Back-to-School Sewing Spree: 47 fun Patterns
Everyone is prepping for back-to-school this month. Here are the best free sewing patterns to prepare you for college, homeschool, grade school, and even teaching school!
You can also browse this list for great office projects and teacher gifts. Either way, I hope you are inspired and encouraged with these top picks.
Quilted School Sketchbook Cover
Sara has a tutorial for this beautiful sketchbook cover. It’s a creative way to cover your creative ideas! You can also adjust the size to fit any book, providing customization and protection for all the books you will need for heading back-to-school.
Useful Mug Caddy
You can make a stellar first impression and sew a darling mug caddy for your teacher. If not for the start of the year, put it in your save pile for Christmas gifts, or teacher appreciation day.
Amazing A-Frame Organizer
This Incredible A-Frame Organizer is a really practical way to keep things organized at your home or school desk. It stands up easily, and comes back together quickly for ultimate organization. Make back-to-school as orderly as possible!
Classic Pencil Pouch
My 3-Ring Pencil Pouch is designed to snap inside of a binder. You can use mesh or vinyl for the see-through effect.
School Clippie Zippies
The Clippie Zippie is another pencil pouch with a handy feature. Instead of clipping into a binder, this can be attached to the inside of your bag making it easy to access at all times.
See-Through Zipper Pouch
Lunch money, keys, erasers, and more can all be organized in this Vinyl and Ribbon Pouch. The ribbon adds a unique touch.
School Lunch Money Cuff
I know most schools around here prefer pre-paid lunches, but sometimes you still need good old fashioned cash. This Lunch Money Cuff is cute to wear, and means you can keep your money with you without needing pockets. Additionally, the zipper means the change won’t fall out and get lost!
First Aid Pouch for School
Pack it up, and keep it in your purse or backpack. It’s the perfect size for clippers, bandages, chap stick, and other little stuff. Keep it all together in this vinyl first aid pouch by Jennie at Clover & Violet.
No Zipper Pencil Pouch
We’ve seen a lot of zippers, but that’s not your thing make this easy case by Pam from Threading My Way. Use your little one’s favorite print for this special handmade school accessory.
Chubby School Lunch Tote
The Chubby Lunch Tote is a perfect size for a healthy lunch. Head back-to-school prepared for any size lunch!
Easy Peasy Lunch Bag
This Easy Peasy Lunch Bag is insulated, and has a secure hook and loop closure. It’s a great back-to-school sewing project that comes together quickly.
Toaster Lunch Sack
This DIY Toaster Lunchbox is great if you need to pack up taller items for back-to-school this year.
Stand Up Pencil Pouch
I think this Stand Up Pencil and Tool Pouch is a fabulous design. I love that you can extend the top for storage, and then slide it down for easy access.
School Book Pencil Bookmark
The Journaling Pencil Holder is another super practical back-to-school item, or class gift. They are easy to sew, and easy to use.
Zola Pencil Case
The Zola Pencil Case has a little more sophisticated design. It would be great for a grown-up work space, but it’s still easy to carry from one place to another.
Hanging Organizer
Hang this near your door for keeping essentials at hand. The DIY Hanging Organizer is a stylish way to use wall space as storage. You can use it in your classroom, office, or home.
Practical Chair Pocket
Room mom? Maybe your child’s class would benefit from an accessible place to keep their books. This Chair Pocket sews up quickly and is big enough for folders and notebooks. This year, back-to-school will be simply fabulous!
Fabric Binder Cover
A cute Binder Cover can help those popular three-ring beauties last just a little bit longer. The added bonuses are the customization and storage factors!
School Canvas Tote
A simple Canvas Book Bag has so many uses that I’m sure I can’t list them all. My favorite for this one is library books!
Japanese Style Reversible Tote
This cool Japanese-Inspired Tote Bag is easy to make and super practical. With a drawstring and pockets (you pick inside or out) you can carry anything you need easily and securely.
Stylish School Tote
Even if you don’t feel ready, you’ll look pulled together with this fabulous free Tote pattern. Perfect for a laptop, lesson plans, or everything else. Use your favorite fabrics to make a statement.
Reusable Snack Bags
Don’t go through plastic bags during the school year. Sew some reusable bags for snacks and sandwiches!
Patchwork Drawstring Backpack
This easy drawstring backpack sewing pattern is perfect for after school activities or daycare. You won’t loose track of your bag now that it’s custom!
Hanging Organizer Pockets
These hanging storage baskets include labels for added organization. You can use them for homework supplies, or as a way to communicate. It’s also a great place for everyone to store their phones during meal time! Don’t let back-to-school keep your family separated.
Easy Fabric Baskets
These fabric baskets are super practical, and reversible. They are the size of a generous pencil cup. You can organize your desk space or home office with this easy fabric basket sewing pattern.
Drawstring Bag with a Pocket
Dance and soccer are calling for this easy drawstring bag. The zipper pocket helps keep the important things separate from the dirty shoes.
Trendy Cross Body Bag
This cross body fanny pack is in style and still practical; I’m impressed with the staying power of this popular bag pattern.
The Arial Tote
This free tote pattern is the perfect size for your phone and a few essentials. The magnet closure at the top makes it secure. Take your important things and leave the rest at your desk.
Board Shorts and Pants
Use this pattern to sew several cute pairs of shorts for back-to-school. It’s not cool enough for pants in Florida for a while yet.
Foldable Storage Baskets
There are two sizes for this reversible fold up fabric basket. They are very sturdy, and the applications are endless. Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe so I can see how you are using this free mini foldable basket pattern. The smaller basket is fat quarter sized. here is the free large size foldable basket pattern.
Car Seat Organizer
I spend a lot of time in the car when it’s back-to-school time. This car pocket organizer pattern can help you stay organized during this busy time. You can keep extra snacks, socks, a random shoe (that’s for my 3 year old), books, and more. I call it my mobile command center.
Cute Ruffle Skirt
Hello new clothes! Back-to-school calls for some fun new outfits. Sew this ruffle skirt pattern for some fun this year.
The Eddie Cap
This is a darling pattern from Irene. This is a beautiful hat pattern that’s great for the cooler days of school.
Machine Embroidery Glasses Case
Keep your glasses clean and easy to find with this free in-the-hoop embroidery pattern for all kinds of glasses. Of course, if you don’t have an embroidery machine you can satin stitch the edge. It will turn out beautifully.
Woven Fabric Basket
Organize after school time with a cute woven fabric basket. It will look beautiful in your home! Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe so I can see what you’re using your woven baskets for.
Mesh Car Organizer
Here’s another sewing project for keeping your mobile command center in order. This mesh hanging organizer is a perfect place for your purse to keep it off the ground!
Handy Dumpling Pouch
Tuck things away or sort them with this dumpling pouch sewing pattern. You know what you need; sew this for any number of uses.
Easy Basic Leggings
You can sew many different colors of basic leggings for modesty and warmth this school season.
Handy Scissor Keeper
Not only will you be able to identify your scissors, they will be safe in this cute scissor holder.
Lovely Laptop Bag
I love this pattern for a laptop bag from Crazy Little Projects. It’s time for laptops in my family, and this is a perfect way to keep them all safe and clean.
Out the Door Organizer from Crafty Staci
This out the door sewing pattern is perfect for grab and go style living. I appreciate having everything in one place so that I can just head out when its time. If I want to be a little more formal, I can easily tuck it in my bag.
Perfect Square Basket
Here is another free basket pattern to help you sort out your back-to-school routine. I know you’ll love using this project for all kinds of things.
Custom Planner Organizer
This fits right into your planner so that you can keep all the accessories and stickers organized. It can also be used as a souped up pencil pouch. Alicia, from Sew What Alicia, shares this free pattern for back-to-school organization.
Beautiful Fabric Basket
Use this beautiful fabric basket to help organize snack time. Fill it with fruit, or other snacks so your family knows what is on the menu today.
Sturdy Fabric Bin
This fabric bin pattern is another great way to keep your kitchen in order for this back-to-school season. It’s great for snacks, or homework, or whatever you can imagine.
- Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine.
Boutique T-Shirt Dress
What an adorable back-to-school outfit! Sew a t-shirt into a dress with this free sewing pattern as a fresh way to use older clothes.
Easy Swim Jammers
Do you have boys ready for swim team this school year? You can save quite a bit of money by sewing their jammers, plus they get to pick their fabric! Send them off with this free sewing tutorial.
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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. 🙂