Patternless Sewing

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Ranked #593 in DIY, #10,459 overall

You don't need expensive paper patterns to make your own clothes. Simple clothing is easy to make with just a needle and thread, and a measuring tape.

Clothing to Make Without a Pattern 

Websites that will give you guidelines and direction to make your own clothes without paper patterns.
Patternless Robe
Even if you don't need a bathrobe, check out the hints on creating necklines.
Patternless A-line Skirt
Step by step directions, with photographs.
The Mary Dress
A simple, loose-fitting dress made to your own measurements.
How to sew caftans
Directions for a patternless caftan.
The Tangled Web: Garb
No pattern clothing with a Renaissance look. Directions for a chemise, gathered skirt, gored skirt, and bodice.
Costuming Through the Centuries
An SCA page with 'patternless patterns' for everything from from pants and tunic to Elizabethan undergarments. Some are much more complicated than others, and some require homemade patterns, but there is a wealth of information here.
flamenco skirt (tutorial)
Make your own flamenco skirt pattern.
Civil War Skirt
How to make your own Civil War era skirt.
Easy Drawers Project
How to make a pair of shorts out of two pillowcases.
Paneled Skirt Instructions
Make a gored (paneled) skirt.
making petticoats
A forum discussion with several ideas for making petticoats (or Navaho skirts) without patterns.
Jacket
Make a jacket out of a sweatshirt.
Poncho with no pattern
A plan for making a patternles poncho out of a fleece blanket.
Saphonda's gloves
An easy way to make glamorous lycra gloves
DawnPages -- Costume Patterns
Aimed at costumers, this site has instructions for several basic items, including pants and tunics. It also has instructions for a few Elizabethan accessories.
Easy Cloak
A simple rectangular cloak.
whatthecraft?
WhatTheCraft has craft and sewing tutorials, articles, and resources for all of your diy needs. Check out the tutorials for directions on making or modifying several kinds of clothing.
Hooded Cape
Step by step directions, with pictures, to make a hooded cape without a pattern.
Wrap Skirt
Directions to make a wrap skirt to your own measurements.
Free Clothes Patterns
Huge list of free patterns and pattern free sewing directions. Links to underclothes, skirts, shirts, aprons, kimonos, plus some other odds and ends
Weekend designer
A blog with several diy patterns ranging from a simple dirndl skirt and pillows to a somewhat more complicated coat and artistic jacket.
Handkerchief Skirt
Directions to make a two-layer, eight pointed 'handkerchief hem' skirt.

Books to Buy 

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Sewing Illustrated

Includes no-pattern projects and general sewing information.

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/14/2009) Buy Now

Simplicity: Simply the Best Sewing Book

Includes a section on patternless sewing.

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/14/2009) Buy Now

Bits and Pieces 

Just need help with one part of your clothing? Look here for directions you can mix and match to create your own patternless clothing.
Sleeves
One of the sleeves (version F) has a patternless option.
Simplicity Tips & Tricks: One Woman Hem-Marking
A trick to make your hem come out even.
One-hour Wide Belt
"Create this patternless Japanese-inspired wrap with a twist."

Build up your fabric stash! 

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Advice and Inspiration 

General helps and ideas for sewing without a pattern.
Making a Muslin
How to make a mock-up of your project (traditionally using muslin, though any inexpensive fabric will work) so you don't waste your good fabric on a test run.
I made a skirt!
A skirt made without a pattern.
A reversible cafe-style apron
An apron made without a pattern.
Serendipity Gloves
Felt gloves made out of a sweater.
You can make puppet costumes!
Detailed direction to make patternless clothing...for puppets. A lot of this will still work on a larger scale.

Edgings are Everything! 

Finish off your designs right with some wild and wacky, or inexpensively luxurious trim on Ebay!

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by Raquel_Mutton

I enjoy fiber arts and crafts of all kinds, particularly in the realm of the unusual. (more)

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