Dressmaking
Making your own clothes from a pattern.
What it is
Making clothes from a pattern, usually on a sewing machine with some hand finishing.
Who it suits
Anyone who wants clothes that fit and suit them. Start with simple shapes.
What you need
A sewing machine, fabric scissors, pins, a tape measure, marking tools, an iron and a pattern.
A first project
An elastic-waist skirt in pre-washed cotton.
The dressmaking guides
Beginner's guide
What you need
Techniques and stitches
How to read a sewing pattern
The envelope, sizes, fabric amounts, the layout and the symbols explained.
How to take your measurements
Bust, waist and hip, measured the right way, and how to pick your size.
How to sew a dart
Darts shape flat fabric round the body. Sew to a fine point and press over a curve.
How to gather fabric
Two rows of long stitches, pulled up evenly, for skirts, sleeves and frills.
First project
Mistakes and fixes
Next steps
Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.
