25 Free Sewing Patterns for Beginners

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Are you looking for cute free sewing patterns? Let me show you some amazing sewing projects for beginners!

Learn to Sew

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Start by picking some fabric that inspires you, choose any one of these free tutorials, and get ready to have some fun learning to sew.

Easy Dog Bandana

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Dog Bandanas make the best beginner sewing project because they are easy and fun and your fur baby will think it’s perfect no matter what! Check out this free dog bandana sewing pattern that includes 3 sizes: small, medium, and large.

Microwavable Soup Bowl Cozies

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Everyone loves using soup bowl cozies, and lucky for us they are just so easy to sew! My free bowl cozy tutorial includes three different sizes. Have fun making this great gift for everyone you know.

Easy Baskets from 10 Inch Squares of Fabric

two finished baskets. The one on the left is holding white roses. The one on the right shows the inside of the empty basket.
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Sew a fast and easy fabric basket that’s reversible too. Make a basket with 10” layer cake squares or from leftover pieces of fabrics and a little fusible interfacing. This free pattern requires simple straight line sewing which makes it a perfect beginner’s project. Who doesn’t need a few reversible fabric baskets to use at your desk or near your sewing machine?

Log Cabin Hexi Potholders

Three finished log cabin hexi potholders hanging against white bedboardbackground from one black iron hook
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This beginner friendly project introduces several techniques every sewist will use in many other projects. It teaches a variation of the classic log cabin block technique, how to use partial seams, and free motion quilting. The center of this design is a hexagon. My step-by-step instructions feature helpful photos so you can see how to do everything. These log cabin hexi potholders make great gifts anyone would be pleased to get. They will also look great in your own kitchen.

Easy One Yard Pillowcase Pattern

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Learn how to sew a pillowcase with exactly one yard of fabric and no waste! This super easy pillowcase tutorial is perfect for beginners or for charity sewing because it is the fastest pillowcase pattern you will ever see.

One Yard Apron Sewing Pattern

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I have a LOT of free apron patterns here on my blog, but by far the easiest and most popular one is my 1 Yard Magic Free Apron Pattern. You’ll be sewing aprons for all your friends (well, as many friends as you have yards of fabric!).

Simple Fabric Dolls

Learn how to sew the most adorable fabric dolls! When I came across ragdoll fabric panels from South Korean artist Jae Sun, I had to make a whole litter of plush cats. This easy sewing project is perfect for teaching kids how to sew.

Double Sided Lanyard

the end of a pink flowered cloth lanyard strap with a chrome swivel clip
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This pretty double sided lanyard is an easy sewing project. You can use two coordinating fabrics to make this lanyard twice as nice. Start sewing fabric strips with straight and zigzag seams. You will learn how to topstitch and backstitch, too in this free sewing tutorial.

Tote Bag Pattern with a Zipper

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Surprise your favorite teacher with a powerful statement bag with this teacher tote bag. Sew this easy bag in a flash using canvas and cotton fabrics; complete with an inset zipper and pretty quilting cotton straps. The tote doesn’t require a lining so it is easy for any beginner to tackle. It also makes the perfect machine embroidery project. The embroidery is optional but does add a lovely detail. you must try.

Easy Drawstring Backpack Pattern

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Every sewing newbie must try making this easy peasy drawstring backpack. From the casings to the loops to the drawstrings, this backpack is an all-fabric pattern that you can make with just one fabric or more if you have lots of them.

Dumpling Shaped Cosmetic Bag

Picture shows two completed pochi pouches standing on a wooden table. The front pouch is done in a lively red, yellow and tourquoise print with a white and black binding at the top. The other pouch is done in a newsprint fabric with the binding created from the print from the first bag. The flat bottomed half circle pouches sit beside a clear glass vase holding white roses.
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Keep your supplies, cosmetics, or pens in this cute pochi pouch. Learn how to make a Japanese style zipper pouch with a flat bottom to help it stand up. This project will enhance your sewing skills even more with all the sewing techniques in this tutorial.

Pet Cage Comforter Tutorial

Lovely brown and black dog is lying on a red and white checked pet comforter. The dog is facing away from the camera with its right leg outstretched.
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Give your adorable pet additional comfort by sewing him this cage comforter. This blanket will provide a soft bed and a sense of security for any pet – including your own. A pillowcase could be used as the foundation of this project. Try a piece of fleece or flannel as the batting. A towel could also serve as the filling. This would be a wonderful community service project for any youth group. Animal shelters and veterinary clinics would love to have these donated.

DIY Tiny Quilt Magnets

ridged metal wall hanging with one blank unlined index card held with one tiny hourglass block attached to a magnet. Four additional tiny hourglass block magnets are shown randomly placed onto the hanging message center.
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Less than 2” tall, this DIY tiny quilt magnet is a fun, easy, and quick sewing and craft project. Beginners often avoid small projects, but you will want to try these little half-square triangles. Even beginner sewists soon acquire a few scraps that are perfect for these little gems. Stick them on your fridge, dishwasher, bulletin board, or everywhere else, and see how decorative they are. Make some for your friends while you are at it.

Learn to Sew A Pet Leash

folded pet leash with a brass swivel clip is shown lying on a wooden table. The cloth leash is sewn from a beautiful fabric done in a fushia and blue flower print.
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Here’s a wonderful project for sewers who have pets at home. Sewing this leash made from quilt scraps is a good way to practice basic sewing skills. You will love how quickly you improve your straight line sewing skills. You can finish this in less than an hour, too. Expand your pet’s wardrobe by sewing a matching collar.

Kids Pajama Pants

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Learn how to sew cute kids’ pajama pants with my free and easy pattern! It has an elastic waist and guess what? No hemming! You can use quilting cotton, knit fabric, flannel, or even fleece with this design that uses just one pattern piece. When my kids were little I used it to sew all their Christmas jammies!

Easy Journaling Bookmark and Pen Holder

Two pink covered journals are displayed on a wooden table with a bouquet of white roses to the right. Each journal has a bookmark and pen holder slipped onto the cover. One has green elastic and the other light pink. The pen holders are sewn from a green print and blue print respectively.
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This DIY journaling bookmark with a pencil holder is the perfect gift for young writers. Make them quickly using jelly roll strips. They can be embellished with embroidery or beading. Add a button for another fun embellishment. This new tutorial is practical and so quick and easy to make.

Cute Patchwork Tote Pattern

A patchwork bag sewn from small squares of greys and black prints and short dark grey flowered rolled cloth handles sits on a weather iron bench painted white.
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Another fun, fast, and easy project to try is this patchwork tote bag. This sewing pattern is the perfect scrap buster for all your leftover fabrics. It may look complicated, but it is done with just vertical and horizontal seams. When you are ready for a larger project like a table runner or a patchwork quilt, you will have the skills necessary for success.If you want to try sewing other bags and purses, make sure you check out all of these free bag patterns.

DIY Infinity Scarf

woman with shoulder length dark hair holds a camera to her eye with her left hand. She is wearing a dark blue short sleeved shirt and an infinity scarf made from a fabric that is  medium green with pretty pink cabbage roses.
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This DIY Infinity Scarf uses just half a yard of fabric. I made mine from voile but you could use any lightweight to midweight cotton like linen or chambray. Jersey or a double knit fabric would also be a good fabric choice. It makes a fashionable accessory that you can wear anywhere. Sewing French seams and a ¼” hem can be super easy after all. This tutorial is a great way to start your sewing journey!

Tiny Pouch Tutorial

Six examples of the Bit O'kindness mini pouch with metal ring tab are displayed in a semi circle. Only the first one is open showing the piece of bit o honey candy tucked inside. Each poich has a large color coordinated plastic snap closure.
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Sew an easy tiny pouch with a snap that’s perfect for saying ‘thank you’ or paying it forward with a bit of kindness. This easy sewing project will make you not want to stop until you have 100!

Re-Usable DIY Lunch Bags

Two examples of the perfect sized cloth lunch bag are standing on a wooden table. White roses peek out from the left and a pink book is seen in the right hand background. The bag on the left has large green leafs and pink circles with multi colored seven petaled flowers inside. The second bag has a black and white periodic table fabric.
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Sew a small reusable lunchbag with wipe-clean fabric on the inside. It’s super easy with Velcro instead of zippers. Learn to use Insulbright batting to keep your food at temperature, whether it is hot or cold. This beginner sewing project includes making a fabric handle and a cute standup pleated bottom.

Easy Tied Patchwork Quilt Tutorial

A patchwork quilt made from nine patch blocks with white sashing strips separating the inside rows and columns. The main colors used in the nine patch blocks are pink, blue, and brown prints. The small quilt does not have any borders or binding. It hangs against a white beadboard wall.
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Beautiful and comforting, this tied quilt is super easy to make. Made with 9 patch blocks, the quilt top is pieced together with flannel fabric for the backing. This fun quilt is a great first sewing project. Embroidery floss or yarn can be used to tie the quilt top. Learn how to tie a square knot to keep the layers from separating. This would be a good project to practice free motion quilting using a stitch in the ditch technique and straight line quilting.

Tea Towels Made from Fat Quarters of Fabric

Two tea towels hang on a stainless steel bar against a stainless steel appliance - perhaps an oven door.

The tutorial for these easy fat quarter tea towels is a perfect sewing pattern for beginners. With just two fat quarters and some pearl cotton, you can make this cute towel in just a few minutes. Use vibrant colored fabrics to brighten up your kitchen. Add some decorative trim like rickrack to dress these up a bit. Pretty tea towels are not just accessories for your kitchen decor, but you will use them as well.

DIY Rice Bag Heating Pad Tutorial

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Turn your hugs into a gift with this DIY heating pad. When microwaved for 1-2 minutes, it gives the right warmth to the neck or shoulders. It helps relieve stress by relaxing tired muscles and easing tension. The clear step by step instructions will walk you through this project. It is as easy as any sewing pattern for beginners can be. Take your time and you will love the results. Send it as a gift to someone you know who works a lot. It will definitely mean a lot to them.

Canvas Book Bag

two plain canvas tote bags each with lively colored straps hang against a white beadboard wall. The front tote shows a slit pocket between the straps that wrap around the bag about four inches from each side.
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This canvas book bag is perfect for your ‘grab and go’ stash of reading materials. It also has small pockets on the sides so you can carry other important items. With this tutorial, mixing inexpensive natural cotton duck fabric with colorful fabric prints is fun and exciting. The handles are padded with some batting scraps and are another opportunity to practice straight line sewing. This easy to follow tutorial will guide you through another simple beginner sewing project.

DIY Fabric Covered Art Journal

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If you love doodling, sketching, keeping a journal, or doing other arts, this lovely fabric covered art journal is for you. It can also be a sketchbook for those who love to draw. Having one of these is really motivating and inspiring. Check out this fun and easy sewing pattern for beginners.

Caroline’s tips:

  • If a download-ready PDF is what you want, you are in luck. I have printable PDF files available for almost all of my free sewing patterns.
  • Let me invite you to enter one of my SewCanShe giveaways. I always have great prizes from some of my sweet blog sponsors or from my own stash.
  • You’ll also want to sign up for my daily newsletter that includes a link to our featured tutorial (the PDF format file for the featured tutorial is free for one day only). Plus you’ll find out about all my new patterns too!
  • Sewing patterns for beginners need to be easy to understand, require few supplies, and provide practice for foundational sewing skills. Learn a few new techniques in short practice sessions while reinforcing old ones. Each project can be completed in one or two sewing sessions. They come with step-by-step tutorials and free templates so that even total novices can complete them successfully. Experienced sewists will love these free sewing patterns, too.

Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂