If you own a piece of clothing that you would love to have an
exact copy of, whether the original is just past its prime or you simply lust
for a duplicate made out of a different fabric, you, my sewing friend, are in
luck because I’ve got a few tips for you!
Before you begin prepping your project, keep a few things in mind
which will assure you have the least amount of speed bumps along the way.
PATTERN
You can easily make a new pattern out of your existing piece without
taking the garment apart by transferring it onto paper. Carefully use a tracing
wheel to trace around each panel, label the pattern pieces and add seam
allowance, and you’re good to go! The pattern is, of course, reusable, which is
an added bonus.
FABRIC
To ensure the new garment you will sew will drape the same way as
your already existing one, plan accordingly. If you are thinking of making a
total copy of your garment, choose a similar fabric. On the other hand, if you
want to sew the new garment out of a different fabric, pick any fabric, just
similar in weight.
TOOLS & MACHINE SETTINGS
Research your fabric to find out if you require any special tools
or notions, then grab them on your next fabric store run. Adjusting your
machine settings for the kind of fabric you are using will make a significant
difference in the final product. You can test the tension and thread length on
a test piece before you begin.
Hope your cloned garment comes as close as possible to the one you
already own!
Published in LoveSewing Magazine on June 16th, 2014
