How to Make Bloomers From a Slip

Bloomers were a staple womens' undergarment in the early 1900s.

Bloomers are women's baggy underpants ending in gathered cuffs just below the knee. They were most popular during the early 1900s. Variations of the historic bloomer are available through retail outlets. However, an old gathered slip can be simply re-purposed into a comfortable set of new-age bloomers, saving consumer money and giving new life to an old clothing item. Because slips are most often made from nylon tricot, a slippy, light weight fabric, using ball point pins and needles will facilitate the construction process.

Things You'll Need

• Full, gathered slip
• Loose-fitting sweatpants pattern
• Sewing machine fitted with ball point needle
• Ball point pins
• 3/4-inch elastic
• Lace (optional)
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut the elastic from the slip waistline.

2. Cut the slip open along the side seams.

3. Lay the two pieces of slip fabric on top of each other on a flat work surface.

4. Shorten the sweatpants pattern leg to just below the knee. Lay the sweatpants pattern over the slip fabric. Pin to the slip fabric with ball point pins. Cut out along the pattern cut lines.

5. Sew according to the instructions included with the sweatpants pattern, gathering the waistline with 3/4-inch elastic.

6. Add lace to the lower edge of each leg. Gather the lower edge of each leg with elastic cut the length of the below-the-knee circumference plus 1-inch.

Tips & Warnings

• A straight slip will not have enough fabric to construct bloomers. Using a slip several sizes larger than the finished bloomers will provide adequate fabric.

References

• Bloomers 4U.com: Custom Hand-Made Quality Bloomers for All Occasions