Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Hacking Patterns

Do you like to hack your sewing patterns?  To hack a pattern, you are basically altering it from its original design.  Most times I see an inspiration online or in-stores and I check my pattern stash to see what pattern I have that I could easily modify to fit the design.  For this blog post I used 3 different fabrics to create 3 different looks by hacking the selected patterns I used.

For the first look I took McCall’s 7999 which is a TNT pattern for me.  To hack it I first converted the pattern from a set-in sleeve to a raglan sleeve style.  I had an inspiration picture that I referenced of a knit dress sketch. The rib knit I choose was perfect for this project.  I had a good weight and excellent stretch retention which I liked for this design.  I also liked the speckle detail that was in the fabric.


Once I made my style lines, I then created open curved shapes along the sleeve seamline and added binding.  I really love my new dress; this is the perfect item to add to my fall wardrobe.

The second look was based off another sketch that became my inspiration.  I loved the high low hem line and exaggerated sleeves.  I knew the perfect pattern would be Simplicity 8889, another favorite of mine.  To start I changed the hem line making it longer in the front with curved lines blending to the hem.  Next was to make the sleeve, I came across a diagram to draft an exaggerated sleeve. Using the slash and spread method I modified the sleeve from a short sleeve.   It required great amount of ease which was then pleated back into the armhole.

The fabric I used was a sateen, the amount of hold and structure the fabric created was beautiful!  The sheen on the fabric created such a lux feel and look.  I loved sewing with this fabric, and I created beautiful buttonholes on it as well.  With the weight of the fabric the look would be great as just a shirt or even a like jacket to through over other shirts. 




For my last look I was so happy to be able to recreate.  I had this picture saved as inspiration for a long time.  When I came across this pinstripe denim, I knew it would be perfect for this make.  It very lightweight and great for shirting styles.   I used Simplicity 9239 which is a jacket pattern.  What drew me to this pattern to hack it was the silhouette and the drop shoulder detail.

To hack I first converted the pattern into a raglan style line.  I then also lowered the drop shoulder to be closer to the original inspiration picture.  Since this was going to be a shirt instead of a jacket, I cut the center front on the fold.  Additionally, I extended the length of the front and back hem making a high low,



The most unique detail and what really brings it all together is the soutache decorative braid along the front seam lines.  I love this detail and what really makes it unique.  I made markings on the shirt for placement, but the actual motif is completely freehand.  I tried to make both sides look as even as possible. For now, I just have the ends tied off but would love to find a fringe tassel or something similar to add later.


If you are considering hacking some patterns for yourself my best advice is to look at the line drawings and not the actual picture itself.  Often time the styling or fabric choice on a pattern cover will have us miss an opportunity for a great pattern.  Pinterest is also a great source to pull inspiration.  See what style lines and silhouettes of patterns are like your inspo.  Also don’t be afraid to mix elements.  Take a sleeve from one pattern and add it to the bodice of another, give that design a new interpretation. 

JASMINE  @sewmuchjazz


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: RIB KNIT, KNITS, COTTON, SATEEN, & DENIM.

Comments

  1. I could not pull off the bold styling, but I love it on you. Creative and inspiring.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Why I Love Sewing Woven Fabrics Over Knits

Sewing is a creative hobby that allows me to express my unique style while adding a personal touch to my wardrobe. When it comes to choosing between wovens and knits I will mostly always choose woven. There are a lot of reasons I choose wovens as my go-to choice. The project I chose for this Fabric Mart make is from Friday Pattern Company’s Patina Blouse .  I used a gorgeous lightweight rayon .  It’s delicate hand is the perfect blouse weight and it drapes beautifully with this pattern. In this blog post, l'll explore the advantages of sewing woven blouses over knit shirts, highlighting the creativity, versatility, and satisfaction that come with this choice.  The Joy of Creativity Sewing a woven blouse offers a chance for my creativity to flourish. Woven fabrics come in a wide array of colors, patterns, and textures, allowing me to unleash my artistic potential. With knits, the stretch and drape of the fabric often limit my design options. In contrast, woven fabrics give me the fr

Fabricista Guest Post: Perfectly Imperfect

Hey Sewing Friends!! I’m super excited to be a guest Fabricista. I’ve been a fan of Fabric Mart since I began sewing again in 2020. Let me begin with an introduction. I’m Eras, and my Instagram account is sewing_andmore. During the day, I work as a Nurse Practitioner, and I  first learned to sew in my local 4-H club when I was in middle school.  At that time, I had an amazing sewing instructor, Mrs. McKinney, who was extremely patient and was by my side for every step. However, in 2020, the stress of being a Nurse Practitioner during the pandemic made me turn to sewing for my mental health. I started out sewing and creating masks, and I immediately saw a change in my mood. I’m so glad I dusted off my old sewing machine, and I haven’t stopped! After seeing the rush of adrenaline and satisfaction sewing provided, I started making clothes. When I no longer needed fat-quarters, I started looking for online fabric stores. It was during this time that I discovered Fabric Mart and their great

Made By A Fabricista: Skipping Winter - Tailored Outfits in Twill & Shirting for Spring

Hi Fabric Mart fans! I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving! This month, while perusing the Fabric Mart collection, I was drawn to cotton twill fabrics. My son, who's growing like a weed, is always in need of new pants! I could easily have made him multiple pairs of pants, however I was also drawn to a bright blue stretch twill for me. I just can't resist a bold color on a jacket, and this blue was calling my name! I hope you love these outfits as much as I do! Since I planned to make pants for my son, I knew I'd need to make a button-down shirt as well. Fabric Mart had a range of fabulous cotton shirtings and it was hard to land on just one, but I eventually picked this royal blue gingham which pairs perfectly with the tan twill pants. When it comes to woven patterns for boys, I can never go past Oliver+S. I've made their dress shirts so many times now - the finishes are always lovely, and always so worth the time and effort. I used the Buttoned-Up Button-Down Shi