It is common to run into difficulty finding a pattern for the garments you want to sew. You may also try to follow pattern instructions and end up more confused. It can be challenging whenever you want to sew but feel restricted by the pattern options you have. This article will focus on some tips that can help you sew without a pattern.
Begin with the Basics
If it is your first time sewing with no pattern, go for something simple. This can be a pair of pajamas or a circle skirt. These pieces have easy shapes, and their fits are relaxed. Therefore, you will have an easy time using your math and simple measurements for crafts without following a set pattern.
Sketch the Garment
Sketch the garment you want to sew first, since you will not be abiding by any pattern. The sketch will assist you in getting familiarized with the garment. You will also be able to create a mental checklist.
Imagine the Garment Flat
Imagining the garment flat is more like sketching the garment. Envisioning the garment flat on the table will help you visualize what the final product will look like. When you imagine the garment flat, you will decide which points to sew together and what areas to cut in a certain way. This will help you come up with an impeccable product.
Get Good Measurements
If you rely on your measurements while making a piece, it is crucial to ensure you have the best sizes. If you typically estimate your measures while sewing, it might be the perfect time to get the necessary knowledge to take your measurements properly.
Use Your Outfits as a Model
We are sewing with no pattern but not without a guide. You will need a guide to help you navigate your sewing, and the best place for a guide is your wardrobe. Please pay attention to some of your best outfits, and see how they have been made.
You can go as far as disassembling the outfits to figure out how they have been put together. After dismantling the garment, you can utilize the pieces for guidance on how you will cut your own. Sew a few pieces of your outfits as practice.
After making a few pieces and getting comfortable, you can begin to branch out. Some of the elements you can change include sleeve length, hemline, and neckline.
Use a Dress Form
Getting a perfect fit when wearing the garments you are working on can be difficult. As you create more fitted and complex clothes, it would be advisable to have a model to fit your garments.
A dress form that is adjustable will work best when sewing for various shapes and body sizes. If you constantly sew your garments, creating a form of yourself in shape and size with duct tape might be a good idea.
Consider Wearing Ease
A garment should have an extra space that gives you room to breathe and allows you to be comfortable in it. Therefore, it is useful to add the fabric’s stretch and extra measurements.
If the garment you are using for guidance is made of knit fabric, you should consider adding extra knitting if you go for woven fabric that does not stretch that much. Also, if you cut your woven fabric on its bias, you will get an extra stretch, which may indicate you have to take some slight measurements.
Keep Practicing
When you begin sewing complex garments, you might need to use muslin, a practice item for your piece. With a muslin, you will cut your piece right and won’t have to damage your expensive fashion fabric.
Unbleached muslins have been the go-to practice pieces. However, it is crucial to use one that has a drape and weight akin to the fabric you are planning to use. This will allow you to get a good picture of how your clothes will appear once completed, and you will have room to make the required adjustments.
Take a Course on Pattern Drafting
A course on drafting your patterns will help take your sewing a notch higher. If you are accustomed to making adjustments to patterns, most of the techniques and tools will be very familiar.
Learning to make your patterns may be easier than it appears to be. You will make your garments to measure according to your designs, and you will also be able to share your patterns you create with others.
Carefully Study Patterns
Studying commercial pattern versions will allow you to learn how to develop your own. Once you study these patterns carefully, you will easily tell the disparity that a sleeve cap’s height can bring, for instance, when directly comparing two patterns.
Also, you can look at patterns you’re highly accustomed to and see what makes them challenging or easy to sew. You can also get spot areas that pose the greatest challenge to you. After you get to know what you are looking for or what to avoid, you will easily come up with patterns with the desired results.
Use Shaping Techniques
You will need minimal shaping to make straightforward garments with no pattern. However, as you gain more experience, you can use various shaping methods to give your garments a tailored look you desire.
One of the easiest techniques is darts. However, you may require patience as it takes some time to master the technique.
Mark Carefully
Whenever you sew with a pattern that is premade, the needed marks are printed on the page for you. But when you use your pattern or simply using measurements, you will have to add the markers yourself.
You can use disappearing washable ink, marking pencils, or tailor’s chalk. These will help you track how you should assemble and cut your pieces. For delicate materials that are hard to cut, like lace, use thread tracing. These are marks with contrasting colored threads that are basted through the fabric loosely for a viable alternative.
