Sewing Patterns for Beginners

10+ Easy-to-Sew Sewing Patterns for Beginners: Fun Project Ideas for Women

Sewing is one of those hobbies that can be intimidating to start, but it doesn’t have to be! There are many easy to sew, beginner-friendly patterns that will help you start sewing today. 

If you’re a beginner at sewing, however, choosing the right pattern can be tricky. There are so many to choose from, and it’s hard to know where to start. 

This post provides 10+ easy-to-sew patterns for beginners that will have you mastering your first sewing project in no time! Even the most novice sewers can make them because they’re not too complicated or time-consuming.

A Brief Overview of Sewing Patterns

Sewing patterns are the instructions that tell a person how to create an item of clothing. The first-ever sewing pattern to be published was “The New York Dress” by Butterick Pattern Company in 1863.

Sewing patterns are a great way to get started with sewing because the instructions and measurements make it easier to understand how clothes should look and fit. 

They’re also more time-saving than making something from scratch because you can use pre-made templates that tell you what the finished product will look like. 

You just need: 

    • some fabric 
    • garment pieces cut out of paper or cardstock matching your size (preferably two layers), 
    • pins/needles and 
    • thread!

For those just beginning in the sewing world, it seems confusing at first glance. But once you understand the pieces, patterns will be much easier to read.

Designers draw pattern pieces on paper using symbols for different measurements such as hemline length or shoulder width. 

Sometimes there are also written instructions included with the diagramming so that any beginner can follow along easily without getting lost in translation!

There are many kinds of sewing patterns–from simple t-shirts to more complicated items like dresses and blazers (think Mad Men-style!). The most common type of sewing pattern is one from which multiple garments can be constructed from a single sheet. 

Easy Sewing Patterns for Beginners

Sewing patterns for beginners
Image: Love Sewing

There are many different types of sewing patterns, but the easiest to find and use for beginners is a single-sheet pattern. You can often find these in magazines or newspapers with articles about fashion design, such as Threads and Taunton Press. 

Other places you might be able to buy them include craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Home Goods. If all else fails, simply search on Google! 

Here are some key points to consider before choosing a sewing pattern to decide if it is a good beginner pattern:

    1. Expertise level:

Look for patterns with simple shapes and easy to sew fabrics. Avoid any that say they are difficult or time-consuming. Most patterns have the expertise level mentioned on them. Opt for a pattern that is for beginners.

Note: Pattern companies like Vogue and Colette grade a pattern with complicated zips and pleats as a “beginner” pattern, which becomes a problem if you’re a novice. If you find it challenging to work with notions, then such a pattern won’t work for you. So, instead of solely depending on the expertise level, look for details and instructions inside the pattern envelope.

      2. No notions!

Do not opt for patterns requiring darting, gathers, pleats, darts below the waistline (besides a skirt), or complex closures like zippers/snaps. Adding these notions is complicated and wouldn’t work well with you if you’re a sewing virgin. 

      3. Views:

Check out all of the pattern views in the book before deciding on one! The view is what you see when flipping through it from front to back and can make a huge difference in how complicated it seems at first glance.

      4. Fabrics:

If you’re a beginner at sewing, you should be careful about choosing a pattern that deals with easy-to-sew fabrics such as cotton and stable wovens. If a pattern has “stretch-knit,” “silk,” or any other stretching fabric as a suggestion, avoid picking it out as these materials are relatively harder to work with. 

      5. The number of pieces:

The lesser the number of pieces a pattern has, the easier it is to sew. Try to be realistic about how much time you will have to put together all the pieces. Look at illustrations on the envelope front and back to get a basic idea of how many seams, darts, and the number of pieces the pattern deals with.

Beginner Sewing Patterns: Clothes

Sewing clothes at home is the best way to save money, and you can do so by investing a little in these simple sewing patterns for beginners and never have to go shopping again! 

Dress Sewing Patterns for Beginners

The sewing patterns below are perfect for beginners. They are easy to follow and use basic construction methods, like straight seams and simple cutting techniques. These dress sewing patterns will help you make a garment that looks professional without the added stress of complicated finishing work.

    1. Rosa Dress by Simply Sewing

This dress is a classic vintage pattern with an A-line skirt and bodice. It was released with the magazine Simply Sewing and is now available online on Etsy for USD 10.93. The pattern comes in sizes 6-20 and is an easy sewing pattern for beginners UK women love!

You can style the neckline as either scoop or sweetheart, depending on your preference. You will need to finish the hem, but other than that, all of the sewing steps are easy, with straight princess seams and simple cutting techniques. 

Rosa dress simply sewing pattern
Image: Gathered How

This still isn’t the easiest sewing pattern since it has a buttoned front and a lined bodice. 

This is a simple design for women who are new to sewing or don’t have much time to put into complicated projects. The dress includes an elastic waistband and skirt pleats at the back to fit any body shape comfortably. 

      2. The Moneta Dress by Colette

The Moneta dress is a summer staple with its knee-length design, gathered skirt, and neck and sleeve variations. Creating this dress will take someone inexperienced with Knit fabrics between a day or two of work time depending on their experience level. 

But, they’ll be able to confidently sew almost any knit garment afterward since most skills learned while working on the Moneta Dress can easily translate elsewhere.

Simple sewing patterns
Image: Guthrie & Ghani

This flattering A-line dress has plenty of room for errors, so don’t worry if you’re still struggling with your seam allowance or thread tension; you’ll have plenty of space to fix your mistakes.

      3. The Date Night Dress by April Rhodes

Date night dress easy sewing pattern
Image: Gathered How

This date-night dress is the perfect blend between comfort and style and takes just a few hours to sew from start to finish. The dress is available in sizes XS to XXL for women and features sultry flutter sleeves with an open armhole. 

You can keep the dress as short or as long as you want, and either wear it loose or tighten a belt around the waist to give it a sleeker look. 

The pattern deals with box pleats that you may find a little challenging to work with if you’re a beginner, but with a few sewing tips and tricks, you shall be able to master them in no time!

      4. Fen Dress by Fancy Tiger Crafts

This dress pattern is perfect because you can wear it in many different ways. The pattern also features side pockets. The fabric suggestion for this pattern is a woven material such as linen or cotton. 

There are neckline and sleeve variations, too; you can either choose a round neckline or go for a v-neck. Either way, the result will be a chic dress perfect for everyday wear.

Fen dress sewing pattern
Image: Curvy Sewing Collective

With this one, you won’t find yourself frustrated when sewing seams together; just follow along step by step, and before you know it, you’ll have a comfortable new dress to slay your summer parties in. 

All it takes is for you to know a few sewing hacks so you can play with darts, skirt gathering, bias binding, and topstitching without facing many difficulties.

      5. Papercut Patterns—The Sway Dress

The Sway Dress pattern by Paper Cut Patterns is a loosely-fitting, easy sewing pattern that you can wear short or long, depending on your preference. 

This sleeveless dress has a back and front seam on the center, and you can choose either a scooped neckline style or go for the classic v-neck. 

The pattern comes in 6-18 UK sizes, supporting XXS to XL measurements. The dress also features side pockets. 

Although this is one of the easiest sewing patterns for beginners, it still requires you to know how to sew well so you can follow the slightly tricky directions with ease. 

Sway dress sewing pattern
Image: The Foldline

The best part about the pattern is that it offers a wide range of fabric options you can work with. For the long dress variation, the ideal fabric choices are:

    • Silk
    • Rayon
    • Knit fabric

For the shorter dress variation, the fabric options are more flexible:

    • Silk
    • Linen
    • Cotton
    • Wool suiting

This was an exhaustive list of dress patterns, for starters. With enough practice, you can transition towards more complicated dress patterns and spice up your wardrobe. If you’ve got a passion for dressmaking, you can also share your talent with the world by selling dresses you make with the help of these patterns online. 

Adding custom-designed hand tags and care labels with your brand name on the dresses would speak integrity and quality, and it won’t be long before your brand starts to get recognized.

Top Sewing Patterns for Beginners

The following list of patterns is for everyday shirts, tops, blousesthe perfect solution if you’re looking for an easy sewing project!

    1. Seamwork’s York Top

York top is one of those lovely patterns that you can customize to suit any style. Available in 3/4-length sleeves with a stylish split cuff, the York top has an elegant keyhole at the center back seam. You can make your extra fashionable silk for dinner or casual cotton to wear on Monday mornings with your favorite jeans.

Easy sewing patterns
Image: Seamwork

The size range for this pattern is between 0-26, so women of all sizes can wear it. The pattern would require you to have the following supplies: 

A point turner

Polyester sewing thread (all-purpose)

Three yards of ¼ double-fold bias tape.

      2. Inari Crop Top Sewing Pattern by Named Clothing

The Inari dress and crop tee are versatile pieces that you can mix and match to create the perfect wardrobe staple. Whether you want to add a crop top or go dressier, anything goes thanks to this versatile pattern. 

Easy sewing patterns for beginners
Image: Named Clothing

Inari Crop Top Sewing Pattern by Named Clothing Details: 

      • The pattern has a cropped top plus dress variation (Both Knits) 
      • The loose fit makes them comfy for every day, while preppy turned-up T-shirt sleeves will upgrade your look. 
      • The neckline is round and curved inwards for an almost seamless finish 
      • The pattern comes with long sleeves and short sleeve options 
      • The crop tee follows seamless construction.

      3. Simply Sewing: Cropped Kimono Top

Published in Simply Sewing Issue 3, this kimono crop top pattern is perfect for beginners: two pieces cut and sewn! Make yours in a stretch fabric to hug your curves, or opt for a cotton print for an easy-breezy look. 

The length of the crop top is easily adjustable, so if the crop doesn’t work for you, you can always lengthen the size of the tee to suit your vogue! You can also make the sleeves short or long, whatever suits you best.

Kimono beginner top sewing pattern
Image: Gathered How

      4. Ruby Sewing Pattern by Made by Rae

Ruby is a go-to pattern for novice sewers who want to create flattering, uncomplicated projects. It is a lightweight, sleeveless dress perfect for summer days. Whether sewn as a dress or top, the versatility of this pattern will charm your friends and family in no time!

Basic sewing patterns for beginners
Image: Made by Rae

This top pattern has the following features:

      • Contrast yoke 
      • Gathers between the yoke and the main top to ensure it fits well
      • No darts or closures required
      • Bias-bind armholes and neckline 
      • Nine sizes: XXS to XL. Also available as a plus-size pattern in sizes 1-3
      • Recommended fabric choices:
        1. Drape fabrics such as rayon challis and linen for the main top
        2. For the yoke: cotton prints, lace, eyelet
      • Full-sized, colored pattern pieces that you can print at home (A4) or a copy shop (A0)

This dress pattern is available for $16 on the official site.

      5. Ogden Cami by True Bias

Learn to sew patterns
Image: The Foldline

The Odgen Cami is one of the easiest patterns for sewers to get right. It is a soft curve with delicate straps and no pesky bias bindingjust some neatly finished seams. 

The v-neckline is perfect for pairing with an eyelet or lace top and sits nice and high on the Armholes, so you don’t have to worry about showing any underarm skin. 

You can wear this pattern as a simple top with wide-legged pants or layered under blazers for work outfits that won’t wrinkle too much at the noon hour.

The pattern is available in both—paper and PDF formats. True Bias especially designed this for plus sizes 14-30 and is a perfect fit right out of the envelope. 

Skirt Sewing Patterns for Beginners

Out of the many skirt sewing patterns on the internet, we’ve picked out the five easiest sewing patterns for beginners to try out.

    1. Rae Skirt by Sewaholic

The Rae Skirt is for pear-shaped body types with straight seams on the sides, back, and front. It has a flattering design that doesn’t hold your hips hostage, so you can wear it without having to cinch it too tight. 

These are all designed to be soft, flowy, and feel like a dream on your body. You can choose from three different lengths or add just a little bit of extra fabric to make the hemline fall where you want it. 

Rae skirt sewaholic beginner sewing pattern
Image: The Foldline

Sewaholic has designed this pattern for women with the UK sizes 0-16, so even if you’re plus-size, this pattern is perfect for you. The pattern has clear illustrations with every step to help you sew the skirt confidently with utmost ease.

      2. Salida Skirt by True Bias

Salida is the must-have A/W silhouette. To buy one of these sewing patterns, you’ve got options; choose from a paper, PDF, or a graded photocopy format. Once this versatile skirt is in your wardrobe, you can wear it for any occasion. Wear it with heels to work and then with flats on an evening stroll. 

Simple sewing patterns for beginners
Image: Foldline

The high-waisted skirt is two views in one—flared or fitted. Both styles have a V-yoke at the back and front styled by a zipper fly. 

      • View A features a fitted skirt that falls just above the knee. A wide waistband ensures that you’ll be comfortable, and the handy back slit means easy walking when indoors or outside.
      • View B has a flared, almost ballroom-style skirt. This style comes in knee-length or mid-calf length and has adjustable darts at the front sides for shaping it to your shape. 

Fabric Suggestions:

      • Denim
      • Corduroy
      • Twil
      • Chambray 
      • Linen 
      • Cotton voile (lining fabric)
      • Rayon Bemberg (for lining)

      3. Oliver + S PatternsThe Everyday Skirt

The regular skirt pattern by Oliver and S patterns is an excellent choice for beginners who want to step up their sewing game just a notch. The pattern is a tiny step up from the super-easy Rae skirt above because:

      • It features side pockets that a sewing virgin would find challenging to work with
      • The elastic waistband is only at the back of the skirt, halfway through, which may be challenging to pull off. This is still better than adding zips or notions to achieve that perfect fit. 
      • The pattern deals with lightweight materials like linen, silk, and lawn. Most beginners find it challenging to work with these materials.

Easiest sewing patterns for beginners
Image: Oliver and S

The pattern is available in a digital PDF format, and you can print it either at home on A4 sheets or 36-inch pattern sheets at a copy shop. This pattern is not available for printing on A0 sheets.

      4. Domonique Skirt by Tilly and the Buttons

The Dominique Skirt is perfect for beginners and more experienced sewers alike. The pattern features two sewing options:

      1. A straight seam, figure-hugging pencil skirt 
      2. A flowy flared skirt that uses a bias-cut and a lightweight fabric

You can lengthen or shorten both skirt styles depending on your height and preference. You can add belt loops to the waistband if you prefer that extra bit of security or patch front pockets if desired. 

It is also convenient to include elasticated waistbands that allow even the most beginner sewer an easier time with construction. 

What sets this pattern apart is its attractive design features and how easy it is to use. Now you can make the flared or flounced versions of the skirt in sizes 6-20, which ensures that no matter what your size, you’ll always have plenty of options. 

We recommend this product to anyone seeking simple clothes designs with flare. 

Beginner sewing patterns
Image: Foldline

      5. The Victoria Skirt by I AM Patterns

The Victoria skirt by I AM Patterns is one of the most basic sewing patterns for beginners. The pattern leaves a lot of room for trial and error, making construction a piece of cake for those who are experimenting with a skirt the first time. 

The skirt features a gathered waist, adjustable size, and a finished hem. You also get to experiment with adding notions such as zips and buttons at the back, although they’re not compulsory. 

Dress sewing patterns for beginners
Image: I AM Patterns

This skirt is easily an everyday wardrobe staple as it is comfortable and classy enough to wear on a summer afternoon or a winter night with a pair of leggings. 

Note: I AM Patterns also features add-on pocket patterns in three different styles that you can adorn your Victoria skirt with by upcycling old clothes. 

You can then add custom woven labels to the front pockets to accessorize it. You can either buy a customized label online or sew one at home. 

You can create different types of woven labels using fabrics such as damask, taffeta, and satin. But since these are all challenging to work with, you need to learn to sew with these fabrics first. 

Fabric recommendations for this skirt are: 

    • Thin Denim
    • Wax
    • Cotton poplin
    • Double gauze

These were all the patterns that make great beginner projects. Once you’ve made all of these patterns, you will have enough practice to move onto bigger sewing projects. Some fun, advance level sewing patterns to try out would be: 

    1. Stuffed animal sewing patterns
    2. Jumpsuit sewing patterns
    3. Buttoned and zipper pants sewing patterns
    4. Cute teddy bear patterns

Beginner Sewing Patterns: Accessories

As fun as dressmaking may be, creating funky accessories at home is the next level of convenience and entertaining for two reasons:

      A. Upcycling accessories such as bags and headbands from old clothes takes little time and saves a lot of money.

      B. You have more control and can customize these accessories to your preference since there’s little chance of going wrong with such an easy project. 

Here are is a list of some fun accessories that make the best sewing patterns for beginners:

    1. The Verbena Tote by Mood Sewciety

The verbena tote is a free sewing pattern from Mood Sewciety. This tote pattern features spacious pockets and a mini clutch attached to it. The bag is semi-transparent, where the entire tote is opaque, but you can keep the sides and pockets entirely see-through.

The table below highlights the materials required to create this trendy tote bag.

Materials Quantity

Metallic potent vinyl 

One yard

Faux leather

One yard

Plastic vinyl (clear)

½ yard

Leather machine needles

One package

Metal chain (gold/aluminium)

One yard

Magnetic snaps

Two packages

Metal zipper

One piece

Metal zipper pull

One piece

Craft adhesive (optional)

One tube

      2. Scrunchie by Martha Stewart

Scrunchies are prominent in the fashion world today. To help you create a DIY scrunchie at home, Martha Stewart has come up with a fantastic blog on How to Make a Scrunchie

There are step-by-step sewing instructions on how to go about the project and a video tutorial showing how to make one. 

This cute scrunchie project will take you less than an hour to create, and you will never have to pay for a scrunchie again!

      3. Coats & Clark Workout Headband by Yarnspirations

This workout headband by Yarnspiration is another free, basic sewing pattern that takes minimum effort and time to sew. The pattern is easily downloadable and comes with quick, easy-to-follow instructions. 

You can use the Yarnspirations stretchable thread for this project so that your headband has an excellent stretch to it.

Sewing Technique Machine sewing

Designer

Marie Duncan

Materials Needed

    • Matching Coats Eloflex® thread 
    • Three inches elastic, ½ inches wide
    • ¼ yard stretch fabric knit
    • Stretch sewing machine needle

Sewing Time

One hour

Expertise Level

Beginner

Learn to Sew Patterns

Working with patterns is a beginner’s play. With enough practice, you can master the art of sewing even the most complicated patterns out there. If you’re interested in creating a pattern yourself, you can refer to our blog on how to make sewing patterns to gain an insight into the challenges of making one.