August 2009

Method 2:  For clothes you still want to wear.  You won’t want to take these garments apart, so you’ll need to lay each piece out on the pattern paper, and draw each piece, folding and re-folding to get an accurate copy.  Start with a simple garment with few pieces, like a simple T-shirt or skirt, until you are practiced.  After you draw the piece, add a uniform seam allowance.  Pin the pieces onto the garment to make sure they are accurate.  It’s rare that I get a piece perfect the first time, so I keep the paper scraps and tape close-by to add here and there to the paper pattern.  Tip:  I really love my  French Curve!  It helps when drawing the curves in your pattern pieces.

If you’re not the type to learn by trial and error, or if you haven’t the time, there is a great book that shows how to make patterns from finished clothes.  Years ago, I had the aptly named book, Making Patterns from Finished Clothes, by Rusty Bensussen.   (I loaned it out, forgot to whom, have since bought another copy:)