One of the most popular reasons to learning how to sew is so you can make your own clothes. When I started sewing I had ideas about pretty dresses and outfits.
I also had thoughts about Victorian and 1860s era dresses (something I haven’t yet tried to make). But, I have made historical outfits for my 18 inch doll.
Sewing your own clothes can be so much fun and a great way to be creative, but depending on the pattern or type of outfit it can also be difficult. In this post I’ll give you some tips that will help you get started.
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Sewing Patterns
First, I’m going to talk a little bit about sewing patterns. Sewing patterns are guides to help you sew the the outfit pictured on the front of the pattern in the right size.
There are a lot of different brands of patterns, the most common are Simplicity, McCall’s, Butterick and Vogue. I really don’t have a favorite brand of sewing pattern, but you can find a great pattern from any of these or other brands.
Sewing patterns will come with different sizes, so you can pick the right size. Sometimes you may have to combined sizes to get the perfect fit.
You can find a lot of free sewing patterns online, these are usually PDF patterns. I’ve used both PDF and paper patterns, but I don’t know that I like one of them better than the other.
To me the best sewing patterns are the vintage sewing patterns. And I like to get my vintage sewing patterns from Etsy.
Supplies you will need
Before I get into the tips for sewing clothes, I’ll give you a list of the things you’ll need to get started.
- Sewing Machine
- Fabric Scissors
- Straight Pins or Sewing Clips (or both)
- Seam Ripper
- Marking Pens
- Measuring Tape
And you might need an iron for pressing the seams.
I know a sewing machine is kind of obvious, but you do not need a expensive sewing machine to get started. Here is the post I did for “The 5 Best Affordable Sewing Machines Under $200”.
And with the scissors, please get fabric scissors. Because you’ll save yourself a lot of aggravation by using a good pair of fabric scissors instead of using just a pair of plastic handle craft scissors.
Because fabric scissors are made to cut though different fabrics cleanly and easily.
Tip #1
Start with easy things.
Ladies, the easiest clothes to me that you can start sewing is simple skirts. In fact I think my first sewing project was just an easy elastic gathered skirt.
The skirt I made was just a rectangle of fabric that has elastic at the waist. I know it’s tempting to want to try a fitted long sleeve buttoned blouse or an elaborate dress. But, a easy sewing project is a lot less frustrating to start with.
So, start with the easiest sewing projects and then work your way up.
Find a easy sewing pattern to begin with that doesn’t have french seams or other more advanced techniques. And you can even find free patterns online.
Tip #2
Start with easy to sew with fabric.
Cotton is a great beginner fabric and linen is another great option. Knit fabrics are a little tricker to sew with to me, so if you want to use it I would make something like a simple knotted headband first to see if you’re okay with knit fabric. And if you’re a beginner stay away from satins and slippery fabrics.
The fabric you use can make a lot of difference when you’re just starting your sewing journey. Tricky fabrics can make you want to give up before you even really get started.
Tip #3
Practice your sewing skills.
The first thing you want to do if you’ve never sewn before is to practice just sewing. Work on sewing a straight line and practice reverse stitching.
And practice on sewing two pieces of fabric together. You can also practice on threading your sewing machine and winding the bobbin.
Tip #4
Read though the entire sewing pattern.
The first step before you cut out the material or anything is to take the time to read though the sewing pattern you’re wanting to use. And sewing patterns will usually have photos of each step to help you understand the steps a little better.
And reading though the instructions will help you decide if you have the skill level for the pattern. If you’ve bought a used sewing pattern you also need to look at the pattern pieces to make sure they’re all there.
I like vintage patterns and a majority of the time vintage patterns are always used. Meaning they’ve been cut out, so looking though the pattern pieces is one of the first things I do.
Tip #5
Try on the outfit after each step.
You’re probably think “really, try on the outfit after each step”. Yes, this is a very important step, because even if you’re not a beginner sewist it’s a good idea to check the fit as you sew.
Because if you’re off on the measurements by even a little bit or you missed a step completely. It could make the dress or the top or whatever you’re working on not fit right or even not fit at all.
And it’s a lot easier to adjust before you have completed the entire outfit. Then to try and fix it after you have finished and hemmed the entire thing (a lot less frustrating too).
Tip #6
Take your time.
This is something I still have to remind myself of. Because it’s easy to want to rush and finish the outfit to see how it looks completely done.
And hurrying can cause you to make more mistakes. Especially if you’re tired, I know because I have made mistakes because I was tired that I probably wouldn’t have made if I’d have put the project up and came back to it later.
Like one time when I was working on a 18 inch doll historical dress, I stitched one of the sleeves wrong side out. I probably wouldn’t have done that if I had taken a break.
Because sewing a dress or a top is not a race, working at your own pace can make a sewing project a lot more enjoyable.
Conclusion
There are my 6 tips to help you start sewing your own clothes. Sewing your own clothes can be really fun and enjoyable. Once you get started and get all the basics down it shouldn’t be a long time until you can work on more intermediate clothing. And work with trickier fabrics.
A lot of seamstresses can start making their own patterns for their clothes, after they’ve been sewing for awhile. If you make your own sewing pattern just don’t forget to add the seam allowance :-).
And after you’ve been sewing awhile you’ll find that you have favourite fabrics and your favorite brand of patterns and supplies. I have certain fabric brands I like to work with, now with the patterns I really don’t have an all time favorite brand of sewing patterns.
Thank you for reading this post and I hope that it helps you on your sewing journey to sewing your own clothes.
