Make a Pattern From a Shirt

Series Summary

Why design fashion for models? According to J.P. Prewitt, famous hand model of Bulova fame, models are genetically constructed to become something great: “They’re in peak physical condition. They can gain entry to the most secure places in the world. And most important of all, models don’t think for themselves. They do as their told.” It seems only natural to want the fashion you design to be hanging on perfect limbs and torsos. Because of the popularity of shows like Project Runway, and others, fashion design has become a fad readily consumed by our tweenagers and teenie-boppers.

In this free video series, expert fashion maker Lauren Bradley teaches you how to make a pattern from an existing shirt. Lauren gives you tips to turn an old, favorite t-shirt into a pattern that can make countless exact duplicates! You will learn how to cut apart the shirt to preserve the shape, how to cut and measure the neckband, and how to trace a pattern out from the fabric. You will get tips for designing fashion from this exercise in practical pattern making.

Video Transcript

"Hi my name is Lauren Bradley and I?m here with Expert Village. I am a designer and I make my own clothes, as well as clothes, clothing for other people. Ok so today I?m going to turn this t shirt into a pattern, and the reason why I?m going to sacrifice it and turn it into a pattern is because, this color is not so good for me in the winter, and I'd like to make it in a different color. Maybe your reasoning is that there is a stain on the front of it, you ate a meatball and it, you know, your favorite t shirt is dead or maybe something happened to it in the wash where it got discolored, maybe there's a hole in it. For any number of reasons, you might want to replicate it because you?re really not ready to let go of your favorite t shirt. So I?m going to cut this t shirt up and turn it into a hard copied pattern, and then I'll be able to make this t shirt a thousand times, two times, one time, however many times I feel like it, ok."