How to Create an Original Sewing Pattern

Making your own sewing project begins with choosing a pattern. While it's often easy to find a ready-made pattern at a fabric or craft store, sometimes the pattern you need is nowhere to be found. Creating your own original pattern is a good way to get started on your project without relying on the help of designers.

Things You'll Need

• Tissue paper or other thin pattern paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Pins
• Measuring tape (optional)

Instructions

1. Determine how many pieces your project will have. For instance, if you are making a pattern for a tote bag, your project will have 2 pieces to form the bag itself and 2 more for the straps, making 4 total pieces.

2. Determine which pieces will be unique and which will be duplicates. For the tote bag project, the 2 bag pieces would be duplicates and the 2 strap pieces would be duplicates, meaning that you only need to make 2 separate pattern elements.

3. Lay out your pattern paper and sketch out the pattern. If your pattern is a piece of clothing that requires specific measurements, this is the Step in which you will make the measurements and transfer them to the paper.

4. Cut out the pieces of the pattern. Assemble them in as accurate a simulation as possible to determine if any pieces are missing.

5. When you are ready to begin cutting the fabric and sewing, pin the patterns to your fabric as you would with a ready-made pattern, and cut and assemble the fabric accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid unforseen obstacles or forgotten steps in your project, make a detailed list for yourself before making your pattern that will help you assemble your project in the correct order. For example, if you are making a tote bag and want to line the inside, list your assembly steps in order so that you don't forget to insert the straps between the bag and the lining when the time comes.

• Get ideas from existing patterns or projects. If there is a ready-made pattern that you want to adapt or a number of ideas from different patterns that you want to combine, give it a try. Just be sure to make a detailed list and sketch out your final project to make sure it will work.