Dressmaking 101: How to make clothes

There’s no skill quite as impressive as making your own clothes. It’s an essential craft that has been around since the dawn of time!

Whether you’ve watched your parents make their own clothes, or have been inspired by the talent on The Great British Sewing Bee, we’re here to make you fall in love with dressmaking.

In this guide, we’re going to show you how to sew clothes and give you a host of in-depth tutorials. We will cover essential sewing techniques and sewing tools for dressmaking, as well as providing you with plenty of beginner-friendly patterns.

After reading our article you’ll want to create your very own wardrobe!

How to sew clothes

Learning how to sew clothes is a skill that takes time, practice and patience. There are many different elements to making your own clothes, some of which are easier than others.

We’re going to dive into the essential skills you should learn first. The process of making clothes is much simpler when broken down into techniques. Eventually, you’ll master each technique and it’ll become easier and easier to create garments.

It’s important to keep in mind what clothes you want to make, as every pattern requires different skills. Read your pattern first and discover which techniques you need to learn.

How to sew clothes: Essential basic sewing techniques

How sew elastic

Most beginner-friendly patterns avoid more complicated sewing techniques (like our how to sew a dress tutorial) and use elastic to create structure.

Elastic is much easier to use and can be sewn by hand. It can be used to create waistbands, necklines and cuffed sleeves. Our how to sew with elastic tutorial covers all the basics and is a must-read for all novice sewers.

How sew a zipper

To create beautifully fitted clothing, you’ll need to learn how to sew a zipper. Adding a zip to trousers, skirts, tops and dresses will keep your pieces secure and is a step up from using elastic.

We show you how to sew a zipper in our step by step tutorial. It’s perfect for beginners!

For those of you wanting to take the next step, why not try adding an invisible zip? They give garments a professional look. Our video shows you how to insert an invisible zipper but we also have step by step instructions here on Gathered.

Bonus tip: It’s important to know how to fix a zipper if you’re going to be adding them into your clothes. Follow our instructions so you can be prepared for all emergencies!

How sew a button

Buttons are another important player in the sewing world! Used to fasten and add detail to garments, buttons are easy to sew when you know how.

First, follow our instructions on how to sew a buttonhole, then head over to our how to sew a button tutorial.

Hem your fabrics

We’ve covered how to fasten your clothing with buttons, zips and elastic. Now it’s time to give your clothing a neat finish!

Hemming is a brilliant technique that will stop your fabric from fraying. You can sew a hem by hand but it’s a time-consuming process.

We’d recommend heading to our how to sew a hem masterclass which covers five different ways of hemming with your sewing machine.

Sewing French seams

French seams are a step up from regular seams and ideal for adding to garments that need more security.

They’re stronger than your average seam and give a professional finish. Learn how to sew French seams with our tutorial and take your sewing to the next level.

How sew a sleeves

Fastens and finishing sorted, now it’s time to add sleeves to your sewing repertoire. Sleeves are a wonderful way of adding coverage and a little extra flair.

We show you how to sew sleeves here on Gathered. Although this sleeve tutorial can be used in nearly all patterns, it’s most useful when learning how to make a t-shirt.

If you’re looking to make a hoodie or sweater, a raglan sleeve will be better suited. Don’t worry – they’re not too different from your regular sleeve and can be mastered easily. Head over to our raglan sleeve guide to learn their origin story and how to sew them!

Learn the art of sewing collars

Collars are another essential part of learning how to sew clothes. Office and formal wear often have collars so learning how to sew them is important. Discover how to sew a collar with our tutorial.

How to sew clothes: More complex sewing techniques

How sew darts

Darts is a term you’ve probably heard in the sewing world. Darts are small nips and tucks which are sewn into your garment to give it shape. They’re ideal for fitting fabric over the bust area.

We’ve covered everything you need to know about darts in our how to sew a dart tutorial. Although this technique isn’t absolutely necessary, we'd recommend learning it if you’re hoping to create lots of lovely summer dresses.

Add ruffles to your outfits!

Give your garments a bit of drama with ruffles! Learning how to sew clothes is really fun and its techniques like ruffles that make the learning process all the more fun.

Follow our how to make ruffles tutorial and we promise you’ll end up wanting to add them to all your pieces!

How sew gathers

Gathers are another sewing technique that can give some extra sass to your outfits. They create a stunning ruched effect, which is not only flattering but form-fitting too.

Our how to sew gathers article is full of tips, tricks and techniques.

Stitch shirring

Shirring is a popular technique used in sewing clothing. It’s similar to gathers but uses elastic to create a ruched look. It’s a lovely way of making strapless dresses fit well.

We have a complete guide to shirring here on Gathered which also shows you how to make this pretty gingham dress!

How to sew different fabrics

Knowing how to make clothes with all the techniques we’ve mentioned above is a great place to start.

However, it’s worth keeping in mind these techniques differ depending on the fabric you're sewing with. For example, if you’re working with lightweight fabrics you need to take a more delicate approach. Or you may be sewing with waterproof fabrics which need reinforcing.

We have created a guide to knowing your different types of fabrics but we’re going to go a little more into detail about some of the most popular and trickiest fabrics. Here’s how to make clothes with linen and jersey fabric.

How to sew linen

Linen is a brilliant summer fabric as it’s breezy, lightweight and cooling. The thin nature of the fabric can make it a little fiddly to sew with which is why we’ve created a dedicated tutorial to the subject.

Learn how to sew linen clothing and make both practical and pretty summer clothing.

How to sew Jersey fabric

Jersey fabric is perhaps the most popular fabric used when learning how to make clothes. It’s simple, warm, and affordable, meaning it's perfect for making sweaters, hoodies, and jumpers.

To help you get to grips with this material, we’ve created both a jersey fabric masterclass and a how to sew jersey for beginners tutorial. These cover all the beginner FAQs and take you through the process step by step.

Get to grips with your sewing machines

Sewing machines are a huge part of dressmaking. While it’s possible to hand-sew some garments, we’d recommend using a sewing machine when learning how to sew clothes.

By using a sewing machine, you’ll be able to create or adjust clothing to a professional standard. They cut the dressmaking process in half, allowing you to stitch sections of your clothing together easily and efficiently.

You can use any sewing machine that’s designed for sewing to make clothes. This may sound obvious but it’s always worth checking your machine as some, such as long arm quilting machines, won’t be suitable for making clothes.

Best sewing machines for dressmaking

When looking for a sewing machine for dressmaking it’s important to check your machine's functionality. Many sewing machines have a brilliant stitch selection and this will help you create the sewing techniques we mentioned above.

Our guide to the best sewing machines covers machines for all budgets and lifestyles. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or looking to treat yourself to a special machine, you’ll find the perfect sewing machine for making clothes in our article.

How to use a sewing machine

Now you’ve got your sewing machine, it's time to learn all about it. You’ll find learning how to make clothes much easier if you have a basic knowledge of your machine first.

Head over to our how to use a sewing machine guide to get to know your equipment better. You’ll learn what parts of the sewing machine are called, how to clean your sewing machine and how to use it step by step.

What do you need to start making clothes?

A crafter is only as good as their tools! There’s lots of equipment available for dressmaking.

Some pieces are more necessary than others so we’ve collected only the most essential items for this guide. For a comprehensive list, head over to our sewing tools article.

Fabrics

Fabric is the basis of any outfit. When choosing the perfect fabric for your garment, think about the fabric's functionality. You’ll need waterproof fabrics if working with a swimsuit pattern as opposed to floaty fabrics if making an evening summer dress.

Think about what you want your garment to look like. Do you want it to be bold? Do you want it to be suitable for work? Do you want it to fit with the season? Once you know the answers to these questions, you’ll be able to select the right fabric for you.

For statement outfits browse our selection of spring fabrics. For festive outfits head to our collection of the best Christmas fabrics. If you’re making fancy dress costumes, check out our collection of Halloween fabrics.

Thread

Thread is an important sewing tool when it comes to learning how to make clothes. First, consider the colour. Choose a thread colour that matches your fabric or opt for a neutral shade.

Alternatively, you could pick a bright colour that’s opposed to your fabric to create cool, contrast stitching.

Next, you need to determine what fabric you need for your machine. We explain all about this in our sewing machine thread guide. We talk about spools, reels and thread types.

Needles

Your sewing machine and thread are useless without a needle! We have covered everything you need to know about needles right here on Gathered.

From knowing your sewing machine needles to learning how to thread a needle, you’ll be a clothing-making pro in no time.

Sewing scissors

Scissors are an essential part of your sewing kit. You’ll need them to cut your fabric and pattern pieces (more on this later). Standard scissors aren’t sharp or precise enough for making clothing, so it’s best to opt for specific sewing scissors or a rotary cutter.

Our collection of the best sewing scissors are all wonderful for dressmaking. These rotary cutters are also great as their blades can be replaced if they begin to go dull.

Fabric pens

When tracing your pattern pieces or making darts, it’s best to use an erasable fabric marker. You don’t want guidelines tainting your fabric!

Use one of these fabric markers which are recommended by professionals. All the marks left by these pens can easily be washed out.

Seam rippers

Mistakes are a natural part of learning how to make clothes and this is where a seam ripper will become your new BFF. Seam rippers allow you to remove stitches without damaging your fabric.

They’re super handy sewing tools and are ideal for novice sewers. We rounded up the best seam rippers on the market to help you find your perfect one.

Pattern weights

Pattern weights are extremely useful when it comes to working with pattern pieces. Often made from thin paper, pattern pieces can easily get lost or move around your fabric as you trace.

Pattern weights keep everything in place and can easily be DIYed. Use our DIY Pattern weight tutorial to sew your own. It’s a fab fat quarter project and stash buster too!

Dress mannequins

Finally, mannequins are a staple part of sewing studios. They will allow you to pin, drape and adjust your fabric without having to use a real-life model. Of course, if you’re making clothes for yourself it will be near impossible to fit them onto your own body!

Discover your dream dressmaking mannequin with our round-up. They’ll make you feel like a true professional!

Once you’ve created your perfect sewing kit with the items above you can invest in some more specific equipment. Look at buying a sewing table or perhaps an overlocker machine.

Designing your own clothes

When learning how to make clothes, designing is normally at the back of people’s minds. It sounds daunting but really any garment you make has an element of design by you, even if it’s just adjusting the fit to suit you.

It doesn’t matter if you’re planning on using a pre-bought pattern, tracing an old piece of clothing, or creating your own pattern, we’re here to help!

These tutorials are the crucial next step in learning how to make clothes as they’ll allow you to sew flattering and unique garments.

How to take your measurements

Understanding how to take measurements opens up so many different avenues for you. It will allow you to make your own clothes, make them for other people and adjust pre-bought pieces to fit your figure.

Learn how to measure yourself with our tutorial and use our free downloadable to jot your measurements down. Remember, your measurements are likely to change over time so re-take them regularly.

How to make sewing patterns

Now you’ve got your measurements recorded you can start making your own sewing patterns! It may seem a daunting task but it’s actually quite straightforward.

Technical editor Roisin McKenna is here to take you through all the steps of making your own sewing patterns. Her expert knowledge will leave you feeling confident and excited to explore pattern-making!

How to trace sewing patterns

Once you have your pattern pieces or templates printed out, you’ll need to trace them onto your fabric. You can learn how to trace sewing patterns by following our step-by-step instructions.

How to adjust sewing patterns

Sewing patterns tend to come in standard sizing relevant to your country. However, we all come in different shapes and sizes so often patterns need to be adjusted to suit your body.

We show you how to adjust sewing patterns so you can create clothing that makes you feel fabulous! This skill is great, especially for those of you who enjoy vintage sewing patterns or taking up clothing from charity shops.

Clothing patterns for you to make

We’ve covered techniques, machines, tools and using patterns. Now it’s time to find you some free sewing patterns you can stitch yourself!

We have hundreds of free sewing patterns here on Gathered just waiting for you to make. Many of our beginner-friendly patterns, like our how to sew a dress guide, include video tutorials to make them even easier to follow.

Make sure you check out Gathered’s YouTube channel for more videos on how to sew clothes.

Start stitching your own clothes with these beginner sewing patterns

For those of you new to the world of sewing, we’d recommend starting with our collection of the best beginner sewing patterns.

This round-up includes everything from how to sew a wrap skirt to how to a box top, giving you a huge array of clothing items to make.

Plus-size sewing patterns for you to sew

No matter your size or body shape, find fashion inspiration in our round-up of the best plus-sized sewing patterns. Many of the patterns we featured go up to a size 36.

Sew your own men's clothes

If you’re searching for more stereotypical masculine outfits then this is the article for you.

Our collection of men's sewing patterns includes a range of designs from different designers. It includes everything from shirts and jackets to suits and pants!

Learn how to make clothes for your friends and family

You’ve got the skills, equipment and patterns sorted, all you need now are some willing test subjects!

Once you’ve mastered making clothes for yourself you can start to make them for your loved ones. The process is the same just with different measurements.

It’s a wonderful way of testing your new knowledge and taking everything you’ve learned but applying it to a different scale. There’s something so special about sewing people's clothing and we know your new skills will make you very popular!

Learning how to sew clothes is also a very transferable skill. You’ll now be able to sew soft furnishings, toys, accessories and homewares.

Now it’s time to decorate your home!

You’ve learned how to make clothes, now it’s time to learn how to sew homewares!

Browse our home sewing patterns and use your new skills to spruce up your home.