This section is all about the things you’ll need and appreciate if you want to make your own clothes.
These resources are especially for people new to clothes making.
On a surface level, this is about the skills of:
- Sewing
- Knitting
- Wardrobe curation
- Fitting and alterations
You’ll need these practical skills no matter what you choose to make for yourself, whether you sew or knit.
What you’ll find here
This section covers four elements you need to build a sustainable, good wardrobe focused on you and your needs.
Sewing
Finding time and space to sew in your own home, the best sewing projects for beginners, and life skills you might not have realised were useful for sewing.
Fitting + alterations
The honest truth about altering RTW clothing, adjusting patterns for your shape, and where to go if you’d rather buy something bespoke.
Knitting
Knitting is the slowest and most relaxing of all the options. The story of how I became a knitter and the people who helped along the way will inspire you.
Wardrobe curation
Recommendations and resources for building your self-made wardrobe, and how to create a successful capsule collection that suits you and your style.
Why bother to make your own clothes?
Making clothes is an investment in yourself. It’s an activity that brings you long-term satisfaction as you make choices that support you and your way of life.
If your goals and dreams include:
- Feeling great in your clothes
- Choosing colours you love whenever you like, not settling nor waiting for them to trend
- Wearing fabrics that are comfortable and breathable
- Owning clothes that suit your style
- Being able to depend on clothes that are built to last
- Living in clothes that ACTUALLY fit
Then this pastime will definitely suit you. Just don’t put too much pressure on yourself in the beginning!
Featured articles
Skills you didn’t know were helpful for sewing
Why you REALLY need to make a toile
The best sewing projects for beginners
You don’t need to make ALL your clothes
What clothes making is NOT
You don’t have to make absolutely everything you wear; even key items that you’ve never been able to buy in the shops will do. You can make them on your terms.
Clothes making is a lifestyle choice that’s lots of fun. It’ll bring you deep joy and pride – especially when someone asks, “Did you make that?” (I never get tired of saying “Yes!”) – but it’s very different to shopping for clothes. You’ll find yourself thinking and feeling differently about how you spend your time, spend your money, and questioning habits you didn’t realise you’d picked up.
There are some people who treat clothes making as a shopping habit; making new clothes every month or every time a new pattern comes out, it seems. This is crazy! Some people have more money than sense. There are definitely enough patterns around for you to do that, but ultimately it’s a very expensive way of interpreting fast fashion – and the reason why a lot of people believe that it’s an expensive hobby.
Making it instead of buying it doesn’t change the dopamine hit, stuffed closet, and offloading the clothes when you’re bored and want to free up space for the next shiny thing. I’m not writing for people like that, and, if you’re still with me, I’m going to assume you get your thrills elsewhere…ideally in clothes you really care about. 😉
Natalie Warner
I design size inclusive knitting patterns for clothes makers who want their garments to fit well. Clothes should serve you, not the other way around. You alter clothes to fit you, not alter yourself to fit the clothes. This is at the heart of everything I do.
I also teach other people how to design knitwear and am currently creating a comprehensive, year-long knitwear design course, covering everything from illustration to pattern grading.
If you’re enjoying my content, you can get more by reading my blog, which features several articles on garment fitting, alterations, knitwear design and sewing pattern reviews, following me on Instagram or Pinterest @natalieinstitches, or signing up to my newsletter.
