Sewing projects: patterns you can make to your measurements
Garment and home projects with pieces, fabric amounts and steps, from a first T-shirt to dresses, trousers and bags.
How to sew a circle skirt cut to your waist
Sew a circle skirt that fits: the waist radius formula, fabric amounts for full and half circles, a zip or elastic waist, and a narrow hem that stays level.
Sew a gathered elastic-waist skirt in an afternoon
A gathered elastic-waist skirt is two rectangles, a casing and a hem. Panel sizes from your hip, the elastic length, fabric amounts and every step in order.
Sew a lined tote bag with boxed corners
Sew a lined tote with boxed corners: how the corner squares set the depth, fabric and interfacing amounts, handle lengths and a clean turn-through finish.
Sew your first T-shirt that fits
Your first T-shirt: pick jersey with enough stretch, choose the ease, cut the neckband at 85 % of the neckline and sew it flat on a regular sewing machine.
Sew wide-leg linen trousers with pockets
Wide-leg linen trousers with an elastic waist and in-seam pockets: which linen to buy, how much, the elastic length, the crotch seam and each step in order.
Sew a summer dress: fit and flare with puff sleeves
Sew a fit-and-flare summer dress with a fitted bodice, gathered skirt and puff sleeves: fabric amounts, the bodice toile, the zip and every step in order.
Sew a kimono jacket from two meters of fabric
A kimono jacket is a T-shaped body, two rectangular sleeves and a long folded band. What 2 m of fabric covers, the pieces, the band and each step in order.
Sew a reversible bucket hat sized to your head
Sew a reversible bucket hat that fits: measure your head, how the crown, side band and brim are sized, which fabrics to pair, and how to topstitch the brim.
How to sew a bias-cut slip dress
Sew a bias-cut slip dress in satin or viscose: how much fabric, cutting a single layer on the true bias, French seams, bias binding, straps and the hang.
How to sew a hoodie with a lined hood
Sew a hoodie with a two-piece lined hood, ribbed cuffs and hem band: fabric and ribbing amounts, band lengths at 80–85 %, and the order on any machine.
Sew pajama shorts in an hour
Pull-on pajama shorts take about an hour: two pattern pieces cut twice, an elastic casing and a hem. Fabric, elastic length, the crotch seam and a fast order.
Sew envelope cushion covers for any insert
Sew an envelope cushion cover for any insert: cut it 1 cm smaller than the insert, overlap two hemmed back panels, and finish in under an hour with no zip.
Sew an A-line skirt with a zip and waistband
Sew an A-line skirt with an invisible zip and waistband: pieces, notions, fabric for knee to maxi lengths, the steps in order and the mistakes to avoid.
Sew a pencil skirt with a back vent
Sew a pencil skirt with a back vent and invisible zip: pieces, fabric amounts, how the vent extensions are stitched and pressed, the hem corner and blind hem.
Sew a wrap skirt with ties
Sew a wrap skirt with ties and no zip: the mirrored fronts, the long band with 75 cm ties, the opening for the under tie, fabric amounts and the steps in order.
Sew a tiered skirt: calculating the tiers
Calculate the tiers of a gathered skirt: hip times the gathering ratio, 1.5 times wider per tier, graduated heights with allowances, fabric and the steps.
Sew a shift dress: the simplest dress that still fits
Sew a shift dress in a weekend: pieces, notions, fabric for 140 cm wide cloth, bust darts, a back zip or keyhole, a neck facing and a hem that stays level.
Sew a tank top from jersey
Sew a jersey tank top in two hours: front and back cut on the fold, neckband and armhole bindings cut at 85 to 90 %, shoulder stay tape and a twin-needle hem.
Sew a boxy woven top in an afternoon
Sew a boxy woven top in about four hours: two pieces on the fold, no darts, a dropped shoulder and a neckline wide enough to skip the zip. Fabric and steps.
Sew a puff sleeve blouse
Sew a puff sleeve blouse: a darted woven top with a back keyhole, a gathered sleeve cap and an elastic sleeve hem. Pieces, fabric, elastic lengths and steps.
Sew a button-front blouse
Sew a collarless button-front blouse: fronts with a cut-on facing, bust darts, a back neck facing, 1 cm buttons about 8 cm apart and a front that does not gape.
Sew a classic crew-neck sweatshirt
Sew a crew-neck sweatshirt in French terry: the five pieces, how much fabric and ribbing to buy, how short to cut the bands, and the steps in order.
Sew jogger pants with cuffs and pockets
Sew joggers in French terry: the leg and pocket pieces, fabric for 140 cm wide, elastic and cuff lengths, and the seam order from pockets to ankle cuffs.
Sew tapered pull-on trousers
Sew tapered elastic-waist trousers in twill or Tencel: the pieces, fabric for 140 cm wide, the elastic length and the seam order from pockets to hem.
Sew a lined zip pouch
Sew a lined zip pouch with boxed corners: four pieces and two tabs, a fat quarter of each fabric, the zip length, and the order that hides every raw edge.
Sew a scrunchie from scraps
Sew a scrunchie from one fabric strip and 20 cm of elastic: strip sizes for skinny, classic and oversized, which scraps work, and five steps in ten minutes.
Sew an apron with pockets and adjustable ties
Sew a bib apron with a divided front pocket, a neck strap that adjusts through D-rings and long waist ties: pieces, fabric amounts, cutting sizes and steps.
Sew a maxi dress: fit and flare to the floor
Sew a fit-and-flare maxi dress: a darted bodice, a gathered, A-line or half-circle skirt to the ankle, a 50 cm invisible zip, fabric amounts and the steps.
Sew a mini skirt: A-line or circle
Sew a mini skirt in an afternoon: A-line with a zip and waistband, or a circle with an elastic waist. Length guide, pieces, fabric under 1 m and the steps.
Sew a matching top and shorts set
Sew a matching set from one fabric: a woven shell top with a back keyhole and pull-on shorts with pockets. Pieces, 2.5 m of fabric, one layout and the steps.
Sew a dress with a circle skirt
Sew a dress with a half-circle skirt: a darted bodice, a skirt whose waist radius matches the bodice, a back zip, 3.5 m of fabric, hanging and a narrow hem.
Sew a cropped sweatshirt with a wide band
Sew a cropped sweatshirt that sits at the waist: the pieces, 1.3 m of French terry, how to cut a 7 cm ribbed band at 80 % of the hem, and the steps in order.
Sew an oversized T-shirt with drop shoulders
Sew an oversized T-shirt with drop shoulders: 16–25 cm of ease, a shoulder seam 5–8 cm down the arm, a flat sleeve cap, 1.5 m of jersey and the steps in order.
Sew culottes: wide-leg shorts that look like a skirt
Sew culottes from an elastic-waist shorts pattern: lengthen it to the knee or mid-calf, add width at the hem, pick a drapey fabric and sew in three hours.
Sew a dress with pockets (in-seam or patch)
Sew a fit-and-flare dress with pockets: in-seam bags in the side seams 5–7 cm below the waist, or patch pockets on the skirt front, with sizes and steps.
Sew pajama pants from a pull-on trouser pattern
Sew pajama pants from a pull-on trouser pattern: straight or wide leg, 2.4 m of flannel or lawn, elastic cut 5–8 cm under your waist, in two hours.
Sew a cushion cover with piping
Sew a piped cushion cover for any insert: 4.5 cm bias strips around 4 mm cord, a zipper foot, clipped corners and an envelope or zipped back, in about 2 hours.
Sew a kids' T-shirt
Sew a kids' T-shirt that goes over the head and lasts: pick the size by height, jersey with 40 % stretch, a neckband at 80–85 % and a 3 cm hem to let down.
Browse by topic
From photo to sewing pattern: guides and how-tos
How to turn a photo, a screenshot or a Pinterest or Instagram link into a sewing pattern that fits, and what to expect from the result.
Learn to sew: beginner guides and first projects
Plain-language answers for people starting to sew: first projects, tools, costs, common mistakes and how to build skills step by step.
Fitting and measuring for sewing: adjustments that work
How to take measurements, read drag lines and make the alterations that matter, from shoulder and bust adjustments to trousers.
Sewing fabrics: guides to every fabric and fiber
How to cut, sew and press each fabric, from linen and viscose to velvet, knits and faux leather, plus how to buy and identify fabric.
Sewing techniques: how-tos and comparisons
Step-by-step how-tos for seams, hems, zips, pockets, collars and more, and comparisons of the methods so you pick the right one.
Printing and using PDF sewing patterns
Printing at home, at a copy shop or with a projector: scale checks, assembly, storage and the mistakes that ruin the fit.
AI and sewing patterns: what works and what does not
Honest guides to AI pattern makers and assistants: accuracy, limits, how to prompt them and how they compare with drafting by hand.
What to sew: ideas by season and occasion
Capsule wardrobes, seasonal projects and outfit ideas, each matched to a pattern you can draft to your measurements.
Sewing machines: comparisons, buying guides and troubleshooting
Which machine to buy, how brands and types compare, and how to fix tension, skipped stitches, jams and noise.