Making Your Own Clothes
 With
the economy getting rougher seemingly every day, we must look
for ways to cut costs wherever we can. Making your own clothes
is one way to cut costs dramatically, because making your own
clothes can be much cheaper than buying them new off the rack.
What You'll Need
- A sewing machine
- Sewing lessons or online instruction if you've never sewed
before.
- A sewing pattern.
- Fabric to make your garment.
- Finishing items like zippers, buttons, etc.
- Thread, sewing needles, bobbins, and other accessories.
Getting Started
The first thing you'll need is a pattern to use for your garment.
You can find patterns on sale at local fabric shops, or online
at auction sites. Make sure you read the pattern beforehand,
so you know what size you are according to the measurements on
the pattern. Pattern companies can run a little different in
sizing, so make sure you read the pattern and take your measurements
before you begin cutting out the pattern.
Pin the pattern to the fabric according to the pattern directions.
Remember, if you're sewing a design that only follows one direction
on the pattern, or you're using a napped fabric like corduroy
or suede, you'll need to lay out all your pattern pieces in the
same direction on the fabric for it to match.
Cut out your pattern pieces using good quality dressmaker's
shears. Make sure to transfer all the markings on the pattern,
like darts, buttonholes, and zipper placement before you remove
the pattern pieces. Follow the pattern directions for sewing
your garment.
Press as You Go
Pressing open seams and pressing darts is essential for a
well-constructed garment. Keep an ironing board beside your sewing
machine, or invest in a small, table-top ironing board, so you
can press open seams as you sew. Press up hems and edges, too,
it makes them easier to sew. Hand sew the finishing touches,
like hems and buttonholes, and you've made your first clothing!
The more you sew, the more you'll get comfortable with the directions
and how to construct more complex garments.
If you've never sewed before, see if your local fabric or
sewing machine store offers classes. Many times colleges and
universities will offer adult education classes in sewing, too.
Take a class, because it can really help you understand the ins
and outs of sewing clothing much quicker than learning on your
own.
Learn about fabrics, too. Spend some time just browsing at
your fabric store, and look at different types of fabrics, from
upholstery fabrics to lightweight chiffons, so you understand
how the fabric feels, and more importantly, how it drapes and
looks. The right (or wrong) fabric can really make your outfit
a standout, so get to know fabrics, and pay attention to the
pattern envelope, which will recommend the best fabrics for the
particular pattern you've chosen.
Making your own clothes can save money for the entire family,
because you can sew just about everything from baby clothes to
shirts for dad, dresses and pants for you, and school clothes
for the kids. However, making your own clothes can lead to much
greater satisfaction in yourself, as you begin to see how well
made homemade clothes are compared to cheap department store
clothes, and how much longer they last. You may even find you
love sewing so much; you can turn it into a part-time business
that can bring in some much needed extra income!
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