3 simple ways to make clothing that doesn't exist

lessons learned from making monster costumes

When I sew for pleasure I am either making clothes for work, or making weird editorial costumes that no one asked for. The latter is what excites my creative brain the most. That feeling of imaging an idea in your mind and then executing it and bringing it out into the world is irresistible. Up until now I have taken my own self portraits in these costumes.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

This week I have been working on a new project, this time for someone else to wear while I photograph them. I am over the moon! The idea that someone else will be participating in this “thing that has gone too far” project is tantalizing. I want so much to create something that will rise to my own excitement for the project.

I think we should all have this same level of enthusiasm when we create. A deep sense that what you are making is correct with your idea of self.

This week, I challenge you to create a garment for yourself that doesn’t exist (yet). Let that idea that is in the back of your brain consume you.

Here are three ways that I think will help you are on your journey.

1. Lean into the out-of-the-box idea

We all have them. The half-baked vision. I believe that this is where the magic is! Learn to listen to your crazy ideas because there is joy in bringing them to life.

2. Embrace news ways of using old techniques

Often times when I am creating soft sculptures I use garment sewing techniques to achieve my desired look. For example, I use the technique of finishing a collar to add cut outs in some of my sweaters. Is this the intended use of this technique? No, but it serves my purpose and that is what matters.

3. Make better mistakes

Be open to making mistakes and allowing those mistakes to shape your design. Once, when making a patchwork top, I accidentally sewed the pieces together with the wrong sides facing each other, and this left the seams exposed. Up until that point, I never realized how cool the look of exposed seams was, and I continued using this in my clothing going forward.

Life is too short to not make the monster costume. If you lean into the weird then I believe that you will find (and make) something truly special.