Making your own clothes can be both a pastime and a way of saving money in the stores, transforming cheap materials into stylish garments. Whatever your ultimate goal, learning how to knit is a good place to start in the first instance. Unlike sewing, which is the art of joining two pieces of already-created fabric together, knitting is the practice of creating that fabric from scratch and is a skill you’ll need to learn to make your own clothes. There are plenty of knitting tutorials out there, but a good place to start might be a friend or family member who has plenty of experience. That way, you can watch what they do and pick up little tips. When you become a little more confident with knitting, explore different sewing patterns on your garments to add more style to your creations.  

Other than the knowledge of how to knit, the most important things you’ll need are, of course, your materials. Knitting equipment need not be expensive, particularly at first when you’re just starting. The image of your aunt or grandmother using two knitting needles and a ball of yarn may be a simple one, but in truth, it’s all you need to get started. Once you’ve started to master the art, you may consider investing in a sewing machine. A cheap piece of kit starts at around 30 bucks and can go anywhere up to $500, so you need to be sure that you’re serious before investing. However, it can genuinely help you be more productive, especially if you want to set up your own homemade clothing business. When you’ve been at it for a while, consider using an app like Sew Awesome, which allows you to keep track of all your materials for sewing, as well as providing handy conversion charts and guides. 

Somewhere along the line, you may decide that you want to start selling the items that you make, either as a hobby business or a full-time venture. The homemade clothing business is vast, with plenty of people making a living from doing it. With so many concerns about cheap clothing labor worldwide, more and more of us are turning to locally made garments. If you’re good enough, you can make money from your clothing. Consider setting up an Etsy shop where you can market your goods to a worldwide customer base, and it will also give you somewhere to link to on your social media platforms. There’s plenty you can do in-person too – craft fairs remain incredibly popular, both for sellers and buyers across the States. Greeting your customers in person can give your brand a significant boost, as well as allowing you to meet other craftspeople who may give you some tips.