Frequently asked questions

Yes. Upload a photo or screenshot, or paste a Pinterest or Instagram link, and Sewly's AI recognises the garment and its details (length, neckline, sleeves, fullness, closure, pockets, fabric colours and print). Sewly's drafting engine then draws the pattern pieces to your measurements from proper flat-pattern blocks. You can adjust every detail before printing.

Twenty at launch: A-line, circle, gathered or tiered, pencil and wrap skirts; T-shirts and tanks; woven tops and blouses; sweatshirts and hoodies; shift, fit-and-flare and slip dresses; pull-on trousers and shorts; a kimono jacket; a tote bag, a zip pouch, a bucket hat and a scrunchie; cushion covers and an apron. Sewly does not yet draft tailored jackets, coats, jeans with a fly front, lingerie or swimwear: for those it suggests the closest garment it can make. See all patterns.

Sewly drafts to measurements, not to a fixed size. Enter your own (height, bust, waist and hip are enough to start; the measuring guide explains each one) or pick your usual size: women EU 32–54 (US 0–22, UK 4–26), men XS–3XL or children 2–14 years. The pattern adds the right ease for the style, so a fitted dress and an oversized sweatshirt both fit as intended.

Making patterns is free: a free account gets 3 AI patterns and 20 AI messages a month, unlimited changes by hand, the 3D preview and the sewing guide on screen. Printing the pattern needs a plan: Maker at $7.99 a month (or $59 a year) or Atelier at $14.99 a month (or $119 a year). Cancel anytime. See pricing.

Choose your paper (A4, US Letter, A3, Tabloid, an A0 or 36 × 48 in copy-shop sheet, or a projector file) and print at 100 % or "Actual size", never "Fit to page". Measure the test square on the first pages: 5 cm and 2 in exactly. Then trim and tape the pages following the page map: rows are letters, columns are numbers. Our guide to printing PDF patterns has the details.

Yes. Every piece shows the cutting line (solid) and the sewing line (dashed). By default the seam allowance is 1.5 cm (5/8 in) on woven fabric and 1 cm (3/8 in) on knits, with a separate hem allowance; you can change both before printing.

A mannequin built from your measurements wearing the garment, in a plain colour or the print taken from your picture. It shows the silhouette and proportions (length, fullness, neckline, sleeves) so you can decide before cutting. It is a preview, not a physics simulation of how a particular fabric drapes.

Yes. Every pattern has its own step-by-step sewing guide, and you can ask it anything about your pattern: what a term means, how to do a step, what to do with a difficult fabric. Answers use your pattern's pieces, allowances and options.

Yes. Start with one of the easiest projects (a tote bag, scrunchie, gathered skirt or pull-on shorts): Sewly drafts the pattern, tells you how much fabric to buy and explains each step. The beginner's guide covers your machine and the tools you need.

Public Pinterest pins and most shop product pages work by pasting the link. Instagram often hides pictures from other websites; when that happens, take a screenshot and upload it instead. Private posts and pages that need a login cannot be read.

Yes. Sewly works inside ChatGPT and Claude as an app (an MCP server): add it once, sign in with your Sewly account, then ask for a pattern with a photo link or a description. Sewly drafts it, shows it in the chat and gives you the link to print it. See Sewly in ChatGPT and Sewly in Claude.

Yes, you can sell the garments you sew from your Sewly patterns. The pattern files themselves are for your personal use: please do not share or resell them.

They are private to your account and used only to make your patterns. We never show them to anyone, never use them in marketing and you can delete them, or your whole account, at any time. See the privacy policy.

The site and the app are in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch, and the AI understands any language. Every measurement, allowance and fabric quantity can be shown in centimetres or inches, and the printed pattern is at true scale either way.

You can cancel anytime from your account: your plan stays active until the end of the period you paid for. If Sewly does not work for you, ask for a refund within 14 days of your first payment. See the refund policy.

A new pattern made from a photo, a screenshot, a link or a description. Changing that pattern afterwards by hand (measurements, length, neckline, sleeves, fit) is free and unlimited on every plan.

A change you ask for in words ("make it midi", "add pockets"), a question to the sewing guide or a question to the measuring assistant. Counters reset on the first day of each month.

Your patterns stay available and you can keep changing them by hand. New AI patterns and AI messages wait until the next month, or you can move to a bigger plan at any time.

Yes: every pattern you made is kept. Choose a plan when you are ready to print and the PDF of any of your patterns is available right away.

Yes, anytime from your account. Moving up takes effect immediately; cancelling keeps your plan until the end of the period you paid for.

Yes: if Sewly does not work for you, ask within 14 days of your first payment and we refund it.