Designing your own patterns

I love to design clothing ideas, and have since I was little. I get bored and pull out the KiSS doll outlines I have (just the body outline on paper) and I start drawing in clothing ideas. I've never actually tried to figure out how to make them, because I'd never be able to wear them anyhow. (KiSS outlines look like maybe a size 5 or 6, and I'm... well, not. LOL) Some of the ideas could probably be tossed together from piece-mealed patterns (sleeve from here, collar from there, bodice from this, etc) but I can't use a sewing machine to save my life, and I don't really feel like sewing a full outfit with needle in hand. _

Are you talking about making your own clothing patterns? I wouldn't even imagine doing that. I always use storemade patterns and then follow then almost exactly. The only people I know that can amke their own pattrns learned how in university. THe fact that you are even willing to try amazes me.

I often do my own patterns, but then I've been sewing for 50 years lol. This summer I made a pattern for a summer shirt. I had this one sleeveless shirt that I just loved to wear outside in the garden in the summer, but it was getting pretty sad from all the years of use. So, I de-constructed the old shirt and made a new pattern from it and put the new pattern onto flattened grocery bags (so the pattern would last many times better than tissue paper.) I made it longer than the original, and changed the front of it, and now it fits better than the original. There are many sewing sites on the internet that help you learn how to make your own pattern for your own body shape and size. When trying to learn how to do this, always start with making a simple pattern, so that you get to learn the basics of pattern design while actually making something usable. (Maybe start with making a nightie pattern, or sleep pants and a shirt) Once you get the basics down, it's much simpler to learn more about it and pretty soon it comes naturally. One time I made a bathrobe with a mandarin (stand-up) collar design. Phew! That was SO hard to figure out! But I made up my mind that I was going to figure it out if it took me all summer...and it did lol. I learned a lot from the process! One thing, when you design your own pattern, make the first sample out of an old bed-sheet, rather than cut up good material. From that old bedsheet you can make markings on it, and baste it (rather than regular length stitches.) Once you have the fit you want, take a fine line marker and mark over the stitching (as for darts, seam lines, etc) and then when you take the bastings out you will have your pattern better. Don't give up, it may be hard but it's not impossible. I taught myself and I'm glad I did :-) Good luck!