How to Design Teenage Clothes

• 1). Visit your local mall or browse online for inspiration for teenage designers. This is the best way to get a good grasp of teen fashion trends. Teenage clothes range from preppy to emo and goth, but regardless of your style, you can design outfits that suit your personality and look. Take note of the shapes and styles that work best for your figure and make the most of features you likes.
  
  
• 2). Start sketching possible teenage outfits. Take advantage of printable croquis to make fashion drawing easier (see Resources). Work in pencil, creating the shapes you want. Add details and fabric swatches. Save your sketches, even if you don't make the design right now. You may find that the shape, color or other elements work well for a later sewing project or refashion.
  
  
• 3). Determine construction of your teenage clothes. You can visit a fabric store and purchase a pattern, download patterns online or create your own. You may find it helpful to have a good sewing reference book with some basic patterns included on hand. Online forums (see Resources) offer excellent construction tutorials for simple garments, many very suitable for refashioning or a teen designer.
  
  
• 4). Cut out your teen design, being sure to allow generous seam allowances. If you are working with good fabric, you may want to make a trial garment in muslin or a fabric you care less about to avoid potentially losing a fabric you love. Sew up the garment. Consider basting it together first to adjust fit before sewing with a shorter stitch length. Use a zig zag stitch, serger or pinking shears to finish seam allowances and prevent raveling.
  
  
• 5). Press your design and add personal touches. Appliques, ribbons, trims, or other details can give teenage outfits personality. A bit of rick rack on a vintage style dress, an embroidered skull on a black tee or ribbon to trim a preppy cardigan can take a piece from basic to special.