Sewing Resources

The sewing community's best resources — forums, classes, YouTube channels, podcasts, pattern databases, apps, books, events, and more.

Communities & Forums

Where sewists gather to share makes, ask questions, and help each other. These are the most active communities online.

r/sewing

The largest sewing community on the internet. 2.1M+ members covering machine sewing, embroidery, quilting, hand sewing, and garment construction.

2.1M+ members

r/SewingForBeginners

Welcoming community for learning to sew — questions, progress posts, and encouragement. 209K+ members.

r/quilting

Dedicated quilting community for project sharing, help, and discussion.

PatternReview

The longest-running sewing community. Thousands of honest pattern reviews, sewing machine reviews, online contests, and active forums. The gold standard.

Gold standard for reviews

Textillia

Crowdsourced database of patterns, fabrics, and resources — the closest thing to Ravelry for sewing. Search patterns by garment characteristics.

The Fold Line

Pattern reviews, sewing news, community forum, and a large indie pattern database. Great for discovering new pattern companies.

Threadloop

International

Community-driven sewing pattern database with 89,500+ patterns, reviews, and a free app for tracking your fabric and pattern stash.

89,500+ patterns

Sewcialists

International

Global sewing blog and community celebrating diversity and inclusivity in sewing. 12+ years of content and popular sewing challenges.

FreeSewing Discord

International

5,000+ member Discord for the FreeSewing open-source made-to-measure pattern community. Active and welcoming.

Online Classes & Education

Structured sewing education — from free YouTube content to paid courses with lifetime access.

Sewing With Nancy (PBS)

270+ episodes of the longest-running sewing show on television (1982-2017). Nancy Zieman was the Julia Child of sewing. Completely free.

Free — 270+ episodes

Craftsy

Large library of sewing classes from beginner to advanced. $8.99/month or $89.99/year.

Seamwork

Garment-focused classes integrated with patterns. $49/course or $16/month membership includes patterns and the Design Your Wardrobe program.

Closet Core Classes

Specialized classes — jeans construction, tailoring, swimwear, lingerie, and learn-to-sew basics. Self-paced with lifetime access.

WeAllSew (BERNINA)

Free project ideas, patterns, video tutorials, and tips from BERNINA. Brand-agnostic despite the sponsor — genuinely useful content.

Free

Tilly and the Buttons

Award-winning beginner-friendly workshops and tutorials. Known for making sewing feel accessible and fun.

Professor Pincushion

120+ beginner sewing tutorials covering machine setup, pattern interpretation, and construction basics. 500K+ followers.

YouTube Channels

The best sewing content on YouTube — from beginner tutorials to historical costume construction.

WithWendy

Detailed garment sewing tutorials from beginner to advanced. Explains fabric and design choices so you learn why, not just how. 1.45M+ subscribers.

1.45M+ subscribers

Made to Sew

Professional sewing techniques with numbered lessons and close-up shots. Beginner-friendly with chapter markers for easy navigation.

Bernadette Banner

Historical fashion reconstruction, hand-sewing, and period dress analysis. Educational and entertaining. 1M+ subscribers.

Historical sewing

Sewing Therapy

Beautifully filmed projects from planning to final garment. Calming production style that walks through real sewing patterns.

Sew Over It

Tips, tricks, pattern hacks, and reviews from a London-based pattern company and sewing café.

Missouri Star Quilt Co.

The biggest quilting channel on YouTube. 350K+ subscribers. Clear tutorials covering a wide range of quilting styles and techniques.

Biggest quilting channel

Rachel Maksy

Vintage-inspired fashion, cosplay, and budget-friendly makes. Entertaining narrative style.

Podcasts

Sewing podcasts for your commute, cutting table, or pressing station.

Love to Sew

Weekly podcast about making clothes, the sewing community, and small business. One of the most popular sewing podcasts. Interviews with indie designers and inspiring sewists.

Stitch Please

Centres and celebrates Black women in sewing. Hosted by Lisa Woolfork. Winner of 3 Black Podcasting Awards including Podcaster of the Year. 260+ episodes.

Award-winning

Sewing With Threads

Topics important to sewing enthusiasts, from the editors of Threads magazine. Expert guests and deep technical discussion.

Seamwork Radio

Stories about the creativity of sewing and building a handmade wardrobe. From the makers of Seamwork and Colette patterns.

Pattern Databases & Search

Find the right pattern for your project. These databases let you search, compare, and read reviews across hundreds of pattern companies.

PatternReview

The most comprehensive pattern review database. Search by pattern, read sewist reviews with photos, and compare across brands. Also has sewing machine reviews.

Largest review database

Threadloop

International

89,500+ patterns in a community-driven database. Free stash tracking for patterns and fabric.

The Fold Line

Pattern finder focused on indie and modern patterns. Great for discovering new designers.

IndiePatterns

International

Database and marketplace specifically for independent sewing pattern designers.

FreeSewing

International

Free, open-source, made-to-measure patterns. Enter your measurements and get a custom-fit PDF. Active community and Discord.

Free made-to-measure

Apps & Software

Digital tools for pattern management, stash tracking, body measurement, and pattern drafting.

Stash Hub

Digitally store and organise your fabric, patterns, and notions. Magic Mockup visualises projects. Free base tier. iOS, Android, and web.

Free tier available

Seamly2D

Open-source parametric pattern drafting CAD software. Free for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Actively developed.

Free and open source

FreeSewing

International

Input your measurements and auto-generate custom-fit patterns as PDFs. Completely free, open-source, and community-driven.

TailorNova

3D body model customisation with automatic made-to-measure pattern generation. Create designs with your measurements in seconds.

My Body Model

Generate custom fashion croquis based on your actual measurements. See how patterns will look on your body before cutting fabric.

Essential Books

The sewing books that belong on every sewist's shelf. These are the references the community recommends again and again.

The Palmer/Pletsch Complete Guide to Fitting

The definitive fitting reference. Tissue-fitting method with a "wrinkle dictionary" and step-by-step photography. Won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award.

The fitting bible

Patternmaking for Fashion Design

By Helen Joseph-Armstrong. The comprehensive textbook used by fashion design schools worldwide. Covers everything from basic blocks to advanced pattern manipulations.

Industry standard textbook

Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing

One of the most recommended sewing reference books ever published. Covers tools, materials, techniques, and projects with detailed photography.

Classic reference

Metric Pattern Cutting for Women's Wear

By Winifred Aldrich. Detailed metric pattern drafting reference. The UK and European standard for patternmaking.

Events & Retreats

Sewing expos, quilt shows, retreats, and virtual summits. Meet the community in person or join from home.

Sewing & Stitchery Expo

Annual event in Puyallup, WA. The largest annual gathering of the sewing community in the US, running since 1984.

Largest US sewing event

Original Sewing & Quilt Expo

Multi-city touring expo hitting Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, and more in 2026. Hands-on learning, shopping, and inspiration.

QuiltCon

The Modern Quilt Guild's annual event. The largest modern quilting event in the world.

International Quilt Festival (Houston)

The world's largest quilt show. Thousands of quilts, hundreds of classes, and a massive vendor hall.

World's largest quilt show

Camp Workroom Social

Adult sewing retreats in the Catskill Mountains. Summer-camp vibes with meals, lodging, hiking, and focused garment sewing. Shuttle from NYC.

Sewing summer camp for adults

Together We Stitch

International

Virtual sewing expo with 7 days of live education from 14 educators. 7,000+ registered sewists. Pay What You Want pricing.

Virtual — join from anywhere

Me Made May

International

Annual May challenge to wear your handmade garments intentionally. 15+ years running. Massive Instagram participation — personal pledges, not competition.

Adaptive & Inclusive Sewing

Resources for sewing adaptive clothing, size-inclusive patterns, and making garments that work for every body.

Inclusive Sewing

Hub for adaptive sewing resources. 10 designers with adaptive patterns, tips for comfort and access, and guides for inclusive fitting.

Sewn Adaptive

Adaptive patterns designed for comfort and accessibility. Thoughtfully crafted for people with disabilities.

Curvy Sewing Collective

Plus-size sewing community with pattern reviews, fitting tutorials, and body-positive inspiration. 100K+ followers.

100K+ followers

Cashmerette

Sizes 0-32 with cup sizes C-H built in. Patterns designed from scratch for curves — not graded up from straight sizes. No FBA needed.

Plus-size-first design

Twig + Tale Adaptive Resources

The most comprehensive guide to adaptive pattern fitting. Details which patterns can be adapted and exactly how.

Sustainable Sewing

Zero-waste patterns, visible mending, upcycling, and the slow fashion movement.

Birgitta Helmersson

SE/AU

Pioneer of zero-waste home sewing. All garments use 100% of the fabric with no scraps. Patterns and a published book.

Zero-waste pioneer

Visible Mending Programme

NL/UK

Founded by Tom of Holland in 2010 — the person who coined the term "visible mending." Blog, workshops, and commissions.

Started the movement

Peppermint Magazine

Australian publication on style, sustainability, and sewing. Award-winning. Free sewing pattern in each issue. Carbon-neutral printing.

Zero-Waste Pattern Database

Comprehensive database of (almost) every zero-waste sewing pattern available. Invaluable aggregated resource.

Machine Care & Repair

Keep your machine running smoothly. These resources cover everything from basic maintenance to vintage machine restoration.

iFixit — Sewing Machines

Free step-by-step repair instructions, manuals, schematics, and community support from the world's best-known repair platform.

Free repair guides

ISMACS

International

International Sewing Machine Collectors Society. Serial number database, manuals, and the best resource for identifying and dating vintage machines.

Vintage machine authority

Sewing Doc Academy

Courses from basic maintenance and lubrication to vintage machine restoration and rewiring.

Sewing for Good

Organisations that teach sewing skills and create handmade items for people in need.

American Sewing Guild

National organisation with 125+ chapters dedicated to advancing sewing. 150+ online classes, local community service projects, and a youth program.

125+ local chapters

The Sewing Machine Project

Provides sewing tools and education to groups committed to learning new skills. Builds self-confidence and contributes to livelihood.

Project Linus

Provides handmade blankets to children who are ill, traumatised, or in need. One of the most well-known sewing charities.

Quilts of Valor

Awards patriotic quilts to military veterans. A meaningful way to honour service through quilting.

Little Dresses for Africa

Provides dresses for girls and shorts for boys in underserved areas worldwide. Simple patterns anyone can sew.

The Sewing Labs

Connects jobs and generations through community nonprofit sewing. Workforce development through sewing skills.

Know a great resource we're missing? Share it in the community forum.