How to hack patterns | Tips and tricks and sharing garments I've made by hacking patterns

[@LostMyThread]

I love a good pattern hack. It was fun to see all of the hacks you've done! Some of my most common hacks include changing the neckline on a top/dress, changing the sleeve length/fullness and adding pockets. The possibilities really are endless, though!

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Yes they are aren't they and the more I do it the more things I think of doing haha! Thanks so much for watching x

[@wolfgangshuman]

Beautiful clothes, love them all, especially the denim dress, what gorgeous fabric that is! Thanks for sharing.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much! I was lucky to find that fabric I think :) Thanks for watching xx

[@sallydingle321]

👌💝💝💝 Great tips and gorgeous garments Sally 😁😘

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much I'm glad you like them :) xxx

[@ruthlanwarne8978]

I never hacked patterns but have started to do so ,especially as the patterns are sometimes very similar. I hacked a simple sew Cocoon dress to have a deep frill at the sleeve. It was very successful. I also have the SOI shift dress pattern which I bought when I returned to sewing. Although I’ve used it lots I found the sleeves were an issue and it was very tight across the back. Eventually I drafted a new sleeve pattern piece( with help) and gave an extra 5/8 on back seam.I have made sleeveless cropped versions and I thought your frill sleeve hack was very good. I added cuffs to a dress version too. I found your video helpful because Im often nervous of combining patterns and should just go for it. I liked your Poppy play suit.Many thanks🤗

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

I think a lot of people have problems with the sleeves on SOI patterns coming up tight, well done for managing to fix it! The Cocoon dress sounds lovely too! Thanks very much for watching :) xx

[@annettecowburn1096]

You've adapted to suit your style and that's what dressmaking is all about. You've chosen some really lovely fabrics for your makes the green playful fabric is really nice.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you! Yes that’s right I don’t think there’s anything particularly technical or too difficult about it it’s just knowing what you like and what suits you! Thank you for watching 😊

[@deebuettner8017]

Love all your garments. I would like to see a video about the Button placket addition.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much! I'd love to make this sewalong so I'll add it to my list :). Thanks for watching xx

[@lorrainehartman1506]

Hacking patterns is a great idea, and fun.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much for watching xx

[@elaine58100]

Thank you for sharing. Found this really interesting. You have made some beautiful dresses etc :)

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thanks so much for watching I’m glad it was helpful :) x

[@sew_So_beautiful]

Your Poppy Playsuit is gorgeous! I love the fabric you used. It's so beautiful!

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you!! It's lovely isn't it, I wish I could link it but it's from a while ago now xxx

[@carolwebb9948]

Fantastic video, thank you for sharing your hacking ideas and inspirations. Would love to see a button placket sew along.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much I'll definitely add that one to my list! x

[@pamchamberlin6703]

I love all your fabric choices

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thanks so much xx

[@keelyjohnston19]

Oh thank you so much I’ve got a pattern for a dress but don’t like the skirt part so I’ve got another pattern with a skirt part I like. I never thought to mix and match patterns up

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Oh good thank you I'm pleased to hear the video was helpful :) Have fun with your hack xx

[@PsychicKathleen]

Thank you Sally for another inspiring video! Loved all your "hacks" and I couldn't agree with you more that we need to always remember we can transform any part of a pattern to suit us best - ie length, adding or removing aspects that don't really suit us and of course embellishments which I always enjoy too :) I have 2 patterns that I've found useful to have by Simplicity which are both a selection of "vintage" sleeves S8506 and S8695. You can pick whichever sleeve you like and use it on any pattern - you just have to make sure the sleeve cap is the right length/ease as the bodice you're using.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Hi Kathleen - yes it’s a good way to look at it I think 😊 Those patterns sound really helpful I’ll have to have a look around for other more ‘basic’ patterns for my stash! Thank you for watching. Xx

[@LuzMartinez-if1dw]

Love your videos , please show the poppy hack and really excited about the blouse hack💐😊

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you for watching 😊 I would love to make another Poppy playsuit so I’ll try to make that video at some point :) xz

[@LuzMartinez-if1dw]

I love all your makes💐

[@paulab7517]

I’ve never really hacked anything but you have inspired me to give it a go x

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you! You should give it a try just make a simple change to something to make it more you and then go from there 😊 Thanks for watching xxx

[@phaedrapotter7175]

Hello Sally, thank you for a great video giving plenty of ideas about how to hack patterns. Love the idea for adding elastic to the waist of dresses, I am 5ft so wouldn't wear a big floaty dress. Would like to see a video of adding the button placket. Have just finished making my first dress, the Darling dress! I can see why you love it so much, I cannot wait to try the sleeveless version. Thank you again.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much for watching I'm glad you found it helpful. Yes the elastic is such a simple thing to do isn't it but it makes such a difference. I'll add the button placket video to my list :). Ah I bet your DR dress is lovely I have another one planned to make soon whenever I get the time xx

[@maureencullen1008]

I love your pattern hacks.It's not just the changes you make but your fabric choices look great too.I'd love a tutorial on how you made the buttonband.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much I'm glad you like them :) I'll be adding the button band tutorial to my list of videos to make! Thanks for watching xx

[@jillridley1041]

Great ideas Sally, thank you for the tips and I would definitely like to see a vlog on inserting a button placket. Love all of your makes ❤️

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you for watching!! I'll definitely add the playsuit video to my list :) xx

[@YvonneBerden]

Very helpful thanks 👌👌🌷

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you I'm glad you found it helpful! x

[@NotesfromtheSewingRoom]

Great tips 😊💖. I enjoyed seeing all of your different makes. I really like your darling top with the peplum. I always like to hack patterns and make the most of the patterns I already have rather than buying new patterns sometimes xx

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you! Yes it’s a great thing to think about before buying something new isn’t it x

[@jackief7849]

Thank you for this video, it makes you think about what you have in your stash. I have made a concerted effort not to buy fabric and patterns for a couple of months now and I have surprised myself how it made me think outside the box. xx

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yes it's really interesting what you can make do with isn't it and saves money sometimes too xx

[@SimplyDelilah]

Omg..I love all your dresses they are so on trend..I also hack so many patterns and use inspiration from Pinterest. I love the smock loose tiered dresses this season and puffy sleeves. I really want your dresses 😊

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Aw thank you that's so kind!! You could say I'm obsessed with dresses I think haha. Pinterest is great, I can't wait for it to be warmer so I can wear more of my dresses out xx

[@doreenbradley3849]

Such an interesting video! You make beautiful things 🤩

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much 😊 x

[@fionnualaryan7584]

Thank you the video is very helpful

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you I'm glad you found it helpful xx

[@susankidd9963]

Great video your makes are so pretty.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you so much :) xx

[@southerncrossstitches]

Awesome video. Yes I’ve hacked the Myosotis into a top. Made the dress, ended up feeling to much like a marshmallow in it because I’d used a cotton. Love it has a blouse now 💗

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

It's amazing how different dresses can feel made from different fabrics isn't it! I'd love to try a top hack one day :). Thank you for watching x

[@karynbray1004]

Great video. I pattern hack all the time. I have been making dresses recently. I have about 3 different skirt bottoms that I use, circle skirt, gathered skirt and box pleated skirt, and a standard bodice top...and I too either add elastic at the waist or add ties to cinch in the waist...I dont like the "floaty" look, I have a waist, I'm not trying to hide it.

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Such a great idea to have three different skirt patterns to use. Thanks so much for watching I'm glad you enjoyed it xx

[@louisecampbell8094]

Thanks for sharing your tips on hacking. I haven’t hacked anything yet. A see a long would be great 😊

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thanks so much for watching I'll definitely have a think about the sew along :) x

[@miyavi5762]

Amazing! Thank you for the wonderful video😍I'm Japanese, but I'm very envious because there are no such clothes in the shops in my neighborhood😭I would like to see it in the future, so please post it💛💛💛

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Oh thank you I’m glad you enjoyed the video 😊 xx

[@miyavi5762]

@@SecretLifeOfASeamstress lots of hugs 🤗💕

[@tufornumberone]

Hi Sally, loved this video. I completely agree with you on the Myosotis being a bit too voluminous on the bottom frill. I am in the midst of making my muslin now. Like you, I definitely intend to cut back the size of it. Do you know what proportion you used or how much you cut back? Your version is beautiful. Also, this is a special make for me since I spent a good part of last winter working in the Vogue sloper (such a boring project) which is now literally a perfect fit (after like 20 muslins). The Myosotis is the first pattern I am applying it to. The Myosotis bodice is exactly like the Vogue sloper with darts in all the same places. So, hopefully, I am going to whiz past the fitting part except for the bottom. So exciting!! (If it works..).

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you!! I didn’t actually take anything out of the skirts I simply adjusted the lengths of both making the skirt tier shorter and the bottom tier longer. Because the bottom tier is longer there’s more weight in a drapey fabric meaning it pulls down more and there’s less pouff!! I hope that makes sense 😂 Well done on perfecting your fit in those patterns this is definitely something I need to have more patience in xx

[@sewlittletime]

Loved seeing all your hacked versions of things and how you did it. Do you find you have to alter the sleeve a little to fit a different armhole? Xx

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you! I haven’t had to so far but if you had a sleeve with a lot more gather or height at the armhole I guess it may need altering slightly or maybe there might just be a little more gather at the top if you didn’t mind that look. Thank you for watching 😊 x

[@deborahm8153]

Hi Sally, just found your video which was really interesting! When buying fabric I always stuck to cottons, a lot of which (in my stash) are quite thick/heavy - consequently I’m not quite sure where to use them... but that’s another story! Anyways.... the query I’d like to ask is what type of material do you use/were you using on the garments you made? All of your choices looked great and had great drape too.... presumably not cotton? Really keen to understand more about fabric choice. Thanks for your help :)

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Hi Deborah thank you for watching. I started out using a lot of cotton because it was easy to work with but quickly came to realise that I much preferred to wear viscose or rayon fabrics. In this video I used viscose, crepe, double gauze and cotton chambray for my dress. I hope that helps, I am thinking of making a video based on fabric choices so maybe I’ll do that sometime if it would be helpful xx

[@deborahm8153]

@@SecretLifeOfASeamstress Hi Sally - that sounds a great idea! I look forward to seeing it :)

[@user-fc3sx2cw5x]

For the Megan Nielsen Darling Ranges dress hack made into a top you are wearing in the video, you used the atelier brunette double gauze fabric. I recently purchased this fabric, and I wanna know, am I not allowed to iron/press it while I’m sewing my garment? Or did you press it as normal when you worked with it?

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

I do iron gauze but not properly if that makes sense, so I’ll apply some steam and light pressure to it but not completely press xx

[@marathorne6821]

I am intrigued about your sleeve swap - do you have to adapt the shape of the new sleeve so it fits the armhole of the original garment? I'm nervous about the sleeve not fitting...

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

In this case I didn’t because the sleeve head fit in fine with a little bit of easing. I think you just need to check that your new sleeve isn’t hugely different to the sleeve you’ll be replacing and if it is you may need adapt slightly. I hope that helps x

[@marathorne6821]

@@SecretLifeOfASeamstress thanks, I shall give it a try some time. Maybe on a toile in the first instance...

[@fionahutchinson8614]

Thank you for sharing these! have done very little pattern hacking, and seeing these simple changes and how they just elevate the garment is great and makes it feel much less daunting. Love the idea for the ultimate shift top with the ruffles. I also loved the poppy playsuit hack, would definitely be keen to see a tutorial/sew along for that. 😊

[@SecretLifeOfASeamstress]

Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed the video :) I think it’s really fun to see how things can be changed and adapted. Will definitely think about making another poppy and filming it :) xx