Classic Sewing Patterns: 30 Free Projects Your Grandma Would Make For You
Sometimes when I sew, I think back to the things my grandmother would make. She didn’t have a sewing machine like mine or all the fancy gadgets. But I love the handmade treasures that she and other women have passed down. Easy to understand patterns will help you create beloved treasures too!
Quilts of legend, soft pillow cases, special costumes; these treasures hold stories and memories of a simpler time. For our friends, children, and grandchildren, precious memories will come from gifts we have made.
Bow Headbands for Granddaughters
Sweet hair accessories like these bow headbands are so easy to make and a great way to use up scraps. It’s also a great opportunity to teach someone to sew!
Pretty Tea Towels
Tea towels are so useful! In fact, just the use of them makes me nostalgic for my mother’s baking. Make your own out of left over fat quarters and watch the magic of a well used tea towel brighten your day.
Egg Gathering Apron
In my mind, grandmas usually have chickens! I know that’s not the case, and I probably won’t have chickens when I’m a grandma, but this free egg gathering apron pattern from Swoon Patterns, seems like just the thing my grandmother would have made and used.
Woven Heart Quilt
My Swedish Woven Heart Quilt is not only a great quality pattern for beginners, it’s also perfect for highlighting those precious fabrics that you want to preserve. It’s a beautiful gesture of love that will stand the test of time.
Ruffled Pillow Cases
Get a dreamy vintage look with this ruffle pillow sewing tutorial. You only need a yard and a half of any medium weight fabric per pillowcase. You can add an applique or some hand embroidery to personalize your project.
Pillowcase Dolls
I have a beautiful doll made from an old pillowcase. It is a sweet way to display handstitched pillowcases, and to preserve generations of sewing craft. Here is a really well done video tutorial by Alice’s Bear Shop for making a rag doll outfit from new or recycled fabric. The pattern isn’t free, but it’s worth the investment in my opinion. Another option is to do a search for ‘pillowcase doll kit’. Preserve your hand-embroidered textiles for years to come.
Kids Romper Pattern
Check out the free kids’ romper pattern. Rompers are precious and, hands down, my favorite outfit when my children were little. This quality pattern will help you bring back the memories, or make some new ones; rompers are practical and adorable, convenient and nearly indestructible!
Vintage Doily Table Runner
I was just talking to a friend who has boxes of doilies and other covers that her mother made by hand! What a treasure, but let’s get them out of the boxes and bring them into the light. This clever tutorial will help you make a vintage work of art that you can proudly display or lovingly give away.
DIY Milk Carton Coin Pouch
This Milk Carton Pouch evokes memories of my grandma because she never let a scrap of anything go to waste. She taught me to be frugal, save for what I need, and to appreciate what I did have. It’s also a perfect little box for your tooth fairy traditions, secret treasures, or stocking stuffers.
Pocket Tissue Cover
My mother always has tissues available no matter where we are. She always kept a box on the fridge, and another in her bathroom. She would sometimes tuck one away in her pocket or waistband to have handy around the house. Sew this fabric tissue cover to keep yours on hand for every little need. You’ll be amazed at the uses you will find for it! Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe to show me some of your ideas.
Liberty Rainbow Quilt
Liberty fabrics have a timeless charm and a heavenly, silky feel. You are in for a real treat if you use them on a quilt with a quality pattern. This Liberty Rainbow Quilt is sure to be treasured as an heirloom across all generations.
Old-Fashioned Apron Pattern
Don’t you love the responsible and capable look of a pinafore apron! The ricrac trim on this quality pattern is nostalgic for me on this design. I used to have an apron-style dress that I wore to shreds and then wore some more. In fact, the colors resembled those in the photo above. Bring back sentimentality and imaginative play with beautifully sewn patterns like this.
Quality Cloth Napkins
The look of an elegant table is as timeless as ever. This pattern for DIY cloth napkins is fat-quarter friendly.
DIY Fabric Covered Journal
These beautiful Fabric Covered Journals are a perfect way to preserve memories. I have kept journals for my children over the years, and personalizing them with colors is just something that makes sense to me!
Ruffled Envelope Clutch
I love the unique style of this ruffle envelope clutch made by Jessica, at Me Sew Crazy. You can repurpose your old ruffles, or create new ones and then pass this down or use it in costumes for ages. There’s something of a timeless feel to this that I just love.
Lovely Scarves with Crochet Ends
A beautiful crochet edge simply speaks love. These scarves with vintage crochet are beautiful and functional; in my opinion that’s the best kind of gift.
Patchwork Quilt
‘Waste not, want not’ is encapsulated in this patchwork quilt! Put everything you have to use, and make it gorgeous at the same time. This quality pattern is great for all experience levels, and finishes as a 64″ x 64″ throw.
DIY Candy Cups
These Pretty Quilted Desk Cups are just right for tiny hands to carry without breaking. Unlock imagination, encourage helping, and create something beautiful.
Pretty Box Pouch
Fabric boxes used to be more popular. Bring back that feeling of simpler times and tuck some treasures away for a future generation. You can also use this to store a precious collection of cards, dice, or other items.
Candle Jar Pincushion
This beautiful upcycled pincushion is simple, pleasing, and sturdy. Use grandma’s old fabric, or make some for the next generation of sewists.
Pretty Placemats
Make placemats for special occasions for a tradition, or use them all the time. Either way they will hold more than just crumbs as the years go by. Check out this free tutorial from Sew4Home.
Argyle Christmas Stockings
These Argyle Christmas Stockings are heirloom-quality for sure. With a classic fold-down cuff, and an old style argyle print, these are sure to be treasured from year to year. You can even use your embroidery machine to monogram them for an extra touch.
Bunny Treat Bags
Bunny Treat Bags can be memorable and make you feel really loved. I have a few tips and tricks in the tutorial for sewing curves.
Heirloom-Quality Heart Quilt
Here is another heart design for a meaningful keepsake. My Half Square Triangle Heart Quilt can be displayed on a wall or table top so you can choose the way that suits your environment.
DIY Pillbox Pattern
My Pillbox Pouch sewing pattern is a perfect place for tiny treasures, and a functional place for keeping little things together. You could keep it in your church bag loaded with stickers or mini figures to keep little hands busy. Most moms appreciate that help, so they don’t have to be your little hands. 🙂
Mini Pouch Pattern
This Bit O’ Kindness Pouch is calling for mementos or a sweet treat! Sew up some tiny acts of kindness to lift someone in your life.
Dinner Roll Holder
I used to play with these when I was younger. I remember being amazed at the simplicity and intricacy when I would flatten it out and then snap it up again to form the pockets. This tutorial from Gingercake is great for recreating the nostalgia of times long gone, but I think I’m going to bring it back for family dinner time!
Bean Bag Game Pieces
Sew a bean bag game and storage bag to stand the test of time. Corn hole is a favorite in our family, and you can use old clothes or jeans for an added measure of treasure. Family reunions can feature all your favorite prints.
Jelly Roll Rug
It’s not snuggly, and you can’t carry it around with you, but you can have it in every kitchen, entry, or living room you ever own. My daughter is away at college and there’s room for a rug in her tiny living space. This heirloom-quality pattern will last for ages, and be functional the whole time!
Woven Fabric Basket
Something that strikes me as an heirloom-quality pattern is the functionality of an item. A good basket is functional for ages; with or with-out handles. You can use my free woven basket pattern to make a gorgeous and functional basket that can be useful for a lifetime and longer.
More from SewCanShe:
Doll Dress
Made from a pillowcase, you can make a doll dress and a bigger one so that your sweet girl can match her toy. I remember sewing doll clothes with my mother when I was little. I never had a matching gown with my doll, but I had matching hair clips and I loved it!
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