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Clone Your Clothes: Pattern-Making and Sewing Techniques to Recreate Your Best-Loved Clothes
Everyone has their favourite items of clothing that they love because they fit them perfectly and look great. This practical guide explains how to remake your wardrobe favourites without having to unpick and ruin the originals.
Discover how to create a wardrobe full of your favourite items that you know will fit perfectly and can be remade again and again in various fabrics simply by using a combination of techniques including tracing and measuring to create your own dress patterns.
To get a truly accurate pattern the best way is to take the garment apart but that would destroy the original piece – this instructional guide to pattern making explains a number of techniques you can use that enable you to remake without having to ruin first.
These include the Direct Measurement technique which works well for simple shapes without too much shaping or detail. Another method covered is Over Draping which is useful for complicated designs like a waterfall frill or a ruched panel, where measuring or tracing would be impossible, and the third method is the Tracing method which is a quick and easy technique suitable for lots of different styles of clothing.
Author Claire-Louise Hardie has drawn on her years of experience of working in costume departments in film and television, to create this comprehensive guide to cloning your clothes.
All of the cloning methods are explained in the Cloning School section of the book with step-by-step instructions and photography so you can follow along. Each technique is illustrated using an example garment so you can see how it works in practice.
The second part of the book, the Design School, shows you how to apply these techniques and skills to specific garments. There is a pair of trousers, a simple dress, a gathered skirt, a shirt and a camisole top. Learn which methods to use for different types of clothing and when to use a combination of different methods to get the best results.
In addition to the step-by-steps there is advice about choosing fabrics and which tools to use for the best results. Claire-Louise also provides ideas for adapting the designs to make new pieces for your wardrobe based on patterns created from your favourite pieces.
Discover how to create a wardrobe full of your favourite items that you know will fit perfectly and can be remade again and again in various fabrics simply by using a combination of techniques including tracing and measuring to create your own dress patterns.
To get a truly accurate pattern the best way is to take the garment apart but that would destroy the original piece – this instructional guide to pattern making explains a number of techniques you can use that enable you to remake without having to ruin first.
These include the Direct Measurement technique which works well for simple shapes without too much shaping or detail. Another method covered is Over Draping which is useful for complicated designs like a waterfall frill or a ruched panel, where measuring or tracing would be impossible, and the third method is the Tracing method which is a quick and easy technique suitable for lots of different styles of clothing.
Author Claire-Louise Hardie has drawn on her years of experience of working in costume departments in film and television, to create this comprehensive guide to cloning your clothes.
All of the cloning methods are explained in the Cloning School section of the book with step-by-step instructions and photography so you can follow along. Each technique is illustrated using an example garment so you can see how it works in practice.
The second part of the book, the Design School, shows you how to apply these techniques and skills to specific garments. There is a pair of trousers, a simple dress, a gathered skirt, a shirt and a camisole top. Learn which methods to use for different types of clothing and when to use a combination of different methods to get the best results.
In addition to the step-by-steps there is advice about choosing fabrics and which tools to use for the best results. Claire-Louise also provides ideas for adapting the designs to make new pieces for your wardrobe based on patterns created from your favourite pieces.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2024
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51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 4, 2024
Compact and useful with lots of information on how to approach copying your favourite garments (and even improve upon them). CL Hardie is not only v experienced clothes maker but is able to explain techniques in clear and simple way without patronising those of us less experienced. Great resource for home sewers!
August 31, 2024
This is a fabulous and easy way to recreate your favourite clothes which you know you will like, fit and suit you. The photos and instructions are clear and concise to follow. Best of all, you can adapt the pattern to make it totally unique if you want.
March 1, 2025
3.5 Stars
September 20, 2024
An absolutely fantastic project to while away the winter months, I can’t wait to get stuck in. I would encourage anyone with an interest in recreating their best loved clothes to do the same. Fully illustrated with detailed descriptions of all the various methods & stages to create your own bespoke wardrobe. Highly recommended.
February 4, 2026
Very informative. This book has helped me see how I can crochet clothes without patterns.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews