Master the art of sewing women’s clothing with tutorials that guide you from pattern drafting to finished garments. This category covers tops, dresses, skirts, trousers, and outerwear, with tips on fit, fabric choice, alterations, and professional finishing techniques. Ideal for sewists looking to create stylish, custom-made clothing that fits perfectly and showcases handmade quality.
Drafting a shirt pattern from scratch allows you to create garments that fit your body precisely. In this step-by-step guide, I show exactly how to draft a shirt pattern, from a basic bodice block to a complete, sew-ready design. This tutorial is designed for intermediate sewists who already understand basic pattern blocks and want to […]
How to Draft a Shirt Pattern From Scratch Read More »
To draft a classic shirt sleeve pattern, the basic sleeve block must be modified to include a cuff and sleeve placket. This adjustment changes both the sleeve length and the sleeve opening width so the cuff and placket fit correctly. This tutorial shows the exact method I use to modify a sleeve block for a shirt sleeve, including
How to Modify a Sleeve Block for a Shirt Sleeve Pattern Read More »
While I personally prefer elbow-length sleeves, some garments require the structure and finish of a classic long sleeve shirt. To attach a traditional shirt cuff, the sleeve needs a sleeve slit finished with a sleeve placket. In this tutorial, I will show you how to draft a shirt sleeve placket pattern step-by-step, so you can add a
How to Draft a Shirt Sleeve Placket Pattern (Step-by-Step) Read More »
To complete a classic shirt or shirt dress with long sleeves, you will need to draft a shirt sleeve cuff pattern. A shirt cuff finishes the sleeve opening, controls the wrist fit, and together with a sleeve placket allows the hand to pass through the sleeve comfortably. In this tutorial I show how to draft
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Knowing how to draft a shirt collar pattern allows you to expand your handmade wardrobe to include well-fitting shirts and shirt dresses. In this step-by-step tutorial I show how to draft a shirt collar pattern that fits any collar stand, using a collar stand drafted from a basic bodice block. You can read more about the collar stand
How to Draft a Shirt Collar Pattern (Step-by-Step Tutorial) Read More »
Knowing how to draft a collar stand sewing pattern is a fundamental skill in shirt pattern drafting. In this step-by-step collar stand drafting tutorial, I will show you exactly how to draft a collar stand pattern from your bodice neckline measurement, so it fits accurately and sits comfortably around the neck. You can use this
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In this beginner-friendly tutorial, you will learn how to draft a button stand step by step using a bodice block, explaining exactly how to calculate the correct width for any button size so your finished garment sits flat and professional. I draft all of my shirt and shirt dress patterns from a basic bodice block,
How to Draft a Button Stand (Step-by-Step Pattern Drafting Tutorial) Read More »
In this step-by-step sewing tutorial, I will show you exactly how to sew a buttonhole on a sewing machine using three methods: one-step automatic, four-step, and manual zigzag. You will also learn how to prevent puckering, uneven stitching, and thread jams so your buttonholes look clean and professional. I have sewn buttonholes on shirts, shirt
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In this tutorial I will show you how I apply a reverse appliqué to a T-shirt for my child’s School’s Number Day using a standard sewing machine. It is a fantastic upcycling technique and an easy way to add visual interest to a plain or worn T-shirt. I have been sewing garments and drafting patterns
Easy Reverse Appliqué T-Shirt Tutorial for Beginners (No Embroidery Machine) Read More »
In this beginner-friendly wrap skirt sewing tutorial, I’ll show you how to sew a simple wrap skirt using an A-line skirt block—no zips, no buttons, and no complicated construction. This tutorial follows directly from my wrap skirt pattern drafting guide, where I show how to draft the pattern from a basic A-line skirt block. I’m sewing
How to Sew a Wrap Skirt from an A-Line Skirt Block (Beginner) Read More »
