How to Make a Fashion Design Notebook

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 2, 2022 References Approved

If you've ever wanted to design fabulous fashion pieces but didn't know where to start, there are simple ways you can get your creative energies flowing! Start with putting together a fashion design notebook so you can have a tangible collection of your designs all in one place. It's a great way to impress your friends and colleagues, and it's easy to get started.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Gathering Supplies

1
Purchase a sketchbook or a notebook. Go to a local store and purchase a sketchbook with 70+ pages, depending on how many sketches you plan on doing. Choose a notebook that shows off the style of your fashion designs through the color and design of the front cover.
- Personalize the front cover by drawing a design or making a collage that matches the theme of your fashion collection.
2
Purchase pencils. Find regular #2 pencils with erasers that you can sketch your designs with. You may want to incorporate color into your fashion design notebook, in which case you can also purchase colored pencils, watercolors, or markers.^{[1]
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3
Purchase fine black pens with pigment drawing ink. Make sure your pens use archival ink, which means they won't fade on the page over time.^{[2]
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Research source} These pens are used to make your pieces pop. Fine black pens with pigment ink are especially useful for drawing patterns.^{[3]
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4
Collect fabric scraps and fabric glue. Get fabric swatches or print out patterns that would make pretty fabric. Also, be sure to purchase fabric glue so you can paste the fabric onto the pages.
5
Gather inspiring materials. Your sketchbook is going to make an individual statement about you and your ideas, so start by personalizing it. Reveal yourself by gathering materials that are special to you, including mementos of places you've been, and photos of family and friends.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Planning Your Collection

1
Name your collection. You can use one sketchbook for a whole collection or one sketchbook for several collections. If you're using one sketchbook for one collection, write the name of the collection on the front cover.^{[4]
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- If you are doing fancy prom dresses, try something like “A Night to Remember.”
2
Plan out each page. Make a list of your outfit ideas that will go on each page before you begin to sketch in your fashion design notebook. For example, write down your ideas for dresses, blouses, skirts, etc., and the details of each piece, such as what materials they'll need.^{[5]
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3
Create a model figure stencil for repetitive use. If you can't freehand draw the shape of a man, woman, boy, or girl, get a thin sheet of paper to lay overtop a model-like picture from a magazine or book. Cut it out so you'll have a stencil you can use for each model you draw in your sketchbook. Your fashion designs may vary depending on which size, shape, and gender you use for each, so you may want to create a few different shaped stencils.^{[6]
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- Make sure your figure is creatively posing to show off your fashion design better.^{[7]
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- You can also use premade stencils for ease of use.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Creating Your Designs

1
Trace your stencil. Lay your stencil on top of the first page of your sketchbook, and lightly trace the outline of your model. You'll want to press very gently with your pencil, as the outline of the model should look faint so your outfit design stands out.^{[8]
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2
Sketch your design. Lightly sketch the outline of your outfit idea over the figure. Then, lightly sketch every detail of your outfit design, such as folds and ruffles, and erase any errors.^{[9]
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Research source} Once your design looks the way you want it to, trace over it, pressing harder this time so that the outline of your design appears darker.
3
Color it in. Use colored pencils, watercolors, or markers to color in your fashion designs. Sketch patterns with a pencil, then trace over the pattern with a fine black pen to make it pop!^{[10]
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4
Paste your fabric scraps. Attach them to the page of your sketchbook with the outfit they correspond to, and label what type of fabric it is. Apply the glue sparingly to the page and wait for it to get tacky before pressing your fabric on top of it. You wouldn't want the glue to seep through the fabric.^{[11]
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- In the collection, make sure the outfits all match the "mood" of the colors. For example, red, orange, and yellow could be a mood of summer or the leaves on the trees in autumn.
5
Leave space for notes. You may want to label each piece with specific qualities of the garment. If you'll be sewing your garments, leave space on the page or use the backside of the page to write down notes on the outfit measurements.^{[12]
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Community Q&A

Question

Where do I purchase a fashion design notebook?

Community Answer

You can pick up art sketchbooks at an office supplies store or hobby shop.
Question

Which is the best city for fashion designing?

Community Answer

Although crowded, with many people looking to work in the same field, cities like New York or Los Angeles are suggested. They often provide opportunities that smaller cities away from "where it's happening" won't.
Question

What if I don't have fabric at home or a local store to go to?

Community Answer

You can take old clothes and/or towels and cut out pieces of fabric and paste them on your notebooks.