Design & Make your own clothes with FREE SEWING PATTERNS

You have two choices now that you have decided to make your clothes – either make your patterns with the help of tutorials on this site or buy commercial sewing patterns. Both are good but making paper patterns is a little bit more adventurous than getting ready-made patterns. Read on if you are up to it.

Related post : Websites to buy sewing patterns.

Most of the clothes available in the retails shops today are made like cookies – of the same pattern, of the same size. Without considering that God has made us all unique. No other body is the same unless you are a twin. Check out the post on How to dress according to your body shape for more on this.

I never get to the cash counter of a retail shop or look at a fashion magazine without thinking that I could make that myself. After learning to sew your own clothes, before long you will be doing it yourself.

Not that sewing is very inexpensive; It costs money to buy fabric and the factory-made general-sized clothing is sometimes very inexpensive. They don’t last long which is another matter. Think of yourself as a designer and you will be wearing good quality clothes which will last a very very long time.

FREE DIY SEWING PATTERNS

Basic Bodice Pattern

A bodice top is something which you can alter to any style you want. Let your creativity run riot altering this pattern to what you want it to be

You can choose any of the 60 plus neckline types, different collar designs or Dress sleeve types for your bodice. Make neckline patterns, yoke patterns and sleeve patterns and design your own clothes – keep in mind the different types of Silhouettes of dresses, Waistlines on dresses and 9 types of skirt lengths.

More dress patterns

Sew Flounce hem skirt

Sew easy butteryfly sleeved top

Sew a full skirt with less fabric

Sew comfortable Nightwear set- cami top & pajama shorts

Sew easy & comfortable pants

Sew a simple top

Sew a Puffy sleeved top

Sew gathered skirt with pockets

How to sew strapless tops

Sew a simple gathered skirt ( Dirndl skirt)

Sew easy everyday Top

Sew a fitting Pencil Skirt

Aline skirt – sewing pattern & tutorial (3 types)

Off-shoulder tunic Dress DIY

Sew a Tube top

Sew an easy one hour dress

Make a simple & easy SHIFT DRESS

Make a basic skirt

Simplest summer top- free pattern & tutorial

Frill sleeved top – free pattern & tutorial

Kurta Tunic Top Easy

Knit top – sewing tutorial

Make an easy loungewear

Re-fashion plain tops/t-shirts to look different and beautiful: 10 ways

Make a free size Long flared skirt

A-line frock for babies/little girls – sewing pattern and tutorial

Simple gathered dress for girls

Peplum top

A line skirt making tutorial

Halter neck top pattern (3 ways)

Pleated skirt – DIY Pattern

Easy Peasy long shirred dress

Turn scarves to tops – 2 DIY Scarf outfits.

Men’s Boxer shorts -pattern & tutorial.

Capri Pants Pattern

Flared sleeve top

Bralette Top

Asymmetrical skirt pattern

Slouchy Velvet Blazer.

Batwing Shrug

Aline dress

Sundress Pattern & sewing tutorial

Mermaid skirt sewing pattern

Frock designs for kids

Make a Dress – free sewing pattern

Make a Panel dress – free pattern

Make a boxy top with flute sleeves

Make a baby doll dress

Make a Flare Dress with bell sleeves- free pattern

Free sewing pattern to make a tie front shirt

Make a simple skirt with yoke

Make a drop shouldered top with shoulder slits

Make an easy crop top.

Make an easy Tunic top

Make a divided skirt / culottes

Make a ruffled tiered and fringed skirt from old jeans.

how to make a skirt from jeans and fabric

Make Fisherman’s wrap pants ( 2 types).

Make a Camisole top

Make an easy Bolero Jacket

Make an easy sleeveless top

Make a Lace vest with Mandarin collar

Make a Panelled Lehanga Skirt

Make an Umbrella dress – free pattern

Make a tank top with embroidered yoke

8 ways to make a cape

Make a Boho style Top

3 ways to sew Off shoulder top

DIY Drawstring Lounge Pants

Sew a Cami dress / slip dress

Sew an easy open front drapey Jacket

DIY Slip Extender

Sew a Princess cut blouse

Sew a Petticoat skirt

Sew an A line dress

9 Different types of fabric fringes

Sew a comfortable Pajama Pants with pockets

free DIY pattern & sewing tutorial

7 Tutorials to make beautiful Fabric Bows

Make a fabric bow belt

How to sew a Tie

Draft Pattern and sew leggings

Draft pattern and sew a half slip

Make an easy SHIRT SKIRT

This is made from a men’s shirt – step by step sewing instructions

Draft Pattern and sew a fitting SHORTS

Make a shorts with elastic waistband in the back and a fitting wasitband in the front. This pattern has a side opening with zipper and pant hooks.

How to make patterns for different salwar pants

Learn to sew different types of salwar kameez pants like Plain Salwar pants, Dhothi pants, chudidhar pants, Patiala Pants and Parallel pants.

How to make pattern and sew 8 styles of skirts

Make DIY patterns to sew 8 basic styles of skirts –

A line skirt ,Gathered skirt,Half circle skirt ,Full circle skirt,Handkerchief skirt,Gored skirt,Tulip hemmed skirt, Layered skirt,Waistband.

How to make patterns for different necklines

You can design your neckline shape yourself with these patterns.

How to make patterns for 11 different sleeve styles

Learn to draft different styles of Sleeves for your bodice. Turn any sleeveless top or dress into a sleeved garment very easily. Change the sleeves of your existing dress to a sleeve that suits you.

How to make a Kaftan dress – FREE Pattern

A Kaftan is the best and easiest dress or tunic that you can make for yourself. In just 2-3 seams you have a beautiful garment you have made for yourself.

How to stitch a simple nighty –a DIY Night dress pattern

With this tutorial you can draft pattern to sew a simple A line nighty as well as yoked nighty; you will also find instructions to make a gathered nighty

A simple Sari Blouse DIY Pattern

Sew a simple and fitting sari blouse for your latest sari with this easy to draft and sew pattern.

Breastfeed your baby in privacy in any setting with this stylish but simple nursing cover. There are 2 ways of making it – both very easy to make even for the ultimate beginner

Learn the ART OF DRESSMAKING

If you have been buying clothes off the shelf till now but now you feel you should make your own clothes – you are at the right place. You can now own clothes which are more fitting and more comfortable and can wear them with the pride of having made them yourself. Not to mention the kind of pleasure you get when you make something yourself.

Check out these 15 important dressmaking tips to follow if you want perfect sewing

Check out the post on the different Clothes categories and names available for you to make yourself

It is not very difficult to make sewing patterns yourself. In fact it is easy once you know how to. Just allow yourself to make small mistakes and then you are ready to go. Make the first garment in an inexpensive fabric and you will be able to forgive yourself for the mistakes you inevitably will be making with your first few projects

If you like a particular ready-made dress you can make a copy of it by making a sewing pattern from it – check out this tutorial for making a copy of your dress .

Check out these posts on How to take body measurements for making sewing patterns ;& 7 types of Body shapes – which one is yours ? ; How to take Hip measurement ; How to read a tape measure and the sewing tools you need to start making clothes.

If you are an absolute beginner at sewing, Check out this post with all things a beginner who is learning how to sew should learn.

Drafting a pattern can be done on the paper or the cloth directly. Once you have made paper patterns, unless your body has not changed, you can keep on sewing with the same pattern again and again.

Main advantages of using paper patterns

1. Time saving, if making the garment / or a single piece of garment like a sleeve, again; as, once you make a pattern you don’t have to waste time the next time you are making a similar dress, in taking measurement and marking on paper etc ; you can just go about choosing your fabric and start sewing.
2. Ease of use is an obvious advantage as, if we mark directly on to the fabric and if there is some alteration in the measurement, the markings you have made may mess up your cloth.

Marking tools to transfer the patterns to your fabric

A very useful and cheap marking tool which will be available to everyone is a piece of soap. Use left over thin slithers of soaps from your bathroom and store them near your cutting table. They can be used to mark on fabric- the advantage being that unlike all the traditional marking tools I have mentioned below they can easily be removed by rubbing gently with a wet cloth.

How to cut your fabric by using a pattern

For more details on cutting fabric check the post ‘ Top tips to cut fabric perfectly’ and how to determine the grainline of the fabric etc.

Pattern pieces normally represent a garment’s right half. Fold your fabric in half lengthways with right sides together. Place the paper pattern piece straight on fold and pin spaced about 10 cms apart; cut accurately. Do not forget to place one hand near the cutting line for stability while you cut with the other hand.

Some tips when marking your own patterns on to the fabric

Mark accurately – be as precise as possible
You do not have to mark on the 2 fabric layers but while cutting this has to be taken into account
Always test your marking tool (chalk or pencil or tracing wheel) to see the impact on your chosen fabric and whether the mark will remain, or will it stain the fabric etc
Be sure to use a sharp pair of sewing scissors. If your scissors are blunt the edges will turn out ragged.
Take long cuts rather than many small cuts on straight edges and short cuts on curves.

9 must know hand stitches - running stitch, catch stitch

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72 thoughts on “Design & Make your own clothes with FREE SEWING PATTERNS”

Salome Joshua

June 24, 2023 at 3:30 pm

Thank you so much, I have gotten so much information & skills on how to achieve so many styles.
Dipti

January 30, 2023 at 4:20 pm

Hello,
Could you please make a tutorial on how to draft sabyasachi blouses
Jacqui

July 28, 2022 at 7:49 am

Very good guidelines given here. It’s much appreciated
I’m so happy to have found this page
Glory Tom

September 12, 2021 at 12:24 am

would love to also cut and sew but it required sew machine, can you help

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