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How to Turn Commercial Clothing into your Own Patterns
After buying the most amazing fabric in the world I discovered I didn't have the pattern to suit it. Enter my favourite skirt and some sewing scrutiny. This is how I did it...

Posted by Katharine Sophia from Leeds, England, United Kingdom • Published See Katharine Sophia's 6 projects »
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  • How to sew a seam. How To Draft A Pattern From Your Favourite Clothing - Step 1
    Step 1

    Take your chosen garment and turn it inside out and fold it in half. I chose this floral mini skirt from New Look. I also looked at how it had been put together. It was pretty simply put together - a front skirt and two back pieces with a centre back zip.
    I traced around the skirt and added an inch for seam allowance as I went.
    I then cut the piece out, I only needed one as I'm clever! You'll see why.

  • How to sew a seam. How To Draft A Pattern From Your Favourite Clothing - Step 2
    Step 2

    Then pin and cut. Once on the fold and then another... not on the fold so that you get two matching pieces.

  • How to sew a seam. How To Draft A Pattern From Your Favourite Clothing - Step 3
    Step 3

    Enlist your crafting cat to help you out.

  • How to sew a seam. How To Draft A Pattern From Your Favourite Clothing - Step 4
    Step 4

    Now, I stupidly didn't photograph cutting out the waistband and creating it. But basically I lay the skirt on the fabric and cut double the amount it showed me that I needed.
    I then sewed it along the edge, fold it over and sewed it again.

  • How to sew a seam. How To Draft A Pattern From Your Favourite Clothing - Step 5
    Step 5

    Once my zip was inserted it was finished and ready!

  • Step 6

    MAKING THE PATTERN

    Essentially, this is a tracing exercise, but you need to look carefully at where the seams have been sewn together. For example, if you're making a top, look at all the seams and make each pattern piece in turn, rather than just tracing around the shape. For good measure add an inch for seam allowance to each edge and connect them all.

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Comments

Lisa T.
Lisa T. · San Antonio, Texas, US · 6 projects
Step 3!! I need to get a CRAFTING cat! I only have a Lazy Bum cat! LOL! Smile Shock
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