. The silk slip is keeping me plenty warm as of now in our November weather. I have not added leggings yet, but I’m sure soon as I am easily cold. Thank you so much for a wonderful way to make a warm slip.
Any suggestions for how to keep your skirt from “riding up” or sticking when you wear slips? I have 2 skirts i avoid when I have to layer in winter due to this.
Hello, Mrs. Peterson! Thank you for adding your thoughts!
I’m glad to hear that you are enjoying your newCreation Apparel slip; I have three slips from that company, and I really like them, too!
Yes, it can be hard to keep the slip from riding up or sticking. I deal with that same problem! Part of the issue, I think, is dry weather. I live in Arizona where it’s generally pretty dry, and unless something is 100% cotton there is always a possibility for cling, and even then I can’t always get rid of the problem, try how I might. I just learn what I can wear together and what I can’t, through trial and error.
Something that can be helpful is to wear a pair of tall boots (knee high) over the leggings, and under the slip. The boots form a barrier between the leggings and the slip.
Sometimes, I don’t mind if the slip clings to my skirt, since that keeps it in place! I smooth it out the best I can and let it cling all it wants. I have a skirt that is slightly see-through when the sun shines on it full force, so I wear a slip under it for that reason (in fact, I’m wearing a newCreation slip under that very skirt right now!). I wear mid-thigh shorts under it (Vasarrete brand, body-slimmer type) in order to protect from chafing. This also keeps the slip from riding up (long leggings can sometimes catch on the slip, but shorts don’t do so as much). Today was cold in the morning (like, see-your-breath-in-the-air-type cold), but I felt pretty warm.
Anybody else have tips for keeping a slip from clinging and riding up? I would love to see what any of the other ladies have found useful!
~Jessica
Hi Mrs. Peterson! I don’t really deal too much with this issue, probably because I don’t live in a dry area. But I did a Google search and found a few tips that looked useful. Some tips required some kind of anti-static spray or anti-static dryer sheets. But if you didn’t have that, aerosol hair spray on areas having static might be useful. Unscented moisturizing lotion applied first to your hands and then from your hands to your skirt might also work. I hope this is helpful!
What an ingenious idea! I love making clothes from old clothes instead of buying new fabric. It is so much cheaper that way, especially if they are recycled from your wardrobe or bought at thrift stores.
Great, Elisa! I’m glad you liked the idea!
I don’t usually have time to recycle old clothing, but I do save a few things that I think will be useful. For example, I saved an old peasant skirt of mine and then cut out each layer individually (it had three or four) so I could use them to lengthen some short dresses for three of my daughters.
What kind of things do you save fabric for? You mentioned making new clothes from old; what sort of things do you make? I’m really curious to find out!
~Jessica
Hi Jessica, thanks for replying! In my area, I find it really hard to find modest denim skirts in my size. Online is the only place that I can find them, but they are thirty to forty-five dollars! I don’t like spending that much money on a skirt. So, I buy two pairs of jeans in my size from the thrift store. I add the cut open legs of one pair as an extra panel to the other pair, which I would have already cut open. It is pretty easy to do, which is good for me because my sewing skills are pretty limited. I also make athletic skirts from baggy men’s gym shorts using a similar idea, except that the shorts are so baggy that only one pair is needed. They are not very pretty; I am still working on how to make them look more feminine. They are very practical, though, when layered with a pair of leggings.
What great ideas, Elisa! I haven’t tried the jeans with panels idea, yet. Maybe I’ll give it a try later on. I always appreciate hearing tips from ladies who wear skirts and dresses!
~Jessica
I wear a full slip / camisole and slip everyday all year, generally silk / satin but cotton in the heat of summer. I find a full slip generally easier and especially when pregnant but they are difficult to square with nursing (does anyone make a nursing friendly full slip) ?
I find a heavier skirt / dress with tights is fine for winter.
Thanks for your helpful feedback, Susanne! I couldn’t figure out how to fit nursing with a full slip, so I’m curious to hear from anyone who’s found a nursing slip! I would also be interested in finding nursing dresses!
~Jessica
It’s not too difficult to find nursing or at least ‘nursing friendly’ dresses. But I have yet to find a full slip which works for nursing.
What I do think is that if you are (as I am) skirts are dresses only a camisole and half slip or a full slip is or should be ‘everyday wear’ for modesty and comfort.
Thanks for your response to my question, Susanne! I appreciate the tips!
~Jessica
Thank you Jessica for that great idea! I could use some warm slips because as you said, it’s been cold here in AZ and it’s still fall according to the calender!
I guess we will have to get together when temps warm up again and the children can play outside when they get bored with us adults!
You’re welcome, Regina! Yes, I’ve found that having a warm slip helps. Wearing leggings tucked into tall boots helps a lot, too!
I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!
~Jessica
This is a great idea! I struggle to stay warm and need more layers and slips are hard to find. Thank you for sharing this. I have an old flannel sheet I am thinking about making a slip out of.
You’re welcome, Christina!