How to Design & Sketch Clothes
Designing and sketching clothes is a great way to hone your creativity, even if you don't plan on making it a career. Learning how to design and sketch clothes is simple if you have a keen eye for detail and understand the female form. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sketch pad
- Pencil
- Sewing machine
- Scrap materials
- Apparel that needs alterations
- Thread
Instructions
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How to Design and Sketch Clothes
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Find what inspires you. Before you start to design and sketch clothes, find what inspires you most. Is it nature? Is it art? Look at the things you regularly enjoy, and regardless of how far they feel from fashion, use them as inspiration when you begin to design and sketch clothing.
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Think about what you want to create. Are you looking to sketch and design for fun? Do you want this to potentially become a craft? Who do you want to wear your clothes? Ask yourself these things, and think about the type of clothes you want to create. This will make it easier when it comes to creating pieces that work together and that read cohesive as a collection (even if the hobby is just for fun).
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Start sketching. Don't consider yourself an artist? Don't worry. Sketching out ideas can be as simple as drawing the silhouette of a dress or the outline of a pair of pants. Start small and grow as an artist, little by little. Remember, the person in the sketch doesn't have to resemble a real person, and you can even sketch apparel on its own versus on a figure. Just be sure to include the silhouette of the garment and how it will fit, even if the image is just a floating gown.
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Design for any reason at all. Don't let mainstream fashion or celebrities force you into thinking of design in a certain way. Think outside of the box. Since you are just starting out, push the envelope and learn to edit down until you have something wearable and innovative. Designing for no real reason at all usually breeds some of the best creativity.
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Bring your sketches to life. Learn to sew, as most designers never want their ideas to simply sit on a page forever. Invest in a sewing machine, and practice by adding on to apparel you already own. Do slight alternations to pieces you own, and use scrap fabric to practice your skill. After you have the hang of working with your hands and the sewing machine, you can venture into creating your own pieces from scratch.
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Tips & Warnings
Becoming comfortable with sketching or sewing are not exclusive regarding which one should be mastered first. Learn at your own pace and understand fabrics and proportions, whether it's through sketching or sewing.
