How to Make Your Own Simple Sewing Pattern

You will learn how easy it is to make your own pattern from one of your favorite pieces of clothing.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Material
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Pins
• Pair of favorite shorts, pants, top, etc.
• Newspaper or brown paper bags

1. Decide if you want to make a pair of shorts, a pair of pants, a blouse, or a simple top. Once you have made your decision, go to your closet and find the type of item you wish to make. If you want to make a pair of pants, get your favorite pair of pants out. Choose the pair that fits the best.

2. Measure the pants or the item you’ve chosen. You should be able to estimate the amount of material you will need by measuring the waist, hips, length from top to bottom, and inseam. It is always better to get too much material than not enough. You can always use the leftover material to make other things with. Buy your material. Once you have your material at home, take the item from your closet and turn it wrong side out. This gives you a better idea of how the item looks before sewing. There are curves and markings that must be matched in order for the item to fit correctly. We’ll say you are making a pair of shorts.

3. If you are using brown paper bags, cut the bag down the side and then cut off the bottom so you have a flat rectangle of brown paper. If you are using newspaper, unfold it until it lays flat in a single sheet. Fold the shorts so you see only 1/4 of the shorts. Take them by the crotch and fold the backs together. This is the pattern you want to cut for the front of the shorts. Lay the quartered shorts on the paper and pin them in place. Being very careful, begin cutting about 5/8-inch from the edge. This leaves enough material for you to make your seams with. When finished cutting it out, mark it as "FRONT" and cut two from your material

4. Now, fold the shorts with fronts together. This is the pattern you want for the back of the shorts. The back is always slightly larger than the front so don’t be alarmed if they look overly larger than the front. Now do the same thing with the backs. Lay them on the paper and pin them in place, cut them 5/8 inch from the edge. When finished, mark "BACK."

5. Unpin your garment from the patterns and begin working with your material as you would for any other pattern. If waistband is needed, make sure you cut it on the bias and make sure you cut it long enough to fit over the hips.

Tips & Warnings

• You can disassemble a garment you want to copy so you'll know exactly how to do it. If you do this, use a garment that does not fit you any longer. Make sure when you are cutting the pattern out to “notch” the curve of the back pattern and the front so you can match them up easily. Also “notch” the sides in the exact same spot on both front and back so you can match them up as well.

[veggies4life]

on 1/3/2009 If I make a pattern from pants that don't fit, the new pants won't fit either. How do I correct that?

[veggies4life]

on 1/3/2009 If I cut a pattern from a garment that does not fit me any longer, the new garment won't fit either. How do I make it fit?