- 1). Decide what kind of garment you want to make, then choose a similar garment from your own closet. For example, you might want to make a pair of pants, so pick a pair of pants you already own.
- 2). Lay out the fabric from which you want to make the new garment in a single layer.
- 3). Fold your garment along its seam lines so that you get the shape of only one of its pieces. For example, a pair of pants would be folded along the center seam so that you're working with only one leg. A shirt would be folded at the armhole seams so that the sleeves are pushed out of the way of the body piece.
- 4). Lay the folded garment on top of your fabric. Trace around all sides of the garment with a fabric pencil copying the shape.
- 5). Trace the other pieces of the garment, such as sleeves or waistbands. Work with each piece separately.
- 6). Make any fit or style changes you want on the new garment to your drawing. You might want to change the arm or leg length, the side seam fit or even the shape of the sleeves. Be as creative as you like.
- 7). Find the seam sides of your drawings. Move the seam lines 5/8 inch away so you have seam allowances.
- 8). Find the hem or collar sides of your drawing. These will be at the ends of the legs and sleeves and at the neckline. Move these lines 2 inches away so you have hem allowances.
- 9). Cut the pieces out along your lines. Make as many copies of each piece as you need. For example, a pair of pants needs four leg pieces while a shirt needs two body pieces.
- 10
Assemble the garment pieces as they are in your original clothes, just as though you were following a pattern. Keep your seam allowance and hem allowance measurements in mind. - 11
Put the new garment on to test the fit. If you find any fit mistakes, adjust the problem area with a few pins and sew the seam again.
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