Looking to pick up a hobby to make a little more practical or relaxing use of your time while you’re at home? Or maybe you’ve always had a love for fashion and especially loved putting your own spin on outfits and looks. If both are the case, then learning the ways to create or customize your own clothes can be a doubly-rewarding way to hit both needs. Here, we’re going to look at a few of the different methods, what sets them apart, and which of them might be best suited to your needs.
Why you should get into making/customizing your own clothes
You might be reading, thinking, why would you put that much work into making clothes, when it’s a lot easier to just buy them? Well, depending on which approach you pick, making your own clothes can be a lot more cost-effective. Even if you have to buy a sewing machine, it can eventually pay for itself by saving you from having to shop as long. Learning the disciplines below can also make it a lot easier for you to mend, repair, and adjust clothes, rather than having to return them or throw them out. More than that, it can be a fantastic way to express your own creativity and style, not to mention learning a new hobby that can help you enjoy some downtime.
Knitting
One of the most traditional hobbies around, knitting has been around for as long as people have been able to pick up two needles and a ball of yarn, and you’ve likely had a few hand-knitted pieces in your closet at one time or another. There’s a traditional appeal to knitting that can make it a wonderful thing to practice on your own or as part of the many knitting circles you can find. It’s also one of the easiest clothes-making practices to pick up, so learning knitting as a beginner can be extremely accessible and welcoming. Just know that the more complex the shapes of clothing you want to make, the more difficult it can be. However, knitting blankets and scarves is super easy, as well as supremely relaxing.
Sewing
Though it’s certainly not as easy to pick up, largely because you have to buy your own sewing machine, not to mention the extra supplies it requires compared to many of the methods here, sewing does offer one of the most expressive ways to get right into making your own clothes, as well as altering existing clothes, as soon as you get your setup complete. Aside from being able to sew together all kinds of fabrics, including existing clothing, it also makes it super easy to alter and adjust clothes, making them a perfect fit for your friends or family. There are a lot of different things you can achieve through sewing, but it can be costly.
Macrame
While sewing can be a little more demanding, both in terms of money and attention, macrame is the opposite. Like every clothes crafting method, it takes a little time to learn, but all you need to get started are the right instructions and some basic macrame supplies. You don’t need needles of any kind or other tools, you can learn to do it by hand. What’s more, macrame is great for creating accessories, such as earrings, bracelets, and handbags, as well as clothing items like sweaters, tunics, and more. Much like knitting, macrame is one of those types of crafts that can be almost meditative when you get it mastered. The perfect hobby for when you have an hour to sit back and enjoy a podcast, for instance.
Crochet
If you’re someone who enjoys a particular level of challenge, or you have already mastered some of the more beginner-friendly options mentioned above and are looking to get more complex, then crochet is not going to disappoint by any means. That said, there are beginner’s levels of crocheting that can ease you into the less daunting aspects of the art. It’s a relatively easy one to get equipped for, at least, requiring little more than some yarn, a crochet hook, scissors, and patterns to follow. From there, a lot of it is learning different techniques, be it the crotchet stitch, double crochet stitch, slip stitch, and so on. However, it’s a tough recommendation for the perfectionists out there, because crotchet is very difficult to correct your mistakes, and most pieces are going to end up with some level of little imperfections that you should learn to get used to.
Weaving
Many of the disciplines we’ve mentioned here are very old, indeed, traditions that have stood the test of time, even if modern machinery can make them a little easier to get into. However, when it comes to weaving, the old way is the one that most practitioners tend to adhere to. Quite the opposite of macrame, which requires no equipment at all, weaving is maybe the most equipment-intensive hobby to get into out of all of the options here. Weaving requires a loom and, while you might be able to track down a loom to buy, a lot of those getting into weaving actually make their own looms. You can make looms out of anything from cardboard or stronger. Once you get to learn how to use it, however, weaving isn’t actually as tough as it might look.
Embroidering
Yet another age-old art, embroidering is the practice of adding designs, patterns, patches, and all manners of new looks to your clothing with a sewing needle and some thread. There are all kinds of different things that you can embroider, be it floral designs, cartoon characters, or more abstract patterns. Typically, you have to use a particularly thin thread and a tiny needle, so be careful not to prick yourself too often and expect to be patient as you get the movements right. Once you do, however, you can enjoy one of the most versatile altering methods available. Of course, it’s a bit of a tricky one to take as a relaxing hobby, because it does require pretty close focus to do it safely and well.
Dyeing
Although not the most versatile art of all, if you’re looking to bring some life to some faded or boring t-shirts, or other similarly light clothing, then tie dyeing is one of the most beginner-friendly ways to do it. There are a few different styles of tie-dye, from the traditional method to the ombre style, but rarely does it cost much to do it. Of course, tie-dyeing clothes yourself can be a messy process if you mess up, so ensure you have a clean space and receptacle for the dye to work out, and lay down some newspaper to catch any wayward splashes of pain that might come out along the way.
Custom printing
Perhaps you’re not as much looking to get into making or altering clothes as a hobby, but you simply have some ideas for designs that you would to see come to life. If those designs are more in the style of graphics, then you should look at one of the many custom printing companies that can help you make the bespoke t-shirt or other garments of your choice. Typically, these services aren’t too expensive, and super easy to use, usually requiring you to simply upload a digital image of the design that you want to print. However, the more you’re willing to invest, and the higher quality of the image that you can submit, the cleaner the end product is going to look.
Monogramming
If you’re looking to put more of a personal touch on the clothes that you’re altering, especially for gifts to other people in your life, then monogramming might be just what you’re looking for. There are all manners of monogramming you can get into, from printing, embroidering, or even affixing things like letters made of precious metals or gemstones if you’re feeling particularly fancy. Monogramming is typically on the easy and cheap side, not requiring as much work as the methods mentioned above, but it can be a lovely touch.
Sharing your stuff
If you come up with some pieces that you’re feeling particularly proud of, or you just want to learn more about how to make custom pieces that catch your eye online, then there are plenty of crafty communities that you can find, where you can both share your own work and learn more about how others do theirs. Subreddits, such as the Sewing community are perfect for that, and many of the different disciplines mentioned above have their own communities that you can explore, as well. Of course, there may well local clubs, like knitting circles or sewing clubs, that you can join, too.
In your quest to make or alter your own clothes, you may well end up picking up more than one of the talents above. Either way, most of them offer endless ways to show off your creativity, and some are particularly great for relaxing.
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 
As someone who’s been sewing for 30+ years, I can assure you most of it is not relaxing, lol. But completing the projects bring immense satisfaction. All the skills mentioned in the post are worth checking out, especially basic sewing skills.
Valid, perhaps relaxing isn’t the right word…satisfaction in a job well done is more realistic…thanks for sharing!