Free Costume Patterns

Locate Free Costume Patterns

Whether you need a pattern for a historical costume or a Halloween costume, they can always be found in local fabric stores. However, there are a few other places to find free or inexpensive patterns.

• Historical Societies: A little-known place to find historical patterns that you can copy (they usually aren't for sale) is your local historical society. Reenactors have to get their costumes somewhere, and often they are made locally from patterns in the society's archives. Try calling your local historical society and asking for the volunteer coordinator. This individual is usually in charge of the reenactor clothes that their volunteers wear.
• Reenactor Groups: While you may need to join the group, there are always contacts within these groups that make costumes for other people. In most cases they are more than happy to allow members to make copies of historical costume patterns.
• Fabric Stores: Obviously, fabric stores will not usually give away any patterns. However, if you watch their circulars (you can sign up to have these mailed to you, or pick them up inside the store's front door), you'll find periodic pattern sales. In many cases, the patterns may be two dollars or less. Often you will be limited to the number of low-priced patterns that you can buy, but the savings can be significant. If the pattern usually retails for $14 to $24, you'll really rake in the savings.
• Friends and Family: You may not automatically thing of borrowing costume patterns from relatives and friends. Think of the people that you know who sew, then give them a call. People who sew often stockpile patterns, especially if they are the type to scout the aforementioned pattern sales. Offer to borrow, sell or trade patterns that you own with them.

Copying Patterns

Copying patterns sounds easy, but you will need a few tools of the trade. Depending upon the size of the pattern (for a baby, a child or adult), you'll need the appropriately sized paper to copy onto. White butcher paper is one of the easiest ways to copy just about any sized pattern because of the wide width. Brown butcher paper can also be used if you are placing the pieces of the pattern on top of the paper and then sketching around it.

Don't use markers or pens to sketch your free costume patterns. Despite being very careful you'll inevitably get some ink on the pattern you are trying to copy. Errant marks can be confusing once you start cutting the fabric or sewing. It is better to use a soft pencil to trace patterns because marks made in error can be erased and you'll be less likely to poke a hole in the paper.

Before you decide to hold a pattern in place with pins while tracing it, consider how that will affect the original pattern. Tissue paper patterns can tear easily, especially if they've been used before. There are a few other methods that you can use, beside pins, to hold the pattern in place while tracing it. Removable transparent tape can be very handy when doing this (be sure to read the label, not all tapes are removable).

Costume Patterns Online

The Internet can be a good resource for finding free costume patterns. Whether you need costumes for kids or adults, angels or pirates, you'll find patterns for them online. The following sites offer free patterns and how-tos for clothing, accessories and props that you may also need.

• iParenting: kid's costumes
• 13 Pumpkin Avenue: kid's and adult costumes and costumes for people with disabilities
• Shmonster: children's costumes
• The Costumer's Manifesto: lots of costumes for kids and adults
• Leather Renaissance clothes: adult costumes
• Free Needle: various options
• Free Pattern Site: many types of patterns
• Tudor Links: period clothing patterns