Clothes Designing at Home
- Creating clothing at home requires space; work on a large flat surface. Place your sewing machine and overlock machines on a sturdy surface. Use butcher's paper or pattern-making paper, pencils and straight edge rulers to create patterns, using existing clothing as a guide for your designs. You also will need basic sewing supplies, such as needles, thread, pins, a pin cushion, tailor's chalk and notions (buttons, elastic, zippers, etc).
- To begin designing clothing from home, find an article of clothing that fits well. Measure the garment in areas such as the waist, hips, chest and inseam to get the correct proportions. Create a pattern from the clothing by laying the garment on top of the large paper. Trace around the garment along the seams, taking care to trace each piece of the garment. After the garment is completely traced, make any necessary alterations. For instance, if the waist of the original garment is too tight, add more width to that piece. Make sure each pattern piece is altered accordingly. For example if you are making a pair of pants, you should have four pattern pieces for the legs, two front and two back. If you want to add 1 inch to the waist of the pants, add 1/4 inch to each piece. If the waist band is one piece, add 1 inch. If it is two pieces, add 1/2 inch to each piece.
After designing the pattern, add a 1/4-inch seam allowance by adding 1/4 inch all the way around the pattern. Seam allowance is the amount of fabric that will become the seam of the garment. When sewing, you will sew 1/4 inch in from the edge of the fabric. - Creating your own patterns allows you to redesign some of your favorite items. For example, if you are making a pair of shorts, alter them by adding length to the legs using your pattern. Or turn the shorts into a skirt by drawing a skirt into the waistband instead of shorts. Use the traced shorts as a guideline for how wide and long the skirt needs to be. Once the pattern is complete, use an inexpensive fabric such as muslin to create a garment that can be tried on for size. If any alterations are necessary, make changes to the pattern before creating the final garment.
- When selecting fabric for your garment, consider the use of the garment. Pants go through more wear and tear and should be made out of a more durable fabric than shirts. Many fabrics have lycra or spandex blended into them for stretch. A pattern may need to be taken in slightly if the fabric stretches easily. Most importantly, find a fabric that feels comfortable. Using upholstery fabric to make clothing would make a very scratchy, thick garment. It is best to find fabric that is intended for making clothing.
- Cut fabric from the pattern and sew the pieces together. Try the garment on as it is being made. If alterations are necessary, also make the alterations to the pattern for future use. Add any finishing details such as colored top stitching or notions like buttons or zippers to the garment.