Simple Patterns





Basic Tabard

Supplies
  1. 2-3 meters of fabric (depending on how long you want it)
  2. Matching thread
  3. Wide double fold seam binding in either the same colour as your fabric or in a contrasting colour.
Equipment
  1. Sewing machine
  2. Sewing scissors
  3. Tape measure
  4. Pins
  5. Iron and ironing board
  6. A dinner plate
  7. A pencil crayon in a contrasting colour to your fabric
Cutting

Measure the distance from the edge of one shoulder to the other. Add 6 cm and cut a strip of fabric of that width by the length of your fabric. Find the center of the piece and using a dinner plate as a template, trace around the place with the pencil crayon. Cut out the circle to create a hole for your head.

Sewing

Fold over the edge along the two long sides and sew a hem. With good sides together, pin and sew one edge of the seam binding around the outside of the circle. Leave enough to fold a little back to form a clean edge. Fold the seam binding inside and sew in place to finish the neck. Try on the tabard and decide on how long you want it. Cut any extra off and hem the bottoms.

Finishing Touches

  • Add some decorative trim
  • Use fabric paint to paint a design on the front
  • Sew on a crest or a badge





T-Tunic

Supplies
  1. 4-5 meters of fabric (depending on how long you want it)
  2. Matching thread
  3. Wide double fold seam binding in either the same colour as your fabric or in a contrasting colour.
Equipment
  1. Sewing Machine
  2. Sewing Scissors
  3. Tape Measure
  4. Pins
  5. Iron and Ironing Board
  6. A Dinner Plate
  7. A Pencil Crayon in a Contrastic Colour to your Fabric
Cutting

You will need to cut three pieces. The first is just like the tabard. Measure the distance from the edge of one shoulder to the other. Add 6 cm and cut a strip of fabric of that width by the length of your fabric (about 2 m in length). Find the center of the piece, and using a dinner plate as a template trace around the place with the pencil crayon. Cut out the circle to create a hole for your head.

Then cut two rectangles that are the length of your arm (from the edge of your sholder to your wrist) long and 40 cm wide.

Sewing

With good sides together, pin and sew one edge of the seam binding around the outside of the circle. Leave enough to fold a little back to form a clean edge. Fold the seam binding inside and sew in place to finish the neck.

With right sides together, pin and sew the arms onto the main body halfway up on either side of the neck. Press the seams open.


Fold the garment in half and sew from the edge of the sleeve all the way down to the bottom of the tunic on both sides.

Try on your tunic and trim the sleeves or bottom if they are much too long. Then hem both the sleeves and the bottom of the tunic.





Skirt

Supplies
  1. 2 meters of fabric
  2. Matching thread
  3. Either 1 pkg of 1/2" elastic or 2m of 2" ribbon
Equipment
  1. Sewing Machine
  2. Sewing Scissors
  3. Tape Measure
  4. Pins
  5. Iron and Ironing Board
Cutting

Cut two 1 meter by 1 meter squares of fabric.

Sewing

Lay the two squares together with the right sides facing each other. Pin and then sew along two of the parallel sides. Iron the seams open.

Pin and then sew a 3 cm hem around the bottom of the skirt. Iron flat. Fold over a 6 cm fold at the top of the fabric. Sew around, leaving a 4 cm gap by one of the side seams.

Thread either the ribbon or the elastic through the top of the skirt. (HINT: put a large safety pin through the end of the ribbon or elastic. It will help thread it through the fold.) If you are using elastic, tighten it to a comfortable waist and then tie it in a tight knot.

Finishing Touches

If you used ribbon, you can sew a small ring about halfway down the side where the ribbon will hang down. Then you can feed the extra ribbon through the ring and pull that side of the skirt up a little for easier walking.





Hoodless Cloak

This pattern is not suitable for fabrics with a nape.

Supplies
  1. 3 meters of 150 cm fabric
  2. Matching thread
  3. A Clasp
  4. Hand Sewing Needles
Equipment
  1. Sewing Machine
  2. Sewing Scissors
  3. Tape Measure
  4. Pins
  5. Iron and Ironing Board
Cutting

PIECE A: Fold the fabric in half the wide way and cut two pieces which are 150 cm by 100 cm. Measure in 25 cm along two parallel sides from the opposite corners. Cut along the line between the two points. You should now have four identical pieces of fabric

PIECE B: Out of the scraps, cut a strip that is 35 cm long by 8 cm wide.

Sewing


With right sides together, pin and sew two of the piece A's together along the angled side. Then repeat with the other two piece A's. Iron the seams open. Sew and iron the seam flat.

Then pin the two pieces along one of the straight sides. Sew and iron the seam flat.

Using a hand needle, run a line of large (.5 - 1 cm long) stitches across the top of the cloak. Gather the cloak along the top until the neck it a comfortable size and then knot the thread. With right sides together, pin and sew piece B along the neck. Turn the raw edge over to form a collar and sew.

Try the cloak on. If it is too long, then cut some off the bottom. Hem around the bottom of the cloak.

Finishing Touches

Sew a clasp on to hold the cloak closed.





3 Simple Pouches

Everyone needs a place to put things and these pouches are a great thing to make out of your extra fabric scraps.

1. External Pocket

The easiest kind of pouch to make.

Supplies
  1. 1/4 meter of fabric
  2. Matching thread
  3. 1/4 meter of ribbon, decorative cord or rope.
Directions

Use a piece of 8 1/2" X 11" paper as a pattern and cut a piece of fabric. Fold it in half with the good sides together. Sew across the bottom and up one side until you are 6cm from the top. Skip forward about 2cm and then continue sewing until the top of the bag. Fold over the top 4 cm of the bag (so that the hold in the side of the bag is on the fold). Sew a seam around the top of the bag. Thread the ribbon through the fold to form a draw string. Knot the two ends of the ribbon together. Turn the bag right side out.



2. Round Pouch

This Pouch is Completely Reversable

Supplies
  1. 1/4 meters of two different complementary fabrics
  2. Matching thread
  3. Either 1 pkg of 1/2" elastic or 2m of 2" ribbon
Directions

Using a dinner plate as a pattern, cut one circular piece out of each of the two fabrics. Place the good sides together and sew around the outside leaving two gaps about a 6 cm in length on each side.

Turn right sides out and iron flat. Use a hand needle to sew the gap closed until only a 1 cm gap remains. Run a steam around the circle about 3 cm from the edge.

Cut the cord in half and thread both halves through the gaps (one cord coming out each gap). Pull on both cords at once to close.


Shoulder Bag

For when you have to carry a lot of stuff. This pouch is best made out of a heavy fabric.

Supplies
  1. 1/2 meters of fabric
  2. Matching thread
  3. 1 1/2 meters 1/2" cotton rope.
Directions

Fold fabric in half with the good sides together. Sew up the long side until you are 10cm from the one end. Skip forward about 4cm and then continue sewing until the edge. Iron open the seam and then lay it so the seam runs down the middle. Iron flat.

Then sew across the bottom (the edge away from the gap). Fold over the top 10 cm of the bag (so that the hole in the back of the bag is on the fold). Sew a seam around the top of the bag. Turn right side out.

Thread the rope through the fold to form a draw string. Knot each end of the rope and sew it to the bottom corners of the bad.