threadWEAR 301
28 Beginner Sewing Projects to Improve Your Skills
So you want to learn how to sew, but don't know where to start?
You're in the right place.
Today, I won't only give you 28 beginner sewing projects — but these 28 projects are specifically designed to help you build the fundamental skills needed to become a great sewist.
Now, you don't have to do ALL of these projects.
Instead, scroll through these, pick something you'd like to work on, and get started!
Because the secret to becoming a great sewist is to START.
And that's exactly what I hope this blog post pushes you to do.
So without further ado, let's get into it!
28 Easy Beginner Sewing Projects
From bags and tops to bottoms and dresses — here are the 28 easy things to sew you can get started on right now.
#1: Tyvek Tote Bag
When you're new to sewing, one question that will surely pop into your mind is, "What should I sew FIRST???"
Well, if you're looking for a simple and low-risk project, a tote bag will do the trick.
Tote bags are not only lovely to have, but they're also hard to mess up.
Even if things don't go as planned, you can always start over. After all, it's just a tote bag.
That's why for beginners who are still learning the basics of measuring, cutting, folding, and sewing, this Tyvek tote bag is a great place to start!
Have you ever heard the saying, "Measure twice cut once?"
Well, that's exactly what a project like this Breezy Hudson poncho will teach you.
Ponchos are relatively easy to make. They're not nearly as complicated as other tops.
However, for beginners, sewing a poncho like this will teach you the importance of proper measurements.
Because even with a loose-fitting top like this, the right measurements make all the difference.
Okay… admittedly this isn't the easiest project in the world.
But what better way to get into sewing than sewing something fun and packed with color?
If ponchos teach you to measure twice and cut once, this Eureka Tee Patchwork Map will teach you to measure, measure, and measure again!
The design itself is quite simple.
However, patching together different types of fabrics will present you with a worthy challenge.
Not only does this top have a unique design that's sure to WOW your friends, but it's also a very fun project to put your skills to the test.
Eureka tops are simple, stylish, and really a staple for our wardrobes.
However, instead of just sewing a simple Eureka top, why not add a little more style to it?
This divided Eureka top adds another challenge when it comes to sewing — dealing with curves.
Sewing this divided Eureka top also tests your attention to detail. While sewing this, I actually cut my pieces on the WRONG side of the fabric!
So be sure to double-check everything and make sure your cuts and curves are all set properly.
Another super simple sewing project you can take on is sewing a vest!
Vests are interesting because while they're pretty easy to sew all around, getting the arm holes right can be a challenge for new sewists.
This project also has a button on it.
Just one button, but it's enough to get you familiar with how to add buttons properly to clothing.
#6: West End Pants
If you're going to be a great sewist, you'll need to learn how to sew all types of clothing.
So if you're going for bottoms, a great place to start is with these west-end pants.
These wide-legged pants are one of the easier types of pants to sew.
Also, these pants in particular have pockets on them. So if you've never sewn pockets before, this is the perfect piece to learn.
#7: Hollywood Pants
If those West End pants aren't for you, why not go for something that's super popular in the most popular place on earth?
The stars of Hollywood (from the classic Katherine Hepburn all the way to Jennifer Lopez) always show up wearing this style of pants every now and then, so why not learn how to sew one?
These simple yet stylish pants will also teach you how to double-pleat — a skill you'll find very useful in your sewing adventure.
So we've looked at tote bags, tops, and bottoms, but now let's turn our attention to dresses.
Dresses are definitely a big challenge for any novice sewist.
There are so many measurements, curves, and folds that you need to be aware of to create a coherent and beautiful piece.
But if you're up for the challenge, this cityscape dress is a great place to start.
It's simple, and elegant, and will really teach you the fundamentals of putting a dress together from scratch.
#9: Marceau Dress
If "simple" and "elegant" aren't your thing, you can also go for this vibrant and stylish Marceau dress.
Now, admittedly, this isn't the easiest project to put together.
But if you take all the skills you've learned from above, you'll find this a very rewarding dress to sew yourself.
Next… this super cool jacket that I've copied from Pinterest!
This is a super cool project to work on because it's not just about sewing a jacket from scratch.
Do you see those circles imitating eyes (or are they suns?) all around?
Those are patches that you work into your jacket.
Everything from sewing the jacket, choosing your patchwork, and throwing it all together makes this an extremely fun project that even beginners can try for themselves!
#11: Standard Eureka Top
Things don't get much easier than this!
The standard Eurka top is something everyone needs in their wardrobe. It's a versatile piee that goes well with a lot of different styles.
The best part?
It's super easy to sew.
In fact, it's something that almost everyone should sew at least once in their life.
#12: Hudson Pants
Here's another piece that every sewist must try at least once: the Hudson Pants!
This is another great project to take on to learn the fundamentals of sewing.
It's simple, elegant, and a versatile piece that goes well with a bunch of different tops.
#13: Liberty Shirt
At first glance, this might seem like a pretty ordinary top.
However, for beginner sewists, this project is a great way to practice collars, diagonal side seams, and set-in sleeves with vent openings.
There are also buttons, something that can prove to be tricky for beginners.
#14: London Shirt
Looking for a different design from the Liberty shirt?
This London shirt will do the trick!
Sewing a London shirt will teach you the same fundamental skills that sewing the Liberty shirt does. The main difference is that the London shirt is loose-fitting.
That's why you can pick and choose which one you'd like to work on.
#15: Mix It Tank
Sometimes, the best way to get started is to just sew up something SO easy that it's hard to go wrong.
Well… that's exactly what this Mix It tank can do for you.
This is a great way to get hands-on without worrying so much about mistakes.
And when it's done, you can be proud of your work — a great way to get your sewing journey up and running.
#16: Now & Zen
These are actually two shirts with very similar designs.
However, by sewing both the Now shirt and the Zen shirt, you'll discover how small differences can make a big impact on the overall look.
That's why sewing both of these shirts is a great way to learn the intricacies of a design.
Also, by sewing two shirts, you'll get more practice in and refine your skills even more.
#17: Splice Top
Another simple but fashionable design you can go for is the splice top.
This is not only super easy to sew, but it's also more stylish than basic tops.
So if you're not looking to sew something ordinary, why not add a little splice to things?
#18: eSkirt
Skirts are one of the best projects for new sewists to work on because of how easy they are to put together.
And this particular eSkirt is not only easy… but looks amazing as well!
It's a line-wrap skirt with velcro closures that can be a great addition to your wardrobe.
#19: eDress
If you're not content with just a skirt, why not go ahead and turn it into a dress?
This scoop-necked eDress is a great beginner-friendly project to add to your to-sew list.
It's classic, it's cool, and the band at the hem gives it a unique look.
Also, you can easily turn this eDress into a skirt.
#20: High Five Jacket
Another super easy project to get your sewing "career" up and running is this High Five jacket.
This easy-fit jacket looks fancy, but in terms of sewing, it's quite straightforward — perfect for someone learning the ropes!
Plus, who wouldn't want to wear something as cool as this?
#21: eShrug
Want to learn how to work waves into clothing?
Well… this eShrug will teach you exactly that.
By taking this project on, you'll learn how to measure and sew fabric to create these lovely waves.
#22: Chesney Pants
Another really simple but stylish bottom you can go for is these Chesney pants.
This is a straight-legged, high-ankle pants with an elastic waistband and side pockets.
Cool, casual, and great for sharpening your sewing skills!
#23: Nine Lives Vest
Here's a fun project you can work on…
The Nine Lives vest is all about asymmetry.
If you're an artistic type who gets bored of straight lines and uniform sides, this might be your cup of tea.
Using four pattern pieces, differing shoulder lengths, a standup collar and a diagonal hem — this project is definitely a fun one!
#24: Gardenia Dress
Colorful, loose-fitting, and stylish — this Gardenia dress is a great addition to any wardrobe.
Sewing this project will also teach you how to add pretty ties to the dress that don't go all the way around.
Definitely a fun and beginner-friendly project to try out.
#25: Plaza Jacket
Probably one of the easiest jackets you can ever sew is the Plaza Jacket.
It's loose-fitting, doesn't have any buttons or zippers, and goes well with just about any other top.
For beginners, getting this project done can also be a big confidence boost for you to try other more complicated stuff next!
#26: Tamari Apron
Aprons are incredibly easy to sew.
So instead of doing a basic apron, why not add a little style to it?
This Tamari apron is the perfect mix of simplicity, functionality, and style.
Plus, it's so easy to sew — it's hard to go wrong with this one.
#27: eJacket
Another super easy jacket you can go for is this eJacket.
This semi-fitted jacket is nice in and of itself, but there are also several optional details (like sleeve seams or a front tie) you can add to further improve your sewing skills.
#28: Provence Tote Bag
We started with a tote bag, so let's end with a tote bag as well!
This Provence tote bag is, as all tote bags are, incredibly easy to make.
The type of fabric you use plays a huge role in tote bags. For this one, you'll want to use medium to heavy-weight fabric like cotton, linen, vintage novelties, coated fabrics, leather, faux leather, or wool melton.
Once you have the right fabric, you can sew up this tote bag with ease.
Conclusion
And those are 28 beginner-friendly projects you can try for yourself.
So go ahead… pick your favorite design and start sewing away!
Then, once you've gotten a hang of things, you can always come back to this list and try different colors, and fabrics, and you can even try to add your own modifications.
All in all, if you want to get good at sewing, it's all about starting.
Also, if you'd like to learn more about sewing, tune in to our live workshops every Tuesday at 11:00 am CDT!
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