Welcome to Gaia! ::

Just wondering if people make their own patterns, or like to use store-bought.

And if you do make your own patterns, were you taught, or did you pick it up on your own?

..good fabric pattern are hard to do(need to know how to colour the fabric,to stencil the patterns,stuff like that)....i think that you shoud buy the ones you like best and use them often,that will make those patterns 'yours'.....
that's what i think.......

i made my own pattern i think once......it didnt turn out very good...lol i just stick to store bought patterns now biggrin

sometimes i make my own patterns
but you have to be sure that you leave enough room to sew it
i know this from experience... stressed

I've always wanted to make my own patterns. For years I looked for books in the local library and websites that showed me how. (but never found any very good ones) So now I decided to just figure it out myself and learn how to do it without a class or book. I'm still learning, but you CAN teach yourself how to do it just takes time a patience. It's like learning to draw, no one can teach you how like you can teach yourself.

I never use store bought patterns aymore - overall, they fit very different body shapes than my own, even in "my size" and they rarely are set up in the most convenient way to sew - the process is usually mixed up and poorly organized.

I first tried drafting my own patterns in highschool - they almost worked. Then I took fashion design in college, and learned an overly complicated, not very-good way of drafting there. Then my teacher passed on to me a fabulous bit of knowledge - the 'moulage' drafting technique! It's AMAZING. You can buy the online courses to learn how yourself from Kenneth D. King. It's so worth it. FITS ANYONE LIKE A GLOVE! and you can turn it into anything.

usually books are your best bet if you're thinking on going independently,

Metirc Pattern Cutting
Fourth Edition

by
Winifred Aldrich

I use a combination of pre-made patterns, and free cutting of the fabric. I've sewn for long enough to know about what shape things should be, and I've seen some patterns that when you take them out of the envelope are not the right shape to make what the image shows.

I don't think I've ever used a pattern exactly as it was made. I always alter, and use the pattern mainly as a reference, and if I see a picture of a piece of clothing, I can make a pattern for it. It's a skill I've always had, similar to the geometry problem of matching the "cube" to it's flat pattern.

My main use for patterns is to see how other people construct certain features like pockets and such. Although I can make any pattern, construction take a lot more thought and practice.