Stop Using Commercial Patterns, Learn Pattern Drafting Instead

thanks for all your videos

I have gone from being a person scared to even have a go at drafting a pattern to being someone very confident to make my own draft patterns now.
You have been and will continue to be a great teacher even when you think your not.

As a kid, I was a Navy brat. Dad used to come home with a wardrobe of custom shirts. It was a mystery and wonder how beautiful his clothes looked. Got stationed in San Diego, and as a teen, I went to Tijuana more times than I can count. I used to watch in wonder as the tailors and seamstresses just took measurements, used NO patterns -- just drew things on leather and cloth -- and created incredible 3D garments. Now I'm old, want to learn to sew and am glad that some of the seamstresses I saw because I'd Google boatneck shirt or something would take me to Indian seamstresses or African ones who did the same -- just draw the measurements on the cloth.
The clothes I like to wear are so simple. Sure a pattern would be nice since I just don't know what I'm doing. But I was thinking: I just need a few patterns to make the few things I want. And if I just make some basic patterns, can't I just change it up a bit for something different? Do I really need storage bins for patterns? And I thought, no, I don't. What the heck?
But I DON'T know how to sew or make patterns and such. And so I thought, am I wrong about this? It seems like math and just some basic patterns and then the world's your oyster. I was a bartender in another life, and there's just X amount of combinations. If you learn the basics, you just combine the patterns to get the drink you want.
Thank you for explaining this in a way I can understand. I have ZERO patterns. I have made a few things because it seemed to me -- watching the Mexican tailors -- that I just didn't need them.

I’m soo relieved to hear you. I just decided to start and I naturally thought as you but everywhere I looked there were patterns so I thought they was the only way, even tough it did not make sense to me , since I thought I just needed a copy of my body abs draw from there 😂❤

I've purchased some plain material to "create my own pattern design". Goody, goody, can't wait to create some new masterpieces.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Love your rant.
Rant away, any time.

Love Holly
🕊🌿🌲🌱🌳🍃🍀🌴🕊🌿🌱🌳

I love your attitude. You have just confirmed my current idea that I should just use a piece of clothing that looks amazing on me as my base. I found nice vintage swimsuit bottoms and used paper bags and wax paper to make a copy. I am adhd/autistic and often find my own way of doing things that work for me. Anyway, cool video and explanation. Also, those patterns are a pain to handle, and then all the lines and cutting, and then figuring out what size you are, which is hard, since I have an atypical body style.

love that this video popped up RIGHT after i finalized my own hoodie pattern!! feels good. im so tired of fast fashion.

Stumbled across your site today and this makes a lot of sense for a beginner blocker..
Ive always wondered, sewing neatly as I've learnt to do, but couldn't for the life of me work out why patterns were so awful to use.
Takes a great woman to give the info
Thanks

My god you look like a witch! no not here!

So inspiring! Felt like magic.

What store bought patten for a basic block paytern hack would u recommend?
I've had a sewing machine and was gifted a serger when someone passed away. I'm finally gonns start sewing. B9th hand and machine. I realized a corset is the answer to my back pain, scoliosis and brace discomfort and they're unfashionable asf. Not going to solve my problem but will help a lot. I hardly wear the back braces because so horrible.
I crochet those intricate doilies so hopefully I can eventually figure out a complicated sewing pattern. Necessity is the mother of invention. Gonna buy a custom corset and hopefully I can get far enough in practicing sewing i feel confident trying later.
Btw, would crocheted borders on corsets would be acceptable now that the lace is impossible to get? Perhaps using a really fine thread? I'd love a video w lacey crocheted items incorporated in historical clothing.

Hi Closet Historian , thanks to you I did went over to the darkside (your side)😜 some time ago now, you are so right is great being able to use one's own blok pattern to create new looks.

A little trick I do is get poster board from the dollar store - trace a more basic pattern piece on it and then alter from there. Label it with sharpie, cut it out. Store it kinda flat. No more flimsy paper all over the place lol

I find your Channel this week, and I love It, and I alwsys want to learn, I Felt Very happy when I see this vídeo thinking you were already teaching.

unrelated to the topic, but your eyeshadow is beautiful!! :)

AMEN!!!! Patterns cost TOO MUCH!!!!

Hello from NYC. I have no formal design training at all but I do draft my on patterns. I started using a computer program called Dress Shop and Pattern Master. I’m retrying to refit a pattern created for my measurements from September of 2015. I have lost some weight and it is coming ok. I don’t buy patterns anymore. I did change my but dart to a French dart which fits me much better. If only I could find someone to measure me. That back length and shoulder to shoulder measurement is really hard to get by myself. Anyway, just wanted to let you know I have learned a lot from watching you. Thank you for your platform.

Did you ever get around to making the video of how to make the sloper/block from a pattern? I looked but possibly OVER looked.

Hi, i do not understand the difference between sloper and fitting shell. On google it says is the same😢

I’ve watched several of your videos in the past and now that I’ve finally taught myself how to use a sewing machine I’m so glad you’ve got this series.

I’m studying engineering and have a lot of experience in technical drawing so along with my weird bust:waist and short torso it just makes so much more sense to me to just skip the whole pattern thing altogether and go to what know already.

How is it, some people are so much better than other people. Fine example!

You tell 'em Lady! 🤣
I'm an American castaway guy in Central America 28 years, living total immersion with rural folks, and I have never seen a commercial pattern for sale here.
And the ones I brought were stolen by women I paid to sew clothing.
So, now, after years of getting around to it, have decided to start sewing all my own clothes.
And have been working several weeks of mornings prototyping a pattern for pants to fit me, based on a Karate Gi, with the diamond in crotch for freedom of movement.
And have been making this and that change, and doing pants and shorts, seeing what fits, and learning the art. just finished try number four. And about to do a final heavy paper pattern.
So looking forward to your channel! now that I have done the hardest part first.
My goal is to just sew every morning, and create a stash of clothing, am a subsistence and survivalist type, so wanting work clothing or for outdoors.
My concept is 1800's Apache garb, and doing chevron pockets and flaps etc. to give a Milspec flavor, to fit my Renegade personality.
So, I am looking forward to digging thru your videos in search of guy things! 🤭
And just wanted to mention that most of the world, lacks patterns, and that maybe the whiners need to toughen up some!
Looking forward, to appreciating your efforts at teaching...
G.

“The sass builds up”. Oh honey, that feeling 😂

Love your eyebrows❤

You give me vibes of penelope from criminal minds lol

I thank you for sharing your knowledge!! Il am still wanting to create your fabulous bug broochs!! Thank you! ♥︎♥︎♥︎

you are simply the best! thank you very much for the encouragement and hints! <3

I am a total beginner but a lot of the things they tell you to sew as a beginner do not interest me at all! So I’m just going to dive in head first and hope for the best lol but I feel encouraged now

Thank you for making this video, because I am very very new to sewing and I'm sure I would have arrived at this solution along the way but it would have taken a lot of trial and error on my part. (I would have been hesitant because of yk "the rules" 😅) now I know I can get there sooner after I get the basics down ❤

I started off not knowing at all what you were talking about, and progressively became excited the more I learned.
Thank you 😊

Can we take a second for the arsenic eye glitter ❤❤❤

I don't even sew! 🤣🤣🤣

You are right l, I used commercual pattern last weekend and it took me long time to understand how to cut and the, sizd didnt fit right. I ended up drawing my own and it took me an hour or so. The dress was perfect.

I’m sold. Let’s go. ❤❤❤ subscribed and going to start here. I’m with The Hyde Park soap box 😂😂

I don’t know who you are. Never saw a video of yours before this one… and I’ve SUBSCRIBED. This is awesome! So motivational!

before this video, I'd never ever heard of a block pattern....sounds awsum, tho!

Fabulous. This is what us beginners need. If I wanted standard size clothes I wouldn't buy patterns and spend time and money sewing them, as I can buy the clothes ready to be used at any store. What I think motivates most of us is being able to sew whatever we want in our exact size.

Drafting was the first thing my grandma taught me (once I got the hand of basic backstitching), and I’ve never used a comercial pattern in my life, partly cause dld rafting my own always seemed like the more sensible thing to do, but also because those patterns used to be really hard to find where I’m from and it seemed like too much trouble xD

I've literally got that Vogue pattern that was shown on the screen with the intention to make a sloper and I just kinda gave up for some reason. But recently I made a dress from a Simplicity pattern and was frustrated at how much freaking ease was built into the damn thing. I had to buy so much fabric that I didn't even need haha. I was like "F this, I should do a sloper!" This video just came into my suggested videos so I think this is the sign I needed to get on it! I need help finding a sloper for men though...

Patterns only needed a little adjustment back in the day when I was shaped like that. Now, as an elderly person, my shape is just way different. Buying a bigger pattern for a bigger bust, waist, and hips is horrible for neck, shoulders, and armholes. I'm currently working on a multi-size blouse pattern that I used the top of and drew outside the lines for below the arm holes. I only remade the muslin 3 times and moved the dart down. Once the final blouse fits correctly, I will trace all corrections onto pattern paper.

Do you use the pattern to see how the designer made a.particular effect?

im a guy with no idea what blocks are and with no sewing machine but this sounds pretty fun

First time watching. What you are saying makes a lot of sense, thanks. I am under 5' tall and have a hard time getting nice adult type clothes I'd like to wear. I'll try this idea of pattern drafting. Looking forward to the challenge.

I'm an absolute beginner when it comes to garment sewing, and a HUGE reason I haven't pursued it further is because I already know that commercial patterns aren't gonna work for me. I'm short, fat, and funny-looking. I don't want the silhouettes I'm "supposed" to want, the fashionable shapes. I want to look like a post-apocalyptic shepherd who cares for a flock of six-legged radioactive ungulates. Hopefully blocks can help me where the Big Four never could.

I am REALLY struggling to get the hang of making clothing —it’s like my sewing machine is trying to fight back!— but this video’s thumbnail was so strangely motivating 😅

I have patterns and use them as a basis for other types of clothes, super beginner here btw. But I was like, a shirt and a sweater are basically the same, and trousers are trousers. So that is how I try to do it. :P

Silly question perhaps, but is it worth learning to make your own patterns before learning to sew???

My very first sewing project, (beside a bag I made at the one (1) sewing lesson I got as a kid) was a wizard hat I made from a wikihow tutorial.
I think blocking fits my style more.

You know what Bianca? I understand what you mean. i mainly do tote bags and make up pouches and i did sew a dress, BUT! I THINK IF YOU CAN USE A T SHIRT IN YOUR SIZE AND LAY IT OUT AND MAKE YOUR OWN PATTERN BASED ON THAT, IT WILL BE NO PROBLEM. I THINK. OF COURSE THERE IS MORE TO IT (DARTS! DARN IT! LOL!) BUT MEASURE HERE AND THERE, IT SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM.