Everyone has a personal style that expresses who they are. There are so many different styles to follow, you sometimes might not know where your own lands. On top of that, clothes are expensive and sometimes it feels like you have to buy the perfect garment or risk wasting your money.
There’s a way to get around this though, and that’s making your own clothes! Not only do you get to develop a creative yet relaxing hobby, you also get to be your own fashion designer. You might like black leather clothes, or light pink chiffon ones, or both, and when making your own clothing you can create whatever styles you want. If you’re interested in how to get started with making your own clothes, keep reading!
Get Plenty of Fabric
The first step you should take if you want to make your own garments is buying lots of fabric. You’re going to mess up as you learn, this means you’ll be going through a lot of fabric. Plus, it’s nice to have options when it comes to colors, patterns, and materials. If you want to mix blue denim and green polyester, there’s nothing stopping you! While this might seem expensive, there are plenty of stores out there that sell discount fabrics. So start your collection now!
Find a Sewing Machine
While there are definitely some garments you’d be able to sew by hand, the easiest and most efficient method for sewing clothes is with a sewing machine. If you want to make this a serious hobby or even a career, investing in a nice sewing machine might serve you well. However, if there isn’t room in your budget for a brand new one, you can find refurbished and second-hand machines if you look for them. A sewing machine is the one tool that can take you from an amateur to a professional, so consider buying one to jumpstart your designing!
Know Your Measurements
Every step that goes into making your own clothes requires precision and accuracy. Knowing your exact measurements will help you make the best looking and fitting clothes for your body. Simply get a tape measurer and record the lengths, widths, and diameters of whatever body parts you need. This way you don’t have to keep measuring yourself and you can pre-cut fabric that you know you might want to use in the future. While this is a time-consuming process, it’ll make designing your own clothes easier and you’ll be glad you did it.
Practice, Practice, Practice
No one’s instantly good at a skill or hobby. This is especially true for artistic and craft driven ones. Just like learning how to paint, learning to create clothes takes time and effort. Your first garments are probably not going to look or fit the way you want them to, but that’s okay! You have to make a few duds before you can truly make some beautiful pieces. Don’t get discouraged in the beginning, just keep trying and your designs will come to life before you know it!
Designing and creating your own wardrobe can be a rewarding and money-saving skill. Why buy expensive clothing that’s not quite perfect when you have all you need to do it yourself? This is especially true if you have a unique personal style that isn’t found commonly in stores. If a retailer isn’t going to make the clothes you want, what’s stopping you from making them yourself? Let your inner artist out and start making everything you want to wear. Who knows, you might be the next Kate Spade or Michael Kors!
