Make Your Own Clothes: Essential Tips and Sewing Basics for Beginners

I started this initial sewing experience super intimidated but quickly learned that every mistake could be undone or mended (sometimes quite literally!). My skills have leveled up with every project since and although there have been frustrating moments, I’ve found great joy in the process. If you’re interested in making some of your own wardrobe pieces but are finding it difficult to even know where to start, I’m here today to share some basics I’ve learned. I hope to demystify this practice and encourage you to take the exciting first steps towards sewing your own clothes!

Tips and Tools To Start Sewing Your Own Clothes

1. Find the right sewing machine

Both Singer and Brother make entry-level machines that work well for sewing a variety of projects. The Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine is very popular amongst Spoonflower employees, especially those new to sewing. Want to be sure you know the difference between your tension adjuster and stitch width adjustment dials? Or want to know more about what they do? Check out our Anatomy of a Sewing Machine Diagram within our Ultimate Sewing Guide post to get to know the lingo!

2. Find a beginner-friendly sewing pattern

Now that your machine is ready to go, what should you sew first? You could get a feel for your machine by hemming a pair of pants or refreshing a treasured t-shirt with our raglan tee tutorial. You can also jump right in and learn to make your own clothes from scratch with several beginner-friendly sewing tutorials on our blog.

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Two of my favorite places to look for beginner-friendly sewing patterns are Peppermint Magazine and Seamwork. Our friends at Peppermint Magazine’s Sewing School offer pay-what-you-want patterns and release a new one every three months! Additionally, Seamwork’s Pattern Library has over 200+ patterns to choose from. You can start with a beginner-friendly and free pattern like the Sorbetto top and then become a monthly member to tackle more complex wardrobe additions as you grow. Seamwork also has a handy help section and clear instructions so it’s easy to learn as you go. Here are four patterns from Peppermint Magazine and Seamwork perfect for a first project:

Kaye Activewear Set by Seamwork If you have access to a printer, you can easily print downloadable PDF patterns at home and assemble them together using scissors and tape. You can also research options like PDF Plotting to order a print of the entire pattern on one sheet.

3. Choose the right fabric for your clothing project

Spoonflower has 25+ fabric types. It’s smart to start with a few swatches of any design on any fabric type, so you can see it and feel it in real life. Here are three fabric types we suggest you start with:

• REPREVE® Recycled Canvas – This fabric is easy to sew and durable. It makes great tote bags, chef aprons and pillows.
• Organic Cotton Sateen – This fabric is easy to use for first-time sewists. It’s lightweight and comfortable with a smooth sheen.
• Modern Jersey – This “forgiving to sew with” fabric is stretchy and ideal to create tops, dresses and accessories.

The sewing pattern’s instructions will tell you exactly how much fabric you need for the version you plan to create in the fabric requirements section. Your sewing pattern will often recommend different substrates (types of fabric) that work best. Here are some helpful guides that will help you choose the perfect fabric for a wide variety of projects:

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4. Gather your other sewing supplies

• **Needle and thread – **This will vary depending on your fabric choice, but our help center will help you make your decision!
• **Seam ripper – **We all make mistakes, especially when first starting out, but careful seam ripping will help you undo any wonky stitches.
• **Fabric scissors or rotary blade – **A pair that is specifically designed for (and exclusively used for) fabric is an important addition to your tool kit.
• **Iron – **Other than your sewing machine, an iron will be your best sewing friend! Pressing your seams will make sewing easier while ensuring accuracy and a polished final look.
• **Pins or sewing clips – **To get the right fit and precision, pins are used to attach pieces of fabric together and keep them together for sewing. Sewing clips are a nice alternative.
• **Bonus: **As your projects become more complex your sewing pattern may call for additional elements like bias tape, buttons, and elastic. YouTube is a great resource to see a play-by-play of how to best level up your sewing game with new-to-you additions and skills.

Useful Sewing Terms

After you’ve selected the sewing pattern you’d like to start with, it’s a good idea to take the time to read through all of the instructions. Google and YouTube are your friends as you research any terminology or techniques that are new to you. To start, here are the 10 terms I found helpful to know when I began my sewing journey. My top 10 list is only a start, but as you keep creating, your personal sewing dictionary will expand naturally as you learn.

• **Backstitch – **Every line you stitch with your machine should start and end with a backstitch! Begin with a couple of stitches and then secure those stitches by hitting the backstitch button to stitch over them.
• **Baste – **These are long stitches that can be done by hand just to hold pieces of fabric together temporarily and then they are removed.
• **Cut-on-fold – **Wherever you see this on a pattern, the pattern piece is only half of the full piece you will cut out. If you fold your fabric and place the pattern piece on the fold where it indicates and cut the fabric together, you will get one full piece that is perfectly symmetrical.
• **Hem – **A hem is the finished edge of your garment like on the end of a sleeve or a pant leg. The most common kind is a double-fold hem, where the edges of the fabric are folded over each other twice to hide the raw edge.
• **Mock-up, muslin or toile – **All of these words could describe a kind of prototype for your garment and will help you test the pattern with scrap fabric first, so they can make any amendments the second time around.
• **Notch – **The notches on a sewing pattern are usually small marks like a line or a triangle shape that will help you match up the pattern pieces when assembling your garment. Notches can also be the wedges cut into the seam allowance of a curved seam to reduce bulk. Clipping is also an option depending on if the curve is concave or convex.
• **Right & wrong side – **The right side of your fabric is the printed side and the wrong is the other side that will be on the inside of your garment. This will be noted in your sewing pattern’s diagrams.
• **Seam & seam allowance – **A seam refers to the stitched line. The allowance is the space between the stitched line and the fabric edge. Sewing patterns will account for seam allowance and the standard allowance is typically 5/8″ (1.6 cm).
• **Selvage – **This refers to the tightly woven (often white) edge that runs along each side of a piece of fabric to prevent unraveling or fraying.
• **Topstitch – **This stitch was designed to be seen on the outside. Topstitching can be used decoratively to define and add detail, or functionally by providing an extra hold.

I hope you feel empowered to start creating your own wardrobe after reading my tips! Having garments in your closet that were made especially for you and by you is such a great feeling. Whatever your reason for wanting to make your own clothes, it’s something that anyone can do with a little time and helpful tutorials..

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I start sewing my own clothes?

You can start sewing your own clothes by finding the right sewing machine, choosing a sewing pattern, finding the right fabric for your pattern and gathering your other needed supplies.

Is sewing your own clothes beginner-friendly?

It sure is! We have beginner-friendly sewing projects including clothing like this Chiffon robe jacket.

Are there other ways to make my own clothes besides using patterns?

You can make your own clothes by self-drafting patterns. Learn how to sew a t-shirt by self-drafting — or tracing the pattern from something you own — to create something new!

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