Skip to content
Vera's Sewing Room
Hands guiding linen under a sewing machine foot - free sewing patterns Sewing
Hand embroidery hoop with cornflowers and daisies held up in a garden - free embroidery patterns Embroidery
Patchwork star quilt hanging on a clothesline in a meadow - free quilt patterns Quilting
Hands guiding linen under a sewing machine foot - free sewing patterns

Sewing

15 patterns

Free sewing patterns for bags, clothes, home projects and gifts, each one with a cutting list, the fabric to buy and the steps in the order you sew them. Most need nothing more than a basic straight-stitch machine and an iron.

Newest sewing patterns

About this collection

Where to start. If you have never sewn before, make a bag. A tote or a zipper pouch is all rectangles, so you learn to cut straight, sew an even seam and press as you go, and you end up with something you will use every day. After that, cushions and napkins from Home Sewing Projects teach neat corners and hems.

How my sewing patterns are written. Every cutting list starts with the seam allowance, because that one number decides whether the pieces fit together. I give inches first with centimetres in brackets, and I work out the finished size from the cut sizes, never the other way round, so the bag you make is the bag in the photo.

Clothes without a printed pattern. The garments in Clothing Patterns are drafted from your own measurements: elastic-waist skirts, boxy tops and aprons cut from rectangles and a few measured curves. You will not need to print and tape paper pieces together.

Little ones and quick gifts. Bibs, burp cloths and backpacks live in Baby & Kids Sewing, and the skill-building projects (pillowcases, coasters, scrunchies) are in Sewing Tips & Basics. Pick one, wash your fabric first, and enjoy the sound of the machine.

Questions about sewing

What can I sew as a complete beginner?

Start with rectangles: a tote bag, a zipper pouch, a cushion cover or cloth napkins. They teach cutting, straight seams and pressing without any curves.

What fabric is best for beginners?

Medium-weight woven cotton such as quilting cotton, cotton canvas or linen-cotton. It does not stretch or slip, presses flat and forgives small mistakes.

Should I wash fabric before sewing?

Yes, wash and dry it the way you will wash the finished item. Cotton and linen can shrink 3 to 5 percent, which is enough to pull seams out of shape later.

What sewing machine needle should I use?

A universal 80/12 needle for quilting cotton and lightweight fabric, 90/14 for canvas and denim, and a ballpoint needle for knits. Change it every 8 hours of sewing.

Other crafts