How to Make Simple Patterns from Old Clothes

How to Make Simple Patterns from Old Clothes



An old favorite garment is getting threadbare and you can't seem to find one like it anywhere. It's one of those that fits just perfectly and can be worn on nearly any occasion. You'd have a closet full of them if only you could find them. No need to fret any longer. You can actually make a pattern from your beloved frock and reproduce it for years to come. For example, we'll assume you have a favorite three quarter sleeve cotton tee shirt with a scoop neck.







Things You'll Need:





Good fabric scissors



Pattern paper



Pen or pencil that will show on fabric



Pins



Paper to take notes









Step
1



Using good fabric-only scissors carefully cut along the seam of the shirt's bodice at both sides and across both shoulders. You should have a shirt front without sleeves and with interfacing. Cut carefully along the interfacing until you have it separated.




Step
2



Put the tee shirt front onto the pattern paper, pinning it flat. Adding your seam allowance (say it is 3/8", a typical allowance), add that much space around the tee as you cut it out of the pattern paper. You can eyeball this--take time and care but don't sweat it too much--it doesn't have to be perfect.




Step
3



Mark the pieces as soon as you cut them out to avoid mixing them up. Sometimes pieces look the same but they aren't. Write front on the piece.




Step
4



Now lay the sleeve into the pattern piece watching for that seam allowance and mark where it fits into the pattern with a little x or small horizontal line where it joins the top and bottom of the armhole. Do this on both sides--with the proper sleeve--right for right and left to left. Do the same with the interfacing piece.




Step
5



Cut each piece in the same manner, leaving your seam allowance and marking where seams that join pieces begin and end. Mark each pattern piece's position (this is hugely important when remaking a complicated garment) as to front, back, right, left or center. When you finish, you will have a completed set of pattern pieces, marked well enough to be able to reassemble like a real pattern.


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