There is a plethora of manners in which you can make and design your own clothes: from sewing to knitting to crocheting. Whilst the idea of making clothes for yourself can seem daunting if you aren’t usually the creative type, I can assure it is not as hard as it might seem and it has a vast array of benefits.
Arguably, the easiest way of making your own clothes is crocheting, which is a rather basic creative skill. It became wildly popular among the younger generation during lockdown as a hobby to keep occupied, which catalysed a growth in the trend on social media, creating a knock-on effect. The influence of social media in this case is great, as following a tutorial on Instagram or TikTok could be the key to kickstarting your career as a crafter. The recommendation is to begin by crocheting a granny square, typically used to make blankets or the infamous Harry Styles cardigan designed by JW Anderson. Once this skill has been mastered, you can pretty much follow any tutorial on any social media platform, making clothes from jumpers to skirts to bags.
A huge benefit of making your own clothes is that it is cost effective. A ball of yarn will typically cost anywhere between £1 for the basic stuff, which works just as well as the premium £6 ball of multi-coloured yarn. A larger project, such as a jumper, will require more than a ball of wool, but you will not be spending anywhere near the same amount as you would on the likes of a jumper from a shop like Urban Outfitters, which is verging on daylight robbery with prices of up to £80 for a crocheted jumper. Also, the hook used for crocheting itself will not cost more than £5 typically and once you have one, you have it! Whilst different hooks are required for different thicknesses of wool, the only two hooks you will ever really need are a 4.00mm or a 6.00mm hook- then the world of clothes making is your oyster!
Additionally, as you make the clothes yourself, they can be tailored to your exact size to be the perfect fit. This is such an amazing luxury not granted when buying your clothes from everyday retail stores. The creative freedom coupled with this means your vision can truly come into its exact form in terms of colour and pattern, which allows for your clothes to perfectly reflect you as a person.
All in all, making your own clothes is great and not overly difficult, helps you save money and allows you to wear the exact item of clothing you desire. You can also experience the immense pleasure of getting to tell someone you made your jumper yourself- a feeling truly like no other. So, get creating!
Photo by Olesia 🇺🇦 Buiar on Unsplash