I draw designs for shirts and stuff, how do i actually sew them and turn it into something i could wear?

Question

for instance - a sleeveless hoodie with a v-neck & pockets. i don't want to use patterns because i want to use my own design. what's the best way to sew this, and what are typical S-M-L measurements?

Answer 1

This is called flat pattern designing.

Flat pattern designing isn't difficult for basic garments.  You just need a lot of patience, big sheets of paper, and a good book to follow.  :D  I like Metric Pattern Cutting  by Winifred Aldrich and  Pattern Cutting Made Easy by Gillian Holman.  Both are available from Amazon, or through your local library.  Both will detail the equipment needed and the steps you need to follow.  Being able to count and measure helps...  I sometimes have trouble with this, and I've been doing it for over 30 years!  :D

If you then want to test your patterns, I suggest looking in your local sewing store for basic garment sewing lessons.  The hardest thing in the whole process is learning to sew straight seams, and that just takes practice...   LOTS of practice!

Hoodies are usually made from knit fabrics, so you will also need to learn the special techniques for designing for knits and for sewing knits.  Not really difficult, but you will need to be patient as these skills take a lot of practice with the fabrics and the equipment to get to a decent standard.  You might like to look at 'The s-t-r-e-t-c-h & sew method of sewing with knit fabric' by Ann Person, and  Sewing with Knits (Singer Sewing Reference Library) .  Again, both are available from Amazon.  There are others about, but these cover the basics.

Once you know what you are facing, it might be a good idea to take a course in pattern designing, if you can find one locally.

It might be a good idea to get some of these book out to look at before you decide to go ahead.  I hope you do - I get great pleasure form creating things from the concept drawing through to the finished garment.

Answer 2

Honey, I use basic shirt patterns for these things. Yes, they are commercial patterns, but I am too lazy to draw out my own patterns and these are easier to use.

Then you just do your own thing to the basic pieces of pattern.

If this is knitwear type fabrics you need a serger and a regular sewing machine  to do the sewing.

Answer 3

To draft a pattern takes an education in sewing and design. You could check out books on drafting patterns at your library. Making your own pattern to sew from is not for beginners.

You are best taking a pattern and adjusting it to your design

Answer 4

I you trying to sew the paper drawing or are you planning on using fabric.  If you are using fabric, try using fusible webbing.  You draw your design on the fusible webbing and then sew it onto your fabric.  You can then sew or iron it onto the fabric.  On appliquequilt.com I do applique quilts.  I sew on the applique but it can also be ironed on.  check out the page on fusible applique.

Answer 5

It's a lot faster and easier to take an existing commercial pattern and alter it to suit you than to try making up your own.  I would go to someplace like Jo anns and look through their pattern books to see if I could find something that looks close to your design.  Otherwise, you are going to have to do some real research into pattern drafting in order to get these to look and fit right.  

However, there are standard size measurements here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_standard...

Keep in mind that these are the measurements of the person not the garment.