Printable Sewing Patterns
From LoveToKnow Crafts
With printable sewing patterns, you can select, download, print, and even complete a sewing project in one or two afternoons!
Using Printable Sewing Patterns
The Internet is a great place to find sewing patterns for a variety of projects, from dresses to baby clothing, doll clothes, hats, and more! Since many of these patterns are free, you're off to a great start with your next sewing project.
Before you fire up your sewing machine, however, keep the following points in mind:
- Sizing-Many printable sewing patterns have been created by individuals before being placed on the Internet for other sewing enthusiasts to access. While this is great for anyone interested in this particular craft, keep in mind that sizing doesn't always hold true to form. Just as store-bought clothing can differ in size from one brand to the next, sewing patterns can do the same. Before you use the pattern, measure each piece to see if the sizing will work for you. Once you begin cutting, it may be too late to alter the pattern.
- Appearance-Since some of the patterns you may find are one-of-a-kind creations, they may not always turn out the way the picture portrays them. Keep that in mind, and choose simpler projects first to see if the patterns really do look like they appear in the picture. This is particularly important if you find several pieces from the same creator.
- Difficulty-Many sites offer tips for cutting out and sewing each printable pattern. Pay attention to key words that allude to the difficulty of the pattern. If you are a beginner, don't choose a downloadable pattern that uses too many pieces and appears complicated. Save those for after you've become more adept at this hobby.
Where to Download Sewing Patterns
There are numerous sites that offer printable sewing patterns, and many of these are free. Some sites feature a select number of free downloads, but then require you to purchase others that you are interested in. Others may offer only one free download each week or month, so read the fine print before you start clicking.
The following is a list of sites to get you started:
- PrintSew offers several free patterns that you can access once you register with the site. This is a great way to delve into your sewing venture without spending lots of money, since some patterns can be expensive.
- Yahoo Sewing Groups is an excellent site for finding people who can mentor you in your next sewing project. You can also swap patterns and site recommendations that you've found or created. If you're interested in finding a local sewing group to participate in, search for that as well at this site.
- Burda Style offers a variety of fashionable clothing and accessory patterns, and the majority of these are free. Even those that aren't free downloads only cost a few bucks. Each pattern is in PDF format. Depending upon how experienced you are, you can find simple to more difficult projects to download as well. You can also upload your own pattern creations to share with others at this site by turning it into a PDF file (with step-by-step how-to instructions) for others to try. This is a great site!
- MyCraft Book offers a wide variety of free printable patterns. You can make anything from oven mitts to hot pads, dolls to animal pillows, and toiletry holders to wine bottle bags and more.
- Baby Patterns has numerous patterns for newborns up to toddler sizes for both boys and girls clothing.
- Craft and Fabric Links has fully illustrated printable patterns that include step-by-step instructions. Pattern selections include instructions for a wide variety of clothing, accessories, home décor, gifts, and more.
Finally, don't forget to check out the many other sewing articles at LoveToKnow Crafts. If you have any other sites you'd like to suggest to our readers, please do so in the comments section of this article!
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