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Creating and sewing your own clothes or garments can be a fun and creative outlet. You may choose to sew clothes only for yourself; or you may even be sewing for someone else. Either way, here are a few tips and guidelines for choosing the best patterns and fabrics for your projects.
Determine the precise measurements for whomever you will be sewing for. This includes measurements for:
- Height
- Chest/bust
- Waist
- Back waist length (This is the measurement is from the base of the neck to the waist)
- Hips
Men’s measurements should also include:
- Pant length
- Neck
- Sleeve length
- Inseam
Make sure you write these measurements down and take them with you when you go shopping for patterns.
Take your time browsing pattern books. Make sure you understand the difficulty level of the patterns you may choose. Choose the proper size using the measurements you brought along with you.
The pattern you have chose will give you information about how much fabric you will need to complete the garment. It will also provide some suggestions as to the best fabric time for the piece.
The pattern will also provide you a list of any additional items that will be need for the garment. This will include thread, buttons, zippers and so on. These notions should be chosen after you have decided on the fabric, so you can make the correct matching color choices.
Make sure you also pick up any basic sewing supplies that you may need, including pins, needles, scissors, fabric chalk and so on.
