I buy a lot of patterns and some are better than others. What makes a pattern “good?” For me it comes down to simplicity of the instructions, accuracy of the sizing, if there are lots of photos or videos to follow along with, and if the pattern is something I will enjoy reusing in the future. In this post, I’m sharing five patterns I recently purchased and tested so you can see if these might be worthwhile for your next sewing project.
Mini Bunny + Pocket
This pattern is so cute and simple (and free!) I made this little bunny with some scraps I had leftover from other projects and it came together in 30 minutes, tops. You could totally customize this pattern to by making short, rounded ears for a bear, or pointed ears for a cat (hand-stitched whiskers would also be adorable!).
Tip: When stitching on face details, use an embroidery needle. It has a larger eye for threading thicker thread and is bigger overall than a standard needle, making it easier to handle.
Quilted Baby Jacket
This jacket turned out very cute, but the pattern wasn’t the easiest to follow. I found myself staring at the photos for a very long time trying to wrap my head around the logistics for attaching the lining to the outer shell’s armholes, but once I finally figured it out, the rest was straightforward. I will say though that this pattern makes a pretty boxy, and loose-fitting jacket so you’ll likely want to size down a bit to get the right fit for your child. As you can see in the photo below, Baby A will need to grow into it a bit, but I’ll bet it fits her wonderfully next year.
Also since I didn’t have any snaps on-hand, I decided to make ties to close the jacket instead and that might be my favorite part of the whole thing. Isn’t this fabric just the cutest!?
Unisex Sweatshirt
For Christmas, I made this sweatshirt for my husband and I’m so proud of how it turned out. It fits him perfectly and I catch him wearing it all the time, which is really the true measure of a successful project. I wanted it to be a little unique so I used a speckled grey french terry fabric for the sleeves, an ultra soft and stretchy knit for the body, and contrasting black ribbing for the cuffs and neckband.
The pattern was clear and included lots of helpful photos. There’s also a video tutorial you can watch as well!
Beanie
I’ve made 3 or 4 of these hats and this is actually the first pattern my sister ever sewed! I definitely think this would be a good beginner project since it doesn’t require any advanced techniques and it only uses ~1/2 yard of fabric. Just be sure to use a fabric with some stretch (such as jersey or stretch knit) so it fits nice and comfortably.
Tote Bag
I am beyond obsessed with how this tote bag turned out! The instructions were clear and there’s also a Youtube sew-along video you can watch too. I used a checkerboard denim for the outer fabric and black cotton for the lining, with an added layer of interfacing to give it a bit more structure (as per the pattern’s recommendations). It’s also big enough to hold my 15″ laptop so this will likely become my new work bag. I give this pattern a 10/10!
Looking for more beginner-friendly sewing projects?
How to Make an Easy Infinity Scarf
Make a Plush Bunny (+ Free Pattern Download!)
How to Make a Handmade Heating Pad
How to Make a DIY Potholder/Trivet (Two Methods)
How to Make a Quilted Infinity Scarf
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