How to Make Simple Patterns from Old Clothes

Use your favorite garment to create patterns to copy the piece of clothing.

If your favorite garment is becoming threadbare and you can't seem to find one like it anywhere, you can make your own. Use your beloved frock to make a pattern to use as a basis to recreate that favorite piece of clothing. Just dismantle the item along the seams to create each piece you need to develop a pattern. You can use the pattern to create more of your favorite garment.

Things You'll Need

• Good fabric scissors
• Pattern paper
• Pen or pencil that will show on fabric
• Pins
• Paper to take notes

Instructions

1. Cut along the seams of the garment, and separate any interfacing from the garment.

2. Put the pieces onto the pattern paper, pinning them flat. Add seam allowance, typically 3/8-inch, as you draw the pattern around each piece of fabric on the pattern paper.

3. Mark the pieces as soon as you cut them out to avoid mixing them up. Sometimes pieces look the same but they aren't. Write front on the front of each piece.

4. Mark an X or a small horizontal line where pieces of the garment should match up with other pieces. Mark where seams that join other pieces begin and end.

5. Mark each pattern piece's position as to front, back, right, left or center; this is hugely important when remaking a complicated garment. Use the pattern as you would a store-bought pattern.

References

• "Recycling Clothing Using Your Sewing Skills"