Beginner-Friendly Summer Sewing

Get started sewing this summer with some of our favorite beginner-friendly sewing patterns that are easy to complete, easy to fit and with great instructions. Bonus: you can wear them all summer long. And make multiples to get well on your way to a me-made wardrobe, if you’re inclined!

The Emerson Pant by True Bias is a great wide-leg crop pant for summer. The pattern includes two rises - one designed to sit at your waist and the other lower on your hips - and the waistband is pretty ingenious: with a flat front waistband and an elasticized back waistband, fitting is easy and you’ll look chic while wearing total secret pajamas. The pant front features pleats but nothing more tricky than that. Sew them up in Brussels Washer Linen for the perfect amount of structure and flow, or try a flowy batik rayon. Read about Lucy's super cute indigo linen Emersons!The Cleo Skirt from Made by Rae also features a flat front waistband and elastic back, for comfort and easy fitting. Plus those deep pockets! This skirt wins our top prize in the “camping skirt” category but it’s cute enough for downtown and easy to hack. It sews up beautifully in almost anything, but after Bob’s amazing Allstate Shirt, we’ve got plaids on the brain. Oh, or gingham, for a classic summery look! If you’re looking for a dress that you can wear all summer and layer through the fall, the Hinterland Dress by Sew Liberated fits the bill perfectly. Make the sleeveless version for summer, then add sleeves for fall and winter. The dress sews up well in a variety of fabrics, but we particularly love it in an ikat. You’ll learn darts, gathering, installing a simple placket, bias binding and creating buttonholes, all while creating a cute summery dress.For a woven tank top you can stitch up in an afternoon, look to the Willow Tank and Tank Dress from Grainline Studio. This pattern will make you an expert in bias binding, an essential sewing skill, but other than that and darts, the Willow is straightforward and makes a great summer basic (with not a lot of fabric). Make one in an easy-to-sew linen, then dress it up with something swishy, like our Mojito Slub.For something on the athletic side, try your hand with knits and Fancy Tiger Craft’s Adventure Tank pattern. The pattern includes a Muscle Tank for full coverage and a sporty Racerback version. The pattern is a great introduction to knits, and after, you’ll be a master of installing knit neckbands. Go classic in a solid or a stripe, or hang loose with a Tie Dye Knit.When it comes to beginner patterns, we are a big fan of patterns by 100 Acts of Sewing: simple and straightforward, modern silhouettes and quick to sew. 

Happy summer sewing!