To turn a Pinterest pin into a sewing pattern, open the pin, copy its link and paste it into Sewly, or upload a screenshot of it. Sewly recognizes the garment, its silhouette and details and the colors and print of the fabric, picks the closest garment type from its library and drafts the pattern to your measurements or a standard size. You then check the options, preview the garment in 3D and print the pattern at true scale.

There is a short overview on the Pinterest to sewing pattern page; this guide goes through it step by step, with the checks a pattern maker would make.

What makes a good pin to start from

The clearer the picture, the closer the first draft. The best pins show:

  • the whole garment, from neckline to hem, seen from the front;
  • one garment you want, rather than a collage of six outfits;
  • the garment itself, not hidden under a coat, a bag or crossed arms;
  • natural light and true colors, without heavy filters.

If the pin shows a complete outfit, say in words which piece you want: "the skirt", "only the top". If the back has a detail that matters, such as a keyhole or a zip, check that option yourself once the draft is ready.

How to turn a pin into a pattern, step by step

  1. Open the pin full size. On a phone, tap the pin; on a computer, click it so it opens on its own page.
  2. Copy its link. In the Pinterest app, the share button usually offers a copy link option; on a computer, copy the address from the browser bar. Copy the pin, not the board it sits on.
  3. Paste it into Sewly, or upload a screenshot of the pin. Links to public pins, Instagram posts and shop pages work, and a screenshot works for any picture you can see on your screen. Each new pattern from a picture, a link or a description counts as one AI pattern: 3 a month on the free plan, 30 on Maker and unlimited (fair use) on Atelier.
  4. Check what Sewly recognized: the garment type and its options, such as length, neckline, sleeves, fullness, closure and pockets. Correct by hand anything that does not match; changing options is free and unlimited, and the pattern redraws instantly.
  5. Enter your measurements or choose a size. A few numbers (height, bust, waist and hip) are enough to start, and the measuring assistant explains each one. Or choose a standard size: women EU 32 to 54 (US 0 to 22, UK 4 to 26), men XS to 3XL, children 2 to 14 years. See how to choose your size.
  6. Look at the 3D preview. The garment appears on a mannequin built from your measurements, in a plain color or in the print from the pin. Check length and proportions on your body, not the model's.
  7. Read the sewing guide: the pieces with their cut counts, the notions, fabric quantities for 110, 140 and 150 cm (45, 55 and 60 in) wide fabric and the cutting layouts.
  8. Print the pattern at true scale on A4, US Letter, A3, Tabloid or copy-shop paper, or as a projector file. Printing needs a paid plan; how to print a PDF sewing pattern explains the test square and the printer settings.

Read the pin like a pattern maker

The draft is only as good as your check of it. Before you accept the options, look at the pin the way a pattern maker would.

  • Length. Find where the hem falls on the model's body: mid-thigh is a mini, then above the knee, at the knee, mid-calf for a midi and the ankle for a maxi. Models are often tall, so a midi in a pin can reach your ankle; copy the landmark, not the look. Sewly's length options (mini, above the knee, knee, midi, maxi) come with a length adjustment of up to 25 cm (9 7/8 in) either way.
  • Fullness. Soft folds starting right at the waist mean gathers; a smooth waist with folds that only appear lower down means an A-line or a circle skirt; deep folds even when the model stands still mean a full circle.
  • Fit. Does the fabric skim the body, stand slightly away from it or hang in volume? That is fitted, regular, relaxed or oversized.
  • Neckline and sleeves. Round, scoop, V, boat or square; sleeveless, cap, short, elbow, three-quarter or long; straight, puff or bell.
  • Closure. No buttons in sight usually means a hidden zip in the side or back seam, or a pull-on shape.
  • Fabric. Is it crisp or fluid, woven or knit? The drape in the pin comes from the fabric as much as from the pattern.

Choosing fabric that looks like the pin

The same pattern looks very different in different fabrics. A circle skirt that swings in viscose stands stiffly in quilting cotton; a slip dress that pours in satin looks flat in poplin. Match the drape and weight you see in the picture first, then the print. How to choose fabric for a pattern explains the tests. The 3D preview shows the silhouette and proportions of your garment, not an exact simulation of how a fabric drapes, so the fabric choice is still yours to judge.

What Sewly can and cannot copy

Sewly drafts from 20 garment types it knows well, from skirts, dresses, tops and trousers to a kimono jacket, bags, a hat and home pieces; you can browse them in the pattern catalog. For a pin outside that library, such as a tailored blazer with lapels, a coat, jeans with a fly front, a shirt with a collar stand, lingerie or swimwear, Sewly picks the closest garment it can draft, which can be a good starting point but not a copy. Decorative details such as embroidery, lace trim or a particular button are not part of the pattern: add them as you sew.

The pattern is drafted from Sewly's own blocks with your measurements; it is not a copy of anyone else's pattern file. You may sell what you sew from your Sewly patterns; the pattern files themselves are for personal use.

Common problems and fixes

  • The pin will not load. It may be private, deleted or behind a login. Upload a screenshot instead.
  • Sewly picked the wrong garment. The picture was ambiguous: a long top can look like a short dress. Say in words what the garment is, or adjust the options.
  • The pin shows several garments. Say which one you want.
  • The length looks wrong on you. You copied the model's length rather than the landmark. Change the length option or the length adjustment.
  • You copied a board, not a pin. Open a single pin and copy its own link.

Planning several pieces from the same board? See from a Pinterest board to a handmade wardrobe.