Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book
    The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book
    The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book
    Ebook292 pages48 minutes

    The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book

    By Joan Wiener Bordow and Sharon Rosenberg

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Here is the straight-up dope on how to make your own clothing. With or without patterns, machines, or fancy materials—anyone can do it! Got some old clothes that you love and that fit well? Use them as patterns for new ones. Want something new and spectacular, something that fits right along where your head is moving? Cut up, remodel, add on, and let your old stuff evolve! Readers will embrace the step-by-step illustrations, clear and encouraging prose, and timeless collection of clothes—from skirts and pants to dresses, a waistcoat, and even a teeny-weeny bikini. The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book promises to be both an indispensable resource and a much-noticed collectible on every hipster’s bookshelf.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSkyhorse
    Release dateSep 17, 2008
    ISBN9781628731255
    The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book

    Related to The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book

    Related ebooks

    Crafts & Hobbies For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      PLUS-SIZED Clothing Alterations

      Aug 16, 2019

      PLUS-SIZED Clothing Alterations
      3 min read

    • Article

      A Couture Essential: Hand Sewing

      Nov 20, 2016

      By Claire Shaeffer Hand stitching has many virtues. It allows you to control the fabric more easily. It’s softer than machine stitching since there’s only one thread, not two. It’s easier to remove and less likely to mar the fabric when removed. I us

      3 min read

    • Article

      Couture Sewing School

      May 28, 2017

      By Louise Sparrow An exceptional and sought-after teacher, Susan established The Couture Sewing School in 1993 and regularly conducts classes across the USA. At the beginning of this year, the Australian Sewing Guild was pleased to collaborate with S

      1 min read

    • Article

      The Pattern Designers of Etsy

      Sep 3, 2022

      The Pattern Designers of Etsy
      4 min read

    • Article

      Make Your Own Shoulder Pads

      Nov 20, 2016

      Make Your Own Shoulder Pads
      6 min read

    • Article

      Modern Twist

      May 13, 2021

      Modern Twist
      7 min read

    • Article

      Free Sewing Pattern!

      May 26, 2021

      Free Sewing Pattern!
      1 min read

    • Article

      Clothing Alterations

      May 28, 2017

      Clothing Alterations
      3 min read

    • Article

      Finding the Balance

      Apr 17, 2021

      Finding the Balance
      6 min read

    • Article

      Blind Hem Stitch

      Aug 6, 2020

      Blind Hem Stitch
      4 min read

    • Article

      Curves Without Curves – The ‘Slight’ Rectangle

      Dec 13, 2019

      Curves are the domain of women and, generally, the body characteristic creating most problems for the home sewer. However, for a small percentage of women the lack of curves on the figure is equally problematic. While the average home sewer makes the

      7 min read

    • Article

      DIY Half Scale Dress Form

      Dec 12, 2016

      DIY Half Scale Dress Form
      3 min read

    • Article

      Your Cup Size Matters

      Aug 5, 2022

      Your Cup Size Matters
      2 min read

    • Article

      Pattern Rulers

      Dec 23, 2021

      Pattern Rulers
      3 min read

    • Article

      TIPS FOR Making Trousers

      Jul 3, 2021

      TIPS FOR Making Trousers
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Solana dress Set

      Aug 3, 2023

      SIZES 6-30 (US 4-28/EUR 34-58) ■ Pattern sheets x2■ Instruction sheet Main fabric: ■ Option A&C Sizes 6-18: 2.7mx140cm Sizes 20-30: 4.1mx140cm■ Option B Sizes 6-18: 2.4mx140cm Sizes 20-30: 2.8mx140cm■ Matching thread■ Lightweight iron-on interfacing:

      4 min read

    • Article

      Sewing Room Supplies - Part 1

      Nov 20, 2016

      Sewing Room Supplies - Part 1
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Fitting Foundation

      Jul 23, 2017

      A Fitting Foundation
      4 min read

    • Article

      Buttonholes Explained!

      Aug 5, 2022

      Buttonholes Explained!
      4 min read

    • Article

      Arts And Crafts

      Sep 30, 2021

      Arts And Crafts
      3 min read

    • Article

      Know Your Knickers

      Aug 16, 2019

      It can be a sensitive topic, I know! Some briefs make you yearn for the end of the day just so you can whip them off and slip into your comfy PJs. Others ensure your need for archaeological retrieval several times throughout your day, with your only

      5 min read

    • Article

      FIND your FLOW

      Jan 28, 2021

      FIND your FLOW
      4 min read

    • Article

      Old To New

      Apr 13, 2023

      Old To New
      7 min read

    • Article

      Making A Bra

      May 1, 2021

      Making A Bra
      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book

    4/5

    1 rating0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Illustrated Hassle-Free Make Your Own Clothes Book - Joan Wiener Bordow

      Tools

      Here are some supplies for the well-stocked sewing kit. The first group are the things you need to begin, the second group those you’ll acquire as you go along. When you start a project, buy the things that you need: thread, zipper, snaps or buttons. You’re bound to have leftovers and will soon gather a lovely collection of odds and ends for future use.

      Things to Start With:

      Brown Paper or Paper Bags for making patterns

      Needles—assorted sizes

      Seam Ripper

      Scissors

      Straight Pins—large box, medium size

      Tailor’s Chalk

      Tape Measure

      Things You’ll Acquire:

      Beeswax

      Buttons

      Elastic

      Embroidery Needles—assorted sizes

      Embroidery Threads

      Hooks & Eyes

      Leather Needles—assorted sizes

      Safety Pins—assorted sizes

      Seam Binding

      Snaps—assorted sizes

      Thread—large spool black

      large spool white

      assorted colors

      Zippers

      Sewing Machines

      If you have a sewing machine—great!—but not having one shouldn’t keep you from sewing. In many places, electricity isn’t available and it’s better not to depend on machines.

      Hand sewing is sturdier than machine sewing. It’s also a lot more relaxing. What machines can do is shorten sewing time considerably. If you do have access to a machine, don’t be afraid to use it. They’re extremely simple to operate and can be used for all seam sewing. Hems, however, should always be done by hand.

      If you don’t know how to use a machine, have someone show you how. This is always better than relying on a diagram.

      When using a machine, be careful not to sew in a straight line directly over pins. This can damage the machine. Rather place pins facing the machine’s needle, pulling them out before the needle reaches them—or, place pins perpendicular to the needle and sew over them that way.

      e9781602393097_i0002.jpg

      Guide to Illustrations

      e9781602393097_i0003.jpg

      Terms and Helpful Hints

      Casing: This refers to folding over and sewing down the fabric in such a way as to form a tube through which you can string elastic or a ribbon tie—for waistbands on elastic top pants, string gathered necklines or elastic gathered cuffs at wrist or ankle.

      Clip Curves: Material sewn on a curve tends to bunch up when worn. Therefore, it’s necessary to clip curves at armholes, necklines, crotches, etc. This allows the material to lie flat. Always start your clipping at the ragged edge, cutting up to, but not over, the seam.

      e9781602393097_i0004.jpg

      Darts: We don’t use darts on tops because we don’t use bras —they give your clothes a funny shape. If you want to make darts, you can figure out easily enough how to add them to the tops. On some pants and skirts, though, darts are useful to make waistbands fit better. You don’t have to have them, but here’s how in case you want to:

      1. On the front, you’ll want a small dart about 2 or 3 long, going from the waistband out at an angle toward the point of the hip, if you’re slim, or straight down toward your belly if that’s nice and round.

      2. Same in back: make a dart 3 to 4 long going from the waist straight down to the part that sticks out the most. This makes things go in where you go in and go out where you go out.

      Hold the front piece up to you and mark in tailor’s chalk where you want the dart to be. Measure carefully to make sure both darts are an equal distance from the center. Do the same with the back pieces.

      3. Fold along the line, right side to right side and sew on a diagonal line, starting at top edge about ½″ from fold, down to the bottom of your measured dart. Press flat.

      e9781602393097_i0005.jpg

      Elastic: Whenever you use elastic for a waistband or cuff, you can prevent it from curling and twisting if you tack it into place at the sides, front and back of your garment. After the elastic is inserted in the casing, make sure it isn’t curled, adjust the gathers evenly, then tack by sewing through the elastic and the front and back of the casing, using a small stitch the way you would sew on a button—it won’t show in the folds of the fabric.

      Facings: Don’t be scared by the word facing. It is merely an easy way to get a smooth turned edge at garment openings like necks and armholes. The facing is a 2 or 3 piece of fabric that follows the shape of the opening. Instructions will be given with each pattern where a facing is necessary.

      e9781602393097_i0006.jpg

      1. Sew the facing into place.

      2. Press it out flat, away from the garment. Sew another seam ⅛″ from the first seam, taking in the seam selvage and the facing. Trim selvage. This will help it stay flat and keep it from turning to the outside.

      If your fabric is stretchy and pliable, facings aren’t absolutely necessary—the ragged edges can be turned under neatly and sewn down. Also, whenever a facing is indicated, you can sometimes use ribbon or lace if you don’t have enough extra fabric.

      e9781602393097_i0007.jpg

      Hem Binding: Ribbon or lace can be used whenever you want to give a smooth, unragged look to hems. It’s especially good on heavy fabric where it’s hard to turn the ragged edges under.

      1. Sew the ribbon to the right side of your fabric so that the ribbon extends just a little beyond the ragged edge.

      2. Then turn up your hem to the right length, pin and hem stitch.

      e9781602393097_i0008.jpg

      Ironing (Pressing): It’s good to keep an iron hot and handy while sewing so you can press seams open and flat as you go. You’ll frequently find yourself sewing over seams and pressing makes the whole process much simpler.

      e9781602393097_i0009.jpg

      Reinforcing Seams: Wherever there will be strain on a seam —at the crotch or underarm areas, for example—it is helpful to reinforce this by sewing a piece of ribbon or

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1