Sew Your Dream Summer Wardrobe with Beginner-Friendly Patterns

Our garment and sewing books feature simple instructions, contemporary designs, and inspirational photography to help you create brand-new (and refashioned) pieces you’ll love. Whether your style is retro or hip, city or country, flipping through these books is bound to inspire you to break out your sewing machine (or simply needles and thread) and get stitching!

In this post, we're hand-picking patterns and projects bound to help you sew the perfect summer wardrobe.

1. Mia Vest from Reclaimed Quilts, Sew Modern Clothing & Accessories from Vintage Textiles by Kathleen McVeigh and Dale Donaldson

Seasonless, versatile, and the perfect way to add extra visual interest to any outfit, the Mia Vest is one of the authors' favorite patterns to warm up with before heading into more complicated coat sewing patterns. Its cropped and sleeveless design makes it an excellent way to utilize a smaller baby quilt or larger scraps while still being able to create something wearable.

To share your project, use #miaquiltedvest.

2. Contrast Layer A-Line Skirt from Make Your First A-Line Skirt by Jona Giammalva

You can use large fabric scraps and mix it up like crazy. Each tier is a different fabric, and the thin bias strips between the layers add a dramatic punch. The ruffle at the bottom is small but significant. This version ends above the knee, but you can make as many layers as you like.

3. The Jérémie Shorts from Creating with African Wax Fabric by Marion Costamagna

These simple short-shorts have attention to detail: piping at the pockets, pleats for a slight balloon look, and an exposed zipper on the back.

4. A-Line Strap Dress and Top from Stylehacking, Sew a Creative Wardrobe by Karoline Dahrling Hughes

Flowing with movement, the dress and top are best made with lightweight woven fabrics like cotton, viscose, satin, or silk. Playful and fun, these pieces are bound to become a treasured part of your summer attire.

5. T-Shirt & Scrunchie from Professor Pincushion's Beginner Guide to Sewing by Tova Opatrny

When in doubt, a t-shirt and bottoms are a summer go-to, whether you mix it up with a flowy skirt, breezy trousers, or some fun patterned shorts. And don't forget, making a scrunchie is the perfect way to use up those fabric scraps!

This one's for the beginners embarking on their garment-sewing journey! Professor Pincushion's Beginner Guide to Sewing is part textbook, part how-to, and all cheeky fun. Perfect for anyone interested in learning how to make clothes, the book assumes the reader has no sewing experience and breaks everything down to its simplest form, making it easy for anyone to follow along.

With these patterns and styles, you can create a summer wardrobe that perfectly matches your fashion sense! Start stitching this summer and flaunt your unique style!