If you’re the type of person who can’t stay away from a do-it-yourself project, if you want to cut corners and save money, or if you’re a creative person who enjoys doing hands-on projects and trying out new things, consider making your own clothing. Whether you need a new fashionable accessory, a top, a skirt, or any other article of clothing, there’s a DIY project out there for you if you look for it.
Continue reading for some tips on how to take home fabrics and transform them into beautiful articles of clothing that you’ll be proud to show off whenever you go out with friends or head off to work.
Fabrics to Use for DIY Clothing Projects
When it comes to making your own clothing designs at home, the types of fabrics you choose will have a big impact upon how easy it is to assemble the clothes, as well as how comfortable they’ll be and how well they’ll fit on your body.
There are certain fabrics that are great for DIY clothing projects. These can be purchased from a regular fabric or craft store where you would purchase home decor fabrics, as they are those that you’d typically see around your home.
The best fabrics for clothing are cotton, polyester, and basically anything with spandex. This is because cotton is really easy to wash, really easy to sew and handle, and it looks great on everyone. It’s also super comfortable, breathable, and surprisingly strong, so you can create a lot with it.
Polyester, which is usually sold as a blend, on the other hand, is also quite strong, but it comes with the added bonus of wrinkling less easily than other fabrics and also being more affordable. It’s best to steer clear of 100% polyester fabrics if you want the clothing to be tight-fitting or if you’re designing a piece that will cover the majority of the body. This is because 100% polyester can trap heat and become very uncomfortable.
And, finally, any fabric that contains spandex will add necessary stretch to your clothes, making them easier to construct and wear. Even a mere 1% of spandex will add plenty of stretch to any fabric you plan on using.
Fabrics to Avoid
In the same way that there are certain fabrics that are ideal for making your own clothes, there are some that you should avoid. These include leather, which is really hard to sew, and acetate, which needs to be dry-cleaned only and is actually not a very strong material.
Finding the Right Clothing Projects and Designs
If you’re really creative, you can certainly design your own clothes completely on your own, especially if you’ve taken some fashion classes in school and learned how to cut, sew, and put together a new outfit by just imagining it in your mind. But for those who aren’t so creative or fashion-oriented, it’s best to stick with DIY projects that will guide you through the process. Simply follow the directions and have fun!