Cloning 101

Everybody has that one item of clothing in our closet that we love, and this technique is great for duplicating that item or making sure your pattern fits you perfectly. In this post, I will be teaching a method that allows you to create patterns from existing clothing items. You do not have to take apart the original item you are cloning in any way.

For this project you will need:

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An item of clothing you would like to clone

Scissors

Large pieces of paper, I use wrapping paper

Marker or pencil

Straight pins, or a tracing wheel

Soft Surface, such as carpet

Ruler

Step 1: Find a piece of clothing you are looking to clone; I used my favorite pair of shorts.

Step 2: Lay flat the first section you are cloning, (ex: the sleeve or collar) I started with the leg opening. Make sure there is nothing else folded behind it.

Step 3: With your straight pins, pierce through the fabric into the paper, and finally through the carpet. Only pin the edges down; these holes will be used to add the lines. Pin no further than one inch apart.

Step 4: Once your section is completely outlined with pins, take them out and move your clothing item.

Step 5: You are left with small dots that your pins made, use those as a guideline to draw out your pattern piece. Use your ruler for a straight edge.

Step 6: Add a seam allowance around the lines you just drew over the perforations.

Step 7: I had an elastic waistband on my shorts. With elastic, be sure to stretch it out to its full length before pinning.

Step 8: Continue with every section and be sure to label each piece and how many to cut.

Step 9: Once everything is done, cut your patterns; be mindful of the appropriate lines to cut.

This form of pattern making is the most reliable and not to mention the easiest. Being able to create your own patterns saves money and elevates your sewing skills. Happy sewing!

How to Make Scrunchies

The popular hair accessory from the 80s and 90s is making a huge comeback, but why spend as much as twenty dollars on a pack of scrunchies when you can customize your very own, and not to mention cheaper? Scrunchies are great for reducing damage and headaches caused by normal hair ties. Typically, I buy fat quarters for two dollars and get about five scrunchies from each square. Scrunchies are also perfect to use up some scrap fabric lying around. This easy and fun sewing project takes no longer than twenty minutes, is perfect for beginners, and is also a great gift idea.

For this project you’ll need:

Fabric of your choice (velvet, silk, cotton)

Matching thread

Two safety pins

Elastic (I use half a centimeter wide)

Scissors

Measuring tape

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Follow these simple steps:

1.) Measure out a rectangle of fabric 21 inches long, and 6 inches wide. Adjust the measurements if needed, to your liking. To make the scrunches thicker—add more width or more “scrunched” up, add more length.

2.) Fold the rectangle in half, lengthwise, and pin right sides together; edge stitch, but do not sew to both ends completely, leave about half an inch of unsewn fabric.

3.) Take one of the safety pins, and latch it onto an end of the tube of fabric, only through the top layer. Fold the pin inside the tube, and push it through until the end with the safety pin meets the opposite end.

4.) Line up the ends of the tube by the seams, the ends may not be even but it won't be a problem, just make sure the seams are lined up and the top is even. Next, sew an edge stitch all the way around.

5.) Finish turning the tube right side out by flipping it through the hole you made in step 1.

6.) For measure either wrap the elastic around your wrist, or cut about nine inches; be sure to leave a seam allowance. Fasten your safety pins on both ends of the elastic.

7.) Feed it through the tube until both ends are back at the opening.

8.) Outside the tube, sew the two ends of elastic together.

9.) Finally, tuck the raw edges in, pin, and sew along the open edge of the opening to close your scrunchie up.

10.) Enjoy!