I’ve been sewing for 20 years, and your video, ideas and giving spirit are absolutely mind blowing. You are revolutionizing sewing and making it so that everyone can be thrifty while recycling and making clothing that is a perfect fit. If there are any patterns you are ever looking for or are curious about, I’d be happy to give you any that I have! Thank you for everything, my mind is blown. I cannot wait until we have sewing tools in VR. A central place to share all of our information will be life-changing 🙌🏻
Just found him on my cell. He is a blessing. He brings sewing to the masses in 21st century and with style in concise language and expert film editing.
Been sewing for over 50 years and love what you’re doing. But I keep things old school - mechanical machine, scissors, tape measure, mechanical pencil, and either reuse the white side of wrapping paper or brown craft paper on sale from Blick. I reuse patterns constantly, and just use some tape if they get a bit ragged.
Wow!! How nice it is! I am sewing spree, usually draw patterns by using the Adobe Illustrator, but this idea never comes to me so far. Now I can not wait to try your idea. Thank you so much.
Here's another tip to add to this, if you can get a large sheet of glass or heavy plexi or clear acrylic, you can place it over the patters and weight it down on the corners. This would REALLY REALLY squish it flat and make the pattern more accurate when photographing it. Those big wrinkles can create lots of errors in the pattern tracing. I had no idea people did this. I constantly buy the same pants over and over. I have often thought it would be cool to try to make my own. I knew I would have to seam rip one pair apart but thought it wouldn't be practical. Now I think I may try it.
Very clever. You will get more accurate results using something larger than a 1" measurement, though. If, say, you were out by 1/8" in your measurement, the scale will be out by 12%. If, instead, you used a 10" measurement and were out by 1/8", your scale will be out by just over 1%. Better still would be to use the full panel as the scale measurement you are using. It is larger and you can check the scale horizontally and vertically.
I'm so happy people are starting to do this! I noticed a lot of youtubers posting similar tutorials and it makes so much sense! who has space for physical patterns anyway lol
Costumers have been using this method for years. I guess for some people pattern making is hard but there are some very easy ways to do it.great video on a hack
This is so smart. I’ve recently started doing this and incorporating it with my overpriced pattern software for my pattern studio. It works for drapes too!
Hey, great tip! I do the photo + Illustrator tracing this when turning paper patterns (I like to draft on paper first) into digital patterns. To double check that the digital pattern matches the paper pattern, I measure the edges of the paper pattern. For example, if an edge is 15 centimeters on the paper pattern, I'll draw a 15 centimeter line in Illustrator and move it to the appropriate edge. It's a good way to check work.
I copied a skirt one time without taking it apart. I used painters tape and covered each panel before trimming the tape where the seams are. Then peal the painters tape panel off and stick it on a piece of paper. I used the paper portion to add the seam allowance.
Interesting use of phone camera. After seam rippping favorite garment, I was taught to scotch tape newspaper sheets together, then trace around the garment pieces onto the newspaper with a marker. When done altering & using the paper pattern, we folded it up inside another piece of newspaper. Then write on outside what it was & size. Saved expense of going to print shop.
@@sophievanderbilt1325 that has never been a big problem. You just lay out the pattern & dont rub the two together like sandpaper. Also this was "past tense" when money was very scarce.
@@sophievanderbilt1325 If you iron your newspaper first it sets the ink and it is much less likely to spread. You can often buy (relatively cheaply) rolls of newsprint paper from a craft or dollar shop. Cheap Xmas wrapping paper is also good, especially if you get the wide stuff.
That works really well! I’m really bad at accurately tracing stuff so I like to trace the whole bodice and fold it in half. Then compare the halves and make them match. That way if there are any places that I traced unevenly I can split the difference or choose a side to use. After that I’ll reflect the side I want.
Fantastic idea, I hadn't thought about doing this before. I use illustrator all day long at my work so this is definitely something I am going to try next time I find a garment in a thrift store I want to re-make.
Omg this hack isso amazing! I was having a really hard time in my digital pattern making class, but I think start by doing this way will be much easier for me. Thank U ❤ for helping this helpless Brazilian🇧🇷 fashion student 😂❤
I used a similar technique in the furniture industry. I was digitizing and modeling wooden frames for upholstered furniture, and instead of using the big, expensive digitizing machines (that produced the worst, almost unusable DXF files, btw...) I'd just snap a picture and trace it out in Sketchup. If you need better accuracy you need to adjust the image for perspective skew. I gotta go back and find it but I found a small free software that worked perfect. I printed out a grid that I would lay the patterns on before taking the picture, then use the software to align the skew of the image to that grid... It was a little extra step but improved accuracy a ton!
When taking the photo, try standing on a chair so you will have to zoom in on the clothing. That way you get less of the wide angle lens distortion that you will get if you're close to the garment.
Same! I use my clothes too. No patterns. But I trace them onto poster board and keep the poster board patterns and reuse over and over making small modifications.
I digitized several patterns with this method. Like, actual patterns tho. I wanted to digitally adjust them instead of on paper, and then I printed and made my test garment. Good method, and great video!
Such a cool hack thank you! ❤️ Large format printers aren’t too expensive you can get a decent one for $1200 or a used one for even less (universities upgrade theirs all the time and their auctions are a good place to check- I worked at one ☺️). Paper is $50 a roll and inks about the same. If you make a lot of patterns this will save you money in the long term. 💕
Okay so I just found this channel a few days ago and saved this video and I'm just now watching it and 1. i am so mad that i just found you because i wasted SO MUCH FABRIC trying to replicate a bucket hat and it came out so bad and you have a literal free pattern omfg -___- and 2! You're (I am assuming) Jamaican?! awww yissss wah gwan, love to see my ppl out herreeee doin itt (The name Allan too is popular in Jamaica). But if not, then you're still cool~ 😅☺
Just found your channel and you look exactly like this Drum n Bass producer who is also from Toronto, named Stranjah. So uncanny that I suspect you guys are related! Anyhow thanks for the patterns and the sick tutorials!!
I love digital patterns but why print them?? You can actually use a projector to project the pattern directly onto fabric! it's amazing ... no more paper. There's a whole FB group dedicated to using projectors for sewing.
I saw that from Alexander Max, the new fashion designer who is eight years old, but I looked up the program they were making, and I don’t like those patterns
For the most patterns, that are symetrical, it would be a better idea just to find that center line, trace the half of the pattern and than just mirror it. In this way You'll have two perfectly matching halves. ;)
Using a cardboard cutting surface with the grid on makes this more accurate. After you take the picture, you can import the image into Gimp (or Photoshop, if you must) and play with the skew until the grid lines up with guidelines in the app. That gets you perfectly square. Then you can scale the image until the grid matches 1:1 for size. I tend to try to match a 2 x 2 square, or 4 x 4 if there's room. Larger = more accurate.
Add a ruler to the height direction as well if you can. Then if you didn't hold the phone perfectly flat, you'll know and perhaps even be able to correct with a small distortion.
If you can, add a ruler on the height direction as well. Then if you didn't get the phone held absolutely flat, it's easier to check and even correct with a small distortion.
Lived in bush Alaska where some Native elders just used hand, arms to eyeball measure and foot tracing for kuspuks and mukluks -of cotton, hides and fur. They would get you tho.
I draw my pattern on the floor, hurt my back, my knees. Might wanna try drawing with inkscape and print them if printing doesn't cost much. Or I might put it in the production costs 😁 Thanks for sharing this
That is very clever. Just curious as to why you don’t put the garment panel on your cutting board which has horizontal & vertical inch markings instead of using the ruler?
I could but I like having the white board to clearly show the edges of the panel. And then you only need one unit of measurement to scale to size so a ruler or cutting board could work; ruler is also easier to move around.
I print PDF patterns at home, but will try this for copying my own clothes. Now to find a free equivalent to Adobe Illustrator - and then spend days learning it.
so, my husband brought me a pattern from a fabric store. I pulled that out and immediately became overwhelmed and lost. All it was was how to make those stretchy tight fitting leggings for our young daughters. pretty simple, right? those patterns have way too much info on them. So, I did what you did... I got out an old worn out pair that fit them the way they like it. I used my seam ripper. NOW I HAVE all I need. I am not using any kind of technology other than my seam ripper and my machine. ... also I just took apart half of it .. we really only need one side to make both sides.
That was exactly my experience 35+ years ago. The pattern was just too overwhelming and full of info. I seam ripped my clothes, trace them onto cardboard and that's my pattern. Never gone digital or used a store bought pattern before
I’ve been sewing for 20 years, and your video, ideas and giving spirit are absolutely mind blowing. You are revolutionizing sewing and making it so that everyone can be thrifty while recycling and making clothing that is a perfect fit. If there are any patterns you are ever looking for or are curious about, I’d be happy to give you any that I have! Thank you for everything, my mind is blown. I cannot wait until we have sewing tools in VR. A central place to share all of our information will be life-changing 🙌🏻
Do you have any doy sweater or shirt patterns?
Just found him on my cell. He is a blessing. He brings sewing to the masses in 21st century and with style in concise language and expert film editing.
I was JUST thinking about doing something like this to digitize my patterns. Thank you!
A true tea sew along episode would be very fun!! ❤🤣
Hey Kat! Would love to see more of your sewing too.
Been sewing for over 50 years and love what you’re doing. But I keep things old school - mechanical machine, scissors, tape measure, mechanical pencil, and either reuse the white side of wrapping paper or brown craft paper on sale from Blick. I reuse patterns constantly, and just use some tape if they get a bit ragged.
I’ve done this for maternity pants; they are so $$ to buy new that this was my money saving hack.
Wow!! How nice it is! I am sewing spree, usually draw patterns by using the Adobe Illustrator, but this idea never comes to me so far. Now I can not wait to try your idea. Thank you so much.
After trying both ways, I think I trust the process of hand-making patterns first and then digitizing for easy storage and reuse. Thank you so much!
When will you upload the size grading video ? Thank you for sharing this amazing info!
Here's another tip to add to this, if you can get a large sheet of glass or heavy plexi or clear acrylic, you can place it over the patters and weight it down on the corners. This would REALLY REALLY squish it flat and make the pattern more accurate when photographing it. Those big wrinkles can create lots of errors in the pattern tracing.
I had no idea people did this. I constantly buy the same pants over and over. I have often thought it would be cool to try to make my own. I knew I would have to seam rip one pair apart but thought it wouldn't be practical. Now I think I may try it.
Great point, thank you🙏🏻
Very clever.
You will get more accurate results using something larger than a 1" measurement, though. If, say, you were out by 1/8" in your measurement, the scale will be out by 12%. If, instead, you used a 10" measurement and were out by 1/8", your scale will be out by just over 1%. Better still would be to use the full panel as the scale measurement you are using. It is larger and you can check the scale horizontally and vertically.
Honestly, you are one of the best RUclips creators. You gave me the courage to start sewing and it is my favourite thing ever. Thank you.
Thank you, I'm so glad 😊😊
Do you know it’s funny is this little boy Max Alexander was the reason that I started sewing. He is eight years old.
I'm so happy people are starting to do this! I noticed a lot of youtubers posting similar tutorials and it makes so much sense! who has space for physical patterns anyway lol
Costumers have been using this method for years. I guess for some people pattern making is hard but there are some very easy ways to do it.great video on a hack
Thanks for sharing. Yeah for those not familiar with sewing, this is an easy way to do it.
@@GloryAllan it's a great place to start :D
This is so smart. I’ve recently started doing this and incorporating it with my overpriced pattern software for my pattern studio. It works for drapes too!
Hey, great tip! I do the photo + Illustrator tracing this when turning paper patterns (I like to draft on paper first) into digital patterns. To double check that the digital pattern matches the paper pattern, I measure the edges of the paper pattern. For example, if an edge is 15 centimeters on the paper pattern, I'll draw a 15 centimeter line in Illustrator and move it to the appropriate edge. It's a good way to check work.
In a nutshell seems like we're doing the same thing :)
Great tip. Thank you
I copied a skirt one time without taking it apart. I used painters tape and covered each panel before trimming the tape where the seams are. Then peal the painters tape panel off and stick it on a piece of paper. I used the paper portion to add the seam allowance.
Interesting use of phone camera. After seam rippping favorite garment, I was taught to scotch tape newspaper sheets together, then trace around the garment pieces onto the newspaper with a marker. When done altering & using the paper pattern, we folded it up inside another piece of newspaper. Then write on outside what it was & size. Saved expense of going to print shop.
Won't newspapers get ink all over your hands and fabric?
@@sophievanderbilt1325 that has never been a big problem. You just lay out the pattern & dont rub the two together like sandpaper. Also this was "past tense" when money was very scarce.
@@sophievanderbilt1325 If you iron your newspaper first it sets the ink and it is much less likely to spread. You can often buy (relatively cheaply) rolls of newsprint paper from a craft or dollar shop. Cheap Xmas wrapping paper is also good, especially if you get the wide stuff.
great idea!! however instead of tracing the whole bodice you could have traced half and reflect the other, that way it will be accurate :)
That's a good point too. Usually I end up only showing half of the bodice on my patterns anyways :)
That works really well! I’m really bad at accurately tracing stuff so I like to trace the whole bodice and fold it in half. Then compare the halves and make them match. That way if there are any places that I traced unevenly I can split the difference or choose a side to use. After that I’ll reflect the side I want.
Fantastic idea, I hadn't thought about doing this before. I use illustrator all day long at my work so this is definitely something I am going to try next time I find a garment in a thrift store I want to re-make.
Hello - when my Mom taught me this it wasn't called a "hack" - great video as always. Have a great day.
Throw back to school being taught how to use CAD and instantly realising i can use this for drafting clothes patterns. Then moved onto Illustrator.
Just found your channel, I love that you share your patterns for free; really for the culture!! Thank you!
Soooo hard to tear up a favorite piece even tho you're gonna make it again.
Omg this hack isso amazing! I was having a really hard time in my digital pattern making class, but I think start by doing this way will be much easier for me. Thank U ❤ for helping this helpless Brazilian🇧🇷 fashion student 😂❤
Very nice of you to share. Sharing is caring.
I used a similar technique in the furniture industry. I was digitizing and modeling wooden frames for upholstered furniture, and instead of using the big, expensive digitizing machines (that produced the worst, almost unusable DXF files, btw...) I'd just snap a picture and trace it out in Sketchup.
If you need better accuracy you need to adjust the image for perspective skew. I gotta go back and find it but I found a small free software that worked perfect. I printed out a grid that I would lay the patterns on before taking the picture, then use the software to align the skew of the image to that grid... It was a little extra step but improved accuracy a ton!
This is such a great hack! This will save me soooo much time when recreating patterns on the computer! Thank you!
When taking the photo, try standing on a chair so you will have to zoom in on the clothing. That way you get less of the wide angle lens distortion that you will get if you're close to the garment.
Great advice, thanks :)
never stop making content!!!!
This is a good tip. Thanks for sharing.
I've been sewing for years. I don't use patterns. I know, I'm the exception. I do use my clothes as a fit reference, though. Great tips. 👍
Same! I use my clothes too. No patterns. But I trace them onto poster board and keep the poster board patterns and reuse over and over making small modifications.
I digitized several patterns with this method. Like, actual patterns tho. I wanted to digitally adjust them instead of on paper, and then I printed and made my test garment. Good method, and great video!
Hey, this’ll be a great way to make designer doll or teddy bear clothes too!
Such a cool hack thank you! ❤️
Large format printers aren’t too expensive you can get a decent one for $1200 or a used one for even less (universities upgrade theirs all the time and their auctions are a good place to check- I worked at one ☺️). Paper is $50 a roll and inks about the same. If you make a lot of patterns this will save you money in the long term. 💕
If you get a smaller 24” plotter instead, it’s $700 for a new printer.
u a real one mayneee, 2 genuine hope you accomplish all you set ur mind too . Thank you
Love this! Do you have a video on grading by chance?
Okay so I just found this channel a few days ago and saved this video and I'm just now watching it and 1. i am so mad that i just found you because i wasted SO MUCH FABRIC trying to replicate a bucket hat and it came out so bad and you have a literal free pattern omfg -___- and 2! You're (I am assuming) Jamaican?! awww yissss wah gwan, love to see my ppl out herreeee doin itt (The name Allan too is popular in Jamaica). But if not, then you're still cool~ 😅☺
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Great video standards. Consider doing voice overs for side money. Nice work!
Haha thank you
Thank you very much for your free patterns it’s so much help, God bless you.
From South Africa 🇿🇦
Just found your channel and you look exactly like this Drum n Bass producer who is also from Toronto, named Stranjah. So uncanny that I suspect you guys are related!
Anyhow thanks for the patterns and the sick tutorials!!
Wow, this so so helpful! Thank you! I dunno why I didn't think of this!
My best advice for pattern making, learn to do it from scratch, you'll never go wrong.
Please make the video on grading the sizes and putting them together in one document. 💌
I love digital patterns but why print them?? You can actually use a projector to project the pattern directly onto fabric! it's amazing ... no more paper. There's a whole FB group dedicated to using projectors for sewing.
I saw that from Alexander Max, the new fashion designer who is eight years old, but I looked up the program they were making, and I don’t like those patterns
For the most patterns, that are symetrical, it would be a better idea just to find that center line, trace the half of the pattern and than just mirror it. In this way You'll have two perfectly matching halves. ;)
Totally agree
WOW THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FREE PATTERNS!!!👍🏽🥰
The ones I found weren’t free
Am so excited for your tutorials wish you more success in your life
Thank u so much for this hack ! I just found ur channel and just subscribed we need more male sewest on RUclips thanks
Thanks for subbing 😊
Just discovered your channel. I’ve watched one video and already a fan!
Super helpful.. Never thought about digitizing old patterns.
Bro God will bless you ❤
Learning so much from you.
Using a cardboard cutting surface with the grid on makes this more accurate. After you take the picture, you can import the image into Gimp (or Photoshop, if you must) and play with the skew until the grid lines up with guidelines in the app. That gets you perfectly square. Then you can scale the image until the grid matches 1:1 for size. I tend to try to match a 2 x 2 square, or 4 x 4 if there's room. Larger = more accurate.
Great concept and thank you for sharing. Looking forward to your pattern grading video.🙏🏻
Brilliant!
This is going to be so fun to play around with and learn. Thanks for sharing with us.
Add a ruler to the height direction as well if you can. Then if you didn't hold the phone perfectly flat, you'll know and perhaps even be able to correct with a small distortion.
Great point
@@GloryAllan Sort of learned that the hard way while trying to print a design onto a strange shape :)
Thanks! I really liked your video!
Great idea! Do you know how to adjust sizing from that point? Like have the range of clothing sizes.
If you can, add a ruler on the height direction as well. Then if you didn't get the phone held absolutely flat, it's easier to check and even correct with a small distortion.
Lived in bush Alaska where some Native elders just used hand, arms to eyeball measure and foot tracing for kuspuks and mukluks -of cotton, hides and fur. They would get you tho.
Great Canadian content!🇨🇦
Awesome! How we can gathering the patterns? Any tip?
I draw my pattern on the floor, hurt my back, my knees. Might wanna try drawing with inkscape and print them if printing doesn't cost much. Or I might put it in the production costs 😁 Thanks for sharing this
can you make a video about supplies like materials used to cut fabric the boards used and etc
I have a video on sewing tools (GA008) that might help
That is very clever. Just curious as to why you don’t put the garment panel on your cutting board which has horizontal & vertical inch markings instead of using the ruler?
I could but I like having the white board to clearly show the edges of the panel. And then you only need one unit of measurement to scale to size so a ruler or cutting board could work; ruler is also easier to move around.
I print PDF patterns at home, but will try this for copying my own clothes. Now to find a free equivalent to Adobe Illustrator - and then spend days learning it.
For sure, just make sure you scale the photos to size based on the ruler and you're good 👌🏻
so, my husband brought me a pattern from a fabric store. I pulled that out and immediately became overwhelmed and lost. All it was was how to make those stretchy tight fitting leggings for our young daughters. pretty simple, right? those patterns have way too much info on them. So, I did what you did... I got out an old worn out pair that fit them the way they like it. I used my seam ripper. NOW I HAVE all I need. I am not using any kind of technology other than my seam ripper and my machine. ... also I just took apart half of it .. we really only need one side to make both sides.
That was exactly my experience 35+ years ago. The pattern was just too overwhelming and full of info. I seam ripped my clothes, trace them onto cardboard and that's my pattern. Never gone digital or used a store bought pattern before
So excited to attempt and make a tsuno bag and I knew there was a sewing machine at home and it’s missing the foot pedal 🥲
OMG I hope you're proud if yourself. You should be. Good lad
Awesome You are a COMPUTER GURÚ. To bad for me ( 1.954 ). Thanks for your patterns. Love 💕
I don't know how I got here but now that I am I'm gonna go make a bucket hat using your pattern. Thanks 😂.
This idea is awesome! And…I LOVE your Texas Longhorn shirt!!! Many thanks and a new sub from Texas! ♥️
I love this pattern making technique. Excellent!!
Dude thank you for making this video.
This is genius! Thank you so much for sharing!
Ting hoi! Happy Chinese New Year
yo, this video was recommended to me, keep up the good work man, soon it's going to pop off!
So cool! Thank you for sharing.
thank you for sharing your knowledge!!
Thanks for publishing this.
Thanks for free patterens saw your channel jumped on board.hugs be safe:]
Video quality insane🔥🔥🔥
thanks! stoked i came across your channel
This is very clever and I will consider it next time I need to digitize a pattern!!
very good video, but I need to know what brand is that shirt you are wearing in the video
Love this - thank you!
I love your burnt orange top
Some ppl have switched to using a projector and digital patterns
Amazing and incredible - thank you!
I absolutely love this! Thanks so much! I'm now a subscriber🙂
That’s awesome!, thanks for sharing that.
Duuuuude Love the content Thank you so much
Okay! That was pretty dope! You got a new subbie!
Very helpful. Thank you! ✌
Your patterns had a BIG price tag when I clicked on those that said free!
Great video thank you for sharing.
Great video can this same process be done using Corel draw?
I'm not familiar with Corel but if you can scale photos, create large artboards and vectors, it should 😊
genius! thanks for sharing
Hey, do you think you can add canadian pricing to your store?
This is great. Are you a longhorn?
fire ! waiting on that hoodie video!
Dropping on Thursday, 3pm EST :)
For those of us that print your patterns on standard paper can you make a tutorial on how to put them together