Making a Knock Off: Tracing a simple garment

Let me show you how you can trace your clothes directly onto new fabric so you can knock off your favourite pieces. It's easy and fun!
Watch till the end to meet my dear sweet mum!
MY FAVE SEWING TOOLS: My sewing machine - Babylock Sofia 2
My serger - an old Kenmore
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
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C-Thru Ruler - US: amzn.to/3tfqdSS Canada: amzn.to/3TwBAk8
6x24” Olfa Ruler - US: amzn.to/3GEwV8f Canada: amzn.to/486Mm4V
Hip curve - US: amzn.to/41BMkQp Canada: amzn.to/41GVx9V
Erasable Frixion Markers - US: amzn.to/3tfjVCS Canada: amzn.to/3RVq68K
Sharp Tracing Wheel - US: amzn.to/3tfPr3s Canada: amzn.to/41DLF0z
Loop Turner - US: amzn.to/3RH6HIw Canada: amzn.to/483Z30q
Tailor’s Ham - US: amzn.to/3RGEXDG Canada: amzn.to/485SPNN
My cordless iron - similar: US: amzn.to/48kprDb Canada: amzn.to/4aus5rJ
Music: North Oakland Extasy by Squadda B from the KZbin Audio Library

[@CatherineSews]

Learn the 75% Rule for neckbands at 7:10!

[@lizhart901]

Your Mom looks incredible for 93! What a blessing to still have her in your life.

[@bekesize]

I am commenting again, simply because this video deserves so many more views! Thank you for making the neckband easy to measure by naming 75 percent!

[@CatherineSews]

Right!? And 75% is so easy to calculate and it works every time! (And I agree about the low views--KZbin is a frustrating place!)

[@susanbuck1327]

Hands down, yours is my favorite sewing channel. I have been sewing for close to 60 years now and I always enjoy learning something new.

[@CatherineSews]

Susan, that is very gratifying to hear! Thank you so much 🥰

[@susanbuck1327]

@@CatherineSews You are so very welcome.

[@Morganistas]

That was a perfect grand reveal to this video 💛. Thanks to you, I unboxed my serger, have fixed my curtains, bought several thrifted items to experiment with, and am about to copy my favorite thrifted shirt and make it out of a thrifted dress fabric. The dishes will just have to wait!

[@CatherineSews]

Michelle, that is great to hear! I'm beyond happy to play a small part in your new adventures in sewing! I love it!

[@lindabrotherton1225]

Many thanks to you for this video. I live in a nursing home and I don't have much money so this really saves me money. Can you make skirts or pant like this. You are the one I trust ❤

[@CatherineSews]

Hi Linda, yes you can definitely make pants like this, and skirts are even easier!

[@lindabrotherton1225]

@@CatherineSews thank you for answering I was shocked. I made dementia aprons last year and now I'm making walker bags and for the wheelchairs too. Hopefully it will keep dementia as far as it could go.😉

[@fernandachristensengama5245]

You’re so adorable and loving. I wish I could be near you and really learn how to sew. Congratulations, such a cute T-shirt for your mother.

[@joannemcdevitt6654]

I never knew about the 75% rule for measuring what you need for the neck! Wonderful!

[@dorothyholfeld4304]

I watch you for tips and for confidence, and I get both, and besides that, you make it fun. I love watching your tutorials.

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love your moms maroon top. You n your mom look alike.

[@helenwood6166]

You look just like your mum,gorgeous

[@lifeofjoy9404]

Great results! Your mom looks fabulous in her new shirt!❤

[@annholmes9650]

Love your video, a nd your mum is fab for 93. I lost my be!oved mother when she was 67, to ovarian cancer. God bless you both x x x

[@CatherineSews]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear about your mum. I lost my dad at 62. It's too young, isn't it? I'm very fortunate that my mum has been in relatively! sound mind and body for 93 years!

[@margaretquinton1501]

Love your videos! You have such a happy, gentle and confident manner. Gives me confidence to try new things even after decades of sewing experience ❤

[@QueenAmethyst55]

You & your Mom are both Queens! She looks wonderful. Fabulous tutorial as always 👍🙂💯

[@CatherineSews]

Awwww, thanks Queen!! And thank you for watching right to the end!

[@patriciahorvath1137]

Thank you for another Great Video!!! you and your mom are so cute together!!!

[@CatherineSews]

Thank you so much!! And ya, isn't my mum a cutie? 92 years old, and still feisty!

[@lorrainedempsey3320]

Great teacher. Wonderful instructions. Thank you, Catherine.

[@nikkiv957]

Just found your channel and I am psyched!

[@CatherineSews]

I'm so glad you found me. Thanks so much!

[@cathym1257]

Such a helpful, encouraging tutorial! Thank you very much, Catherine! (And I love that you are taking such good care of your dear Mom!)

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks, Cathy! She's a sweetie.

[@teresashaw9815]

Love having you Mom join you at the end! Can't wait to give it a try for myself and my Mom.

[@CatherineSews]

Isn't she a cutie!? It's great when we can use our sewing skills to give back to the ones we love. And she's the one who taught me to sew!

[@ireneochoa6972]

Mom is gorgeous 🥰

[@barbarasidel9012]

I haven’t seen in 40 years!! You have inspired me. This spring I’m going to invest in a machine and get started again. Thank you 😊

[@CatherineSews]

So great to hear, Barbara! I hope you love getting back into sewing!

[@tammytahara855]

I love this video and your teaching is wonderful and easy to understand. I’ve made one knock off of my favorite top in linen and am eco dyeing it today. I bought a knit 😊fabric to make another one in teal with tiny black polka dots. Now I know I need to make a paper pattern! 😂 Thank you for your videos! ❤

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks, Tammy! Your projects sound great! I'd like to learn more about eco dyeing. One of these days!

[@sighthound5449]

Your Mum is darling...🥰

[@lorrainedempsey3320]

What a lovely top to make for mom. ❤

[@janielawson6553]

I love your Mom!

[@mariecochlan664]

This brilliant!!! I feel like I have the confidence to go and do the same. Thank you so much for sharing your skills like this. 😘 Mx

[@mariecochlan664]

Ooh and, quick question! Does the 75% rule apply to wrist bands, PJ ankle bands and bottom of sweater waist band? Xx

[@CatherineSews]

Good question! The 75% rule is pretty much only for neckbands since we want the band to stretch on the outer edge and lay flat against the body along the inner edge. Cuffs and waistbands have more leeway because they don't need to create that smooth curve. They can be as big or as small as you like!

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love the color you picked for your knock off shirt for your mom. That’s a great color for you too like the lilac color.

[@monaasselin2371]

So sweet to see your mother at the end ...she just felt beautifull and so do ,you ! Thanks for your simple and instructive videos ! Much appreciated !

[@carmennykamp6416]

Very nice and easy to follow !

[@myrandavano7470]

Very helpful and motivating, thank you!

[@marywest2896]

you make everything look so easy.

[@choctaw5050]

Your Mom is a hoot… lol That color looks good on both of you. Beautiful ladies.

[@gravedigger447]

Lovely that your mum modelled her new top. Looks very nice on her. Once again - a helpful video that took away another layer of anxiety about sewing with knit fabrics. Thank you!

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks! Don't be intimidated by knits. They're a joy to work with and often so much faster than wovens because there's not usually much pressing to do, no darts, no collars etc. But working with knits will make you want to invest in a serger if you don't already have one. If you do, you're good to go!!

[@gravedigger447]

@@CatherineSews I do. Bought second hand, no manual, getting to grips with it. At the moment, I'm trying to change the needle 🤣🤣🤣. I'll watch ALL your videos on serging...

[@PatternStudio101]

Really easy way to make t shirt 👕 Awesome!!

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@mary-louw2946]

Another great lesson taught to me! It was so nice to see your Mom at the end. I showed Mike his Aunt Sheilagh and he says she hasn't changed much. Hugs to your Mom!

[@CatherineSews]

Awww, thanks! Yes, she's doing well.She'll be pleased to know that you checked out her "15 minutes of fame," LOL. Love to all of you!

[@shannonrapati149]

Awesome and so quick.

[@ca6177]

Nice tutorial, thanks!

[@pamschonfarber1041]

You make it look so easy, I have the worst time sewing knits

[@cybersecretary]

I love your videos.

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks so much! That's lovely to hear.

[@sandrakicklighter2735]

Thank you so much for this video.

[@tinaturnersage3826]

Thanks for this video, I got a serger/coverstitch combo machine for my birthday three months ago. I have found your videos invaluable for learning how to use it to construct garments. The serger manual is great to learn how the machine actually works, but not how to apply that knowledge to actually making something. So thank you for this and your other excellent videos.

[@AngeVPV]

She looks lovely!

[@CatherineSews]

Isn't she a cutie!?

[@Sewlady718]

What a beautiful mom you have. I hope I can look even half that good at 93! Quick question....have you ever used a coverstitch machine? I bought one and am trying to learn to use it. It does add a nice professional finish to hems and around necklines. I'm so glad I found your channel and I've learned so much especially not to be afraid to experiment. Thanks.

[@yoursewingteacher1729]

Great video. I did this video last year and totally forgot the seam allowance and ended up giving the shirt to my daughter…. And editing the heck out of the mistake. You have made a great video here. I will share this with my students.

[@EuphemiaGrubb]

Thank you so much!!!!

[@CHrisPetE056]

Hello. Breakfast sandwich and simple top. This is so cool. Maybe the more I watch you the less I will be willing to buy from SHEIN. The fabrics or not nice, the quality seems to be ok but sizing is very off. Most of all I don’t need to be shopping a Chinese manufacture and shipper. I choose quality of quantity. It’s a hard lesson since as a normal American I have grown up wanting to buy cheaper and cheaper. Maybe it’s not all Americans thinking this way but I know I absolutely do. So my new leaf for 2023. Buy less NEW, buy more local, recycle and refashion whenever possible. Thanks for inspiring. 😊

[@CatherineSews]

Those are great resolutions for 2023!

[@Maplecook]

congrats on 2K!!!

[@pamschonfarber1041]

Can you suggest some little things I could practice doing any type of skill, I mean I can sew a straight stitch but like I previously mentioned I do have troubles sewing knits. Mama you look great for 93. Short looks good on her too

[@deidrabenson361]

❤️❤️❤️

[@patbailey-persad6516]

Have you thought of shortening the fabric and leave just enough cut the top rather than folding it in half n have waste at the end?

[@judyhealy1335]

What stitch did you use on your serger? What a great video…..thank you

[@BelindaTOV]

More like this please….lol

[@YummyFoodSecrets1]

❤🇵🇰

[@fastair8546]

thanks this was interesting and inspiring! I'd love to design and make clothes, but don't really no where to begin. Considering I have zero experience in sewing or fashion, should I just go and buy a sewing machine and some materials and get stuck in?

[@critter4004]

Most fabric stores offer classes

[@MossyMozart]

Generational twins!

[@dawnhobbs6737]

How did you fold the fabric? It was neat you could cut out front and back.

[@CatherineSews]

I did a normal lengthwise fold and then folded it again, bringing the first fold to the selvages. Watch at 2:30.

[@catherinegrace828]

What do you mean when you refer to the cut fabric “This is on a right angle here “? What needs to be done to the right angles that are left after the cut Thanks for all you do finally I am connecting everything sew I’ve absorbed Soon after you’ve demonstrated it with your tutorials on sewing

[@CatherineSews]

Can you tell me the time in the video that you're wondering about?

[@lucilledaub5991]

How can I figure out my neckband ? I know you said the neckband was 20 and you only want 75% . How do I figure that out in an easier way. And you said divide it by two. I wasn’t good in math. Can you please help me to do this?

[@CatherineSews]

No problem, Lucille. If you fold the neckline from the centre of the front to the centre of the back and measure that, you'll have the measurement of half, or 50% of the neckline. So let's say you get 12 inches. Divide that number in half (6) and add it to the first number (12+6=18). The total is 75% of your neckline so that's how long you cut your neckband. I hope that helps!

[@cocasio7190]

Hello! I'm trying to learn how to sew. I would like to sew a top similar to the one that you did for your mom for my mom. I don't have a serger. When you used the sewing machine, did you use a ballpoint needle? If so, what needle size did you use? I saw another video of you using a twin needle. Can the twin needle be used in this project, too? Thanks

[@CatherineSews]

I don't think I used a ballpoint on this one, although you could. I find that a Universal needle is fine on this kind of knit. I've only ever had trouble with needles and knits when it's a hard cotton knit. Softer synthetic knits don't get puncture holes in the same way. And yes, you could definitely use a twin needle on the hems of this project.

[@cocasio7190]

@@CatherineSews thank yo so much

[@katieduffy593]

Catherine do you have a mug on a mugwarmer behind your sewing machine? How do you get to it?!

[@CatherineSews]

Hi Katie! Yes, it's a mug but it's just where I put the cone of thread to keep it steady.

[@katieduffy593]

@@CatherineSews makes sense!

[@m.newbold1073]

I was wondering what the white thing you are using to mark the fabric with?

[@CatherineSews]

I used to use tailors wax, but it's tricky to find. A viewer suggested using a scrap of soap and that works great!

[@critter4004]

​@@CatherineSewssame! In fact, the little bars from a hotel are perfect for this! And FREE!! 😂

[@whereisjudi]

Do you need to use a special needle to sew this?

[@CatherineSews]

You can usually get away with a universal needle. If you see that it's skipping stitches, then try a ballpoint needle. A ballpoint is also good for 100% cotton knits which sometimes get little holes from a uni needle. The fabric I used was just fine with the uni needle. Thanks for the question and for watching!