Free patterns for beginners
When you’re new to sewing and have just bought a machine and all the necessary materials (thread, scissors…), you don’t necessarily want to invest in sometimes expensive patterns!
To get you started, we’ve selected a few free patterns that are accessible to sewing beginners.
A simple tote bag
For your first steps in sewing, it’s best to try your hand at a really simple project that avoids complex cuts and overly meticulous finishing touches. This allows you to concentrate on getting to grips with the machine and learning how to sew straight and pin the various parts…
For example, you can make your own tote bag, a useful everyday accessory that’s easy to sew. All you need is a 50cm piece of fabric and follow Charlotte Auzou’s tutorial. For simplicity’s sake, she doesn’t double her bag. When starting out, avoid fabrics that are too fluid, such as viscose. Instead, opt for a cotton canvas such as cretonne.
Gift bags
Extremely easy to sew, gift bags have the advantage of using very little fabric and being very useful. You can use them as storage compartments to slip into your bag, as pouches for wrapping Christmas or birthday presents, as bulk bags for shopping…
Here again, no complex assembly details! You can concentrate on the basic stitches of your sewing machine and use simple cotton. You can follow our free tutorial on YouTube.
Scrunchies to avoid wasting too much fabric
When you’re new to sewing, you can sometimes make mistakes (sewing the wrong way round the fabric, assembling the wrong way round…) that mean you have to undo several times and ruin the fabric. To make sure you don’t waste too much material, you can sew scrunchies that require very little material and are very easy to make. You can follow this simple tutorial and use any fabric you like.
An elasticated skirt for sewing your first garment
If you’d rather take the plunge into the world of dressmaking, you can make a skirt with an elastic waistband. This system avoids the need to sew a zipper, a step dreaded by novice seamstresses.
This first sew-along will teach you how to read a simple pattern and familiarize you with concepts such as straight thread. You’ll also learn how to make machine gathers, sew a hem and, of course, attach an elastic band. For simplicity, choose a poplin or cotton canvas rather than a synthetic fabric.
On their website, the bosses offer a free pattern to get you started.
A vest for learning how to assemble parts
More complex than the tote bag or pouchon patterns, the free cardigan pattern from Idées à faire magazine (available from Mondial Tissus) is nonetheless accessible to beginners. It allows you to make a pretty piece without too many technical details. No buttonholes or zippers to worry about!
For this lined cardigan, all you need is a fairly thick fabric (such as jacquard or fleece) for the outside of the piece. And a rather fine fiber for the inside (a cotton or viscose poplin). This model will help you understand how to read a pattern. But also how to assemble the different pieces on the shoulders and sides. You’ll also learn how to apply a simple lining.
The explanatory photos will help you get your bearings on right sides and wrong sides, and on assembly. Take your time with this sewing project to ensure a neat result!
A t-shirt to learn how to sew jersey
If you’re new to sewing and want to learn how to sew jersey (stretch fabric used for t-shirts, sweatshirts, sportswear…), you can start by assembling a t-shirt. Choose a simple shape like the Plantain pattern from Deer and Doe, available free on their site. It’s very well explained and detailed, and will help you understand how to sew this wardrobe basic.
What project did you start sewing on? And if you’re just starting out, which project do you prefer?
