60+ sewing projects you can make without a pattern
Tutorial: Basic Tank Top (how to pattern and sew)
This tutorial will walk you through how to make a sewing pattern for a basic tank top based on your own personal measurements. This is nothing fancy, it’s just a great way to get started gaining some confidence as you start making your own sewing patterns. Follow the steps below…
Tutorial: Easy Basic No-Sleeve T-shirt (pattern and sewing tutorial)
If you’re ready to start making your own custom sewing patterns, a basic T-shirt is a great place to start. Because sleeves are one of the most difficult parts of pattern-making, this beginner tutorial leaves that part out by combining a dropped sleeve to the bodice. I’ll walk you through…
Tutorial: Camisole with Knit Fabric (pattern and sewing tutorial)
Making your own clothes is not as difficult as you think. I’m the kind of person who wears a cami as an undershirt pretty much every day. Of course, that meant I needed to figure out how to sew my own. This tutorial will walk you through how to take…
Tutorial: DIY Reversible Bandeau
Bandeau tops are great for those extra hot summer days. I’ll show you how to make a basic elastic bandeau that is also reversible, so you can use two of your favorite fabrics. You can also use this tutorial to make a swimsuit top, making the reverse side of the…
Tutorial: Easy Harem Pants
Harem pants are super comfortable and easy to make. I like to wear them as pajama pants all summer long, but they are versatile and can be dressed up or down however you like. You can print out the pattern using the link below, or use your own measurements to…
Tutorial: Easy 3/4 Flowy Pants With an Elastic Waist
Learn how to make a super quick and easy pair of elastic waist pants. I made this pattern to be a 3/4 length pant, but please lengthen or shorten them to whatever length you want. You can print out the pattern below, or create your own pattern based on your…
Tutorial: Easy Loose Tie-on Pants with Pockets
This tutorial will show you how to make loose tie-on pants. This is meant to be the perfect tutorial for someone who is making a pair of pants from scratch for the first time since it leaves a lot of room for mistakes. I’ll show you how to make the…
Tutorial: Empire Waist Skirt With an Elastic Back
This tutorial will show you how to use your own measurements to create an empire-waist skirt that has an elastic back. This is my first time making a fitted clothing sewing pattern, so at this point I don’t know to create the pattern in different sizes. Instead, I’ll walk you…
Tutorial: Scrap Fabric Apron
This tutorial will walk you through how to make a fun and colorful apron using leftover scraps of fabric. We’ll sew the scraps together into a collage and then cut out and construct the apron. Print out the free pattern below and follow along with the step-by-step instructions. Supplies Needed:…
Tutorial: Wrap Tie Shirt with 1 Yard or Less
This tutorial will walk you through how to turn one yard of fabric into a cute wrap top. The shirt will be more-or-less shaped like a rectangle with ties to wrap in around the front and back of your body. I’ll show you how to make a basic neckline pattern,…
Tutorial: Easy Wrap Skirt
This tutorial will teach you how to make a simple gathered wrap skirt with a wide waistband. You can use a single length of fabric for this, or you can sew a bunch of scraps together for a completely unique skirt. I’m using a yard and a half of fabric…
Tutorial: Upcycle old Maternity Jeans into New Jeans
Learn how to upcycle your old maternity jeans into a new pair of jeans that will fit you today. You’ll need to deconstruct your pants by opening the seams and taking off all the pieces, cutting your new center seam, and then reconstructing your pants. Supplies Needed: Step 1 Deconstruct…
Tutorial: Turning Scraps into Usable Yards of Fabric
Turn your old scraps into a new yard of fabric! Sometimes I like to use my color coordinated scraps to create big collages. I’ll sew them all together to make a yard of fabric that I can use for other projects. This a great way to reuse those leftover scraps,…
Tutorial: Lightweight Harem Pants with an Elastic Waist
Learn how to stitch together a unique pair of lightweight breezy pants using large rectangles of fabric. They’ll have an easy elastic waist and elastic cuffs. You can also add a pop of color or contrast fabric to the center of the pants, or just use the same fabric throughout….
Tutorial: Simple Jacket Using Only Rectangles
Use big rectangles of fabric to create a new loose jacket design. I’ll walk you through how to create your own jacket pattern based on your measurements, and how to sew everything together. I recommend creating your paper pattern first before cutting anything out (I’ll walk you through how to…
Tutorial: Easy Flowy Circle Shirt
You’ve heard of a circle skirt, but what about a circle shirt!? I decided to try to make one. I’ll walk you through my process below and show you how to create your own pattern that you can use to make your own full circle shirt with a belt. I…
Tutorial: Reusable Bowl Covers that Fit Perfectly
Ready to stop using plastic wrap for covering leftover? You can make some reusable and washable bowl covers for easy kitchen storage. You can make these with any sized bowl, big or small, and all you need are some fabric remnants, some single fold bias tape, and elastic. Supplies Needed:…
Tutorial: Draft Stopper Door stop With Fabric Scraps
Learn how to make an easy DIY door draft stopper using only scraps of fabric. This is a simple way to use up scraps of fabric while also making something that’s actually useful. There is no pattern for this one because it depends on the width of your door, so…
Tutorial: Upcycle An Old T-shirt Into a Pet Bed
Learn how to turn that old, worn out T-shirt into a pet bed. I’ll be honest, this doesn’t make the prettiest of pet beds, but it’s functional. It’s a way to upcycle an old T-shirt into something that can actually be useful. While your at it, you can also use…
Tutorial: Upcycle a T-shirt into an Infinity Scarf
Looking for an easy upcycle project? It doesn’t get simpler than this T-shirt scarf tutorial. In less than 10 minutes you can turn an old T-shirt into an new infinity scarf for you (or your kids). This tutorial works best with large or very stretchy T-shirts. Supplies Needed: Step 1…
Tutorial: Infinity Scarf Made from Flannel Scraps
If you want to find a use for some of those scraps you have from other projects, try making this unique infinity scarf. Flannel scraps, in particular, are perfect for this because they are cozy and fabric tends to be fairly flexible, but you can also use similar types of…
Tutorial: Unique Summer Shawl Using Fabric Scraps
Use those leftover rayon, chiffon, voile, and lightweight fabric scraps to make a new shawl that shows off your unique creativity. I’ll walk you through how to sew your scraps into a collage using durable seams that will turn your old scraps into something new. I recommend using a microtex…
Tutorial: How to Make a Fringe on a Scarf
This tutorial will quickly show you how to make a scarf with fringed ends. This will not work with fleece fabric, but flannel or other types of woven fabrics will work. Basically, if it’s a fabric that frays, this technique will work. Start by cutting a long length of the…
Tutorial: Fun “Feather” Scarf With Fleece Scraps
This tutorial will walk you through how to make a “feather” scarf with fleece fabric. I designed this to use up all the odd-shaped leftover pieces of fleece fabric I have leftover from all of my other projects. The end result is a colorful feather-like scarf to show your own…
Tutorial: Easy Lanyard Using a Pair of Old Jeans
In this quick and easy tutorial, I’ll show you how to upcycle the seam of an old pair of jeans into a new lanyard you can use as a keychain. The seam of jeans tends to be the most durable part, so even when your pants are all worn out…
Tutorial: Jeans Pocket Coin Purse
Learn how to make a simple coin purse by using the pockets from an old pair of jeans. This is a simple tutorial that you can easily complete in less than an hour and is a great way to upcycle a pair of jeans that’s too worn out to wear…
Tutorial: Upcycled Denim Jeans Crossbody Purse
This tutorial will show you how to turn an old pair of jeans into a unique and creative crossbody bag. You’ll use the front and back of one leg of your jeans, using the pockets for the bag design. This is a whimsical way to upcycle an old pair of…
Tutorial: Large Denim Totebag With Old Jeans
Learn how to upcycle old pairs of jeans into a large tote bag. You can use the pockets of your jeans as pockets in the bag and any rips in your jeans can add a little extra character to the bag too. Just be ready to cut up a couple…
Tutorial: Reusable Shopping Bag Using Old Jeans
This is a quick tutorial to show you how to turn an old pair of jeans into a reusable shopping bag. You can check out the free pattern below that was made to work with an average pair of jeans (jeans with narrow legs will be too small though). Just…
Tutorial: Upcycled Denim Drawstring Tote
Learn how to make a quick drawstring backpack using the legs of an old pair of jeans. This is a great way to upcycle your old pants to make something new and useful! Simply follow along with the step-by-step instructions, and you’ll have a new bag in an hour or…
Tutorial: Upcycled Denim Flowers
If you’re short like me and always need to hem your pants, you can use this tutorial to make cute little flowers out of the length you cut off instead of throwing it out. It’s a cute and simple way to use up that little bit of leftover fabric. Supplies…
Tutorial: Easy Denim Belt
This quick tutorial will walk you through how to make a simple tie-on belt using an old pair of jeans. You can check out the pattern for this below and lengthen or shorten it depending on the size of your waist. The final belt should be the measurement around your…
Tutorial: Upcycled Jeans Butt Pillow
This tutorial will show you how to turn your old worn out pair of jeans into a silly butt pillow to decorate your home. This is a great way to upcycle an old pair of pants and give them a new life. Simply follow along with the step-by-step instructions, and…
Tutorial: 1-Yard Summer Shawl
This tutorial will show you how to make a breezy summer shawl using only 1 yard of fabric. I used a transparent chiffon material for this, but anything lightweight will do, it doesn’t have to be see through. I’ll walk you through how to create French seams to reinforce the…
Tutorial: Bat Wings Cape for Halloween
This tutorial will walk you through how to make a bat cape for a Halloween Costume. This arm cape is meant to look like bat wings if you raise your arms and can be used for both kids and adult costumes. You can use the free pattern provided or adjust…
Tutorial: Easy Flannel Infinity Scarf
Learn how to make a basic flannel infinity scarf in just 3 steps. This is an super easy project that is perfect for beginner sewists who want to make something that they can actually wear in their daily life this autumn. It’s also great for using up any leftover remnants…
Tutorial: No-Sew Princess Tutu with Tulle
This is a super simple tulle tutu tutorial to teach you how to make a quick tutu for a Halloween costume (or to feel like a princess for the day). You can use the step-by-step instructions to make a tutu for a kid’s costume or an adult; either way, it’s…
Tutorial: Easy Flannel Poncho with 1-Yard of Fabric
This is a super simple tutorial that will walk you through step-by-step how to make a basic poncho with only 1 yard of fabric. It works best with something cozy, such as flannel, but can be made with a wide variety of medium-weight fabrics. I included a free pattern you…
Tutorial: The Simplest Scrunchie
Scrunchies are a great project for using up leftover remnants of fabric. All you need is a long strip of fabric and a little bit of elastic, and you can easily create these useful hair accessories. They are also great for adding to goody bags for kids’ birthdays. Check out…
Tutorial: The Perfect Scrappy Rainbow Pillow (it’s easier than you think!)
Learn how to make a cool scrap rainbow pillow. It may look complicated, but this is actually a very simple pillow and an easy way to use up fabric scraps from other sewing projects (or you can upcycle old pieces of clothing you never wear anymore). I’ll teach you how…
Tutorial: Quirky Shirt Pillow Idea
If you have an old or worn out button-up shirt, you can easily turn it into a funny throw pillow to decorate your space. This is a very simple sewing project that’s great for beginners. I made this for a 14″ square pillow, but you can also follow the instruction…
Tutorial: Easy Pillowcase with Fabric Scraps
If you have a bunch of medium-sized fabric scraps and remnants available, this scrap pillowcase project is perfect for you. It’s a simple way to use up those scraps by making something that you can actually use every day. I recommend choosing some softer fabrics for this so that it…
Tutorial: Ribbon Leaves for flowers
Learn how to make super simple flower leaves with ribbon using this 10-minute tutorial. All you need is a little strand of ribbon and some needle and thread. This tutorial won’t work well with a super thin ribbon, so you’ll want to use something that is about 1/2 inch or…
Tutorial: Simple Tulip Ribbon Flower
Learn how to make an easy ribbon tulip using this simple 10-minute tutorial. All you need is one strand of ribbon that is about a foot long and some hand-sewing needle and thread. This tutorial won’t work well with a super thin ribbon, so you’ll want to use something that…
Tutorial: Easy Ribbon Flower With One Piece of Ribbon
Learn how to make an easy ribbon flower using this simple 10-minute tutorial. All you need is one strand of ribbon that is about 10″ to 12″ long and some hand-sewing needle and thread. This tutorial won’t work well with a super thin ribbon, but anything about one inch or…
Tutorial: How to Make Cute Flower Accessories With Buttons
This quick tutorial will teach you how to make an easy petaled flower using scraps of fabric and a cute little button. These quick flowers are great for decorations that give your home or outfit a touch of spring, or you can use them to create simple hair clips, headbands,…
Tutorial: How to Make a Lanyard with Fabric Scraps
Trying to figure out what to do with those small pieces of leftover scrap fabric? Try making a scrap lanyard. It’s really quite simple to make, and lanyards are really great for helping you keep track of your keys, or making sure no one runs away with your wallet. Pick…
Tutorial: How to Make a Simple Braided Rose with Ribbon
This is a very simple tutorial to make a little rose hair clip by braiding some leftover ribbon. The ribbons you use should be approximately the same length, but it’s okay if they are different widths. What ever you have leftover from other projects will probably work just fine. I…
Tutorial: Simple Fabric Flowers Using Circles
These super simple flowers are made using circles of lightweight fabric scraps that you fold and gather to create cute little flowers. The pattern I included uses circles that are 3 inches in diameter, but you can adjust the size of your circle to make your flowers bigger or smaller,…
Tutorial: Simple Fabric Flowers Using Knit Scraps
This tutorial walks you through how to make easy flowers using knit fabric. You’ll create a double layer flower using semi-circles for the petals. The pattern below uses is a circle that’s 2 inches in diameter, but you can also create these flowers with slightly bigger circles and have a…
Tutorial: How to Make a Simple Braided Headband With Fabric Scraps
Learn how to make a quick braided headband using leftover scraps of knit fabric. These instructions will go over how to braid 5 strands together, but you can use as many as you like. If you have old T-shirts or similar types of clothing that you don’t plan on wearing…
Tutorial: How to Make a Braided Headband with Leftover Bias Tape
If you have any leftover bias tape or ribbon, you can easily use them to create a cute braided headband. I’m all about finding uses for fabric scraps and leftover notions, so I thought this headband would be a fun idea, and I absolutely love the results. I’ll walk you…
Tutorial: How to Make a No-SEW Handkerchief Purse
This quick tutorial will teach you how to tie a scarf or shawl into a cute, little handbag. No sewing supplies are necessary for this bag. All you need is something to use as a handle! Supplies Needed: Step 1 loop corner of fabric over the front and out the…
Tutorial: How to Make a Simple Reversible Scarf
This is a super simple fabric scarf tutorial that’s also reversible. I made the pattern so that all you need is 1/4 yard of your two different fabrics and some basic sewing supplies. So mix and match some cute fleece materials to make your own cozy winter scarf (you can…
Tutorial: How to Make a Lightweight Summer Infinity Scarf
This is a quick step-by-step tutorial that teaches you how to make a lightweight infinity scarf. I designed this pattern to use only 1/4 yard of fabric (60″ width), so if you have any leftover from another project, this is the perfect scarf to make. I’ll also walk you through…
Tutorial: How to Make a Flannel Scarf with Scraps of Fabric
If you have a bunch of flannel scraps leftover from other projects, you can easily combine them to create a cool-looking scrap scarf. This simple tutorial will walk you through how to sew your scraps together for a durable finish. You can use the pattern below for a scarf that’s…
Tutorial: How to Make a Fabric Buckle Belt with Scraps
I love making accessories with leftover fabric scraps. Not only does this reduce the amount of waste from my sewing hobby, but it also means I end up with a lot of truly unique creations. So buckle in and get ready to make your own belt, with a buckle, eyelets…
Tutorial: How to Make a Braided Belt with Leftover Bias Tape
Looking to do something with that leftover bias tape? Why not try braiding it into a cute belt? I’m all about finding uses for fabric scraps and leftover notions, so I thought this belt would be a fun idea, and I absolutely love the results. If you like how it…
Tutorial: How to Make a Reversible D-Ring Belt (with Scraps)
D-ring belts are easy since you don’t need to figure out how to make eyelets or use a pronged belt buckle. So why not challenge yourself to make a reversible belt using only leftover scraps of material. You will have a truly unique creation that is two belts in one….
Tutorial: How to Make a Round Pillow With Leftover Scraps
If you have a bunch of random scraps, you can use them to create a truly unique pillow. In this tutorial I’ll go over the steps I use to create a round pillowcase without using any kind of color blocking pattern. Supplies Needed: Step 1 Make a circle for your…
Tutorial: How to Sew a Belt Buckle
This tutorial will teach you how to attach a belt buckle with a prong to a belt. You don’t need any special equipment for this tutorial and it’s great for beginners or people with any amount of sewing experience. This is mainly meant to attach buckles to DIY fabric belts,…
