The short version: Mood Fabrics, Peppermint Magazine, Tilly and the Buttons, fabric brand websites and sewing pattern libraries like LoveCrafts all offer free sewing patterns in 2026. Mood has the widest free range for garments, and whichever you choose, print at actual size and check the test square first.
Free PDF sewing patterns have made dressmaking far more accessible. You download a file, print it at home or at a print shop, tape it together and cut. The catch is that a pattern printed even slightly too small or too big will ruin the fit, and some free patterns come with rules about how you can use them that are easy to miss.
Five places to find sewing patterns
In no particular order:
- Mood Fabrics: best for a wide range of free garment patterns, from dresses to menswear and suiting.
- Peppermint Magazine: best for modern, indie-designed patterns, with a small number still free.
- Tilly and the Buttons: best for small free projects and add-ons to its own patterns.
- LoveCrafts: best for browsing sewing patterns alongside yarn and craft supplies.
- Fabric brand websites: best for simple projects designed around a specific fabric line.
Sewing pattern sources side by side
| Source | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Mood Fabrics | Free garment range | Sorted by dresses, shirts, trousers, swimwear and more |
| Peppermint Magazine | Indie designs | Most patterns are no longer free, a few still are |
| Tilly and the Buttons | Small makes and add-ons | Some free files extend a pattern you'd need already |
| LoveCrafts | One-stop browsing | Check each pattern's format and sizing |
| Fabric brand sites | Quick projects | Often written for one fabric collection |
Free ranges change, so check the pattern page for format and terms before you print.
Mood, Peppermint and Tilly in more detail
Mood Fabrics has the most complete free garment library of the three. Its free sewing patterns are grouped into dresses, shirts and blouses, trousers and shorts, skirts, jumpsuits and bodysuits, swimwear, lingerie and sleepwear, suiting and menswear. That spread is unusual for free patterns, which often stop at tote bags and skirts.
Peppermint Magazine is honest about how its model changed. Its sewing FAQ explains that it offered most of its patterns free for many years, then moved most of them away from free, and that a small number of patterns are still free. When you download a free one, you're also signed up to its sewing newsletter, which you can leave at any time. Most of its patterns print on A4 or US Letter, and most recent ones also come with an A0 version for printing at a copy shop.
Tilly and the Buttons has a free PDF sewing patterns collection with small, satisfying makes like an eye mask and slipper boots. Look closely, though, and some of the free files are add-ons, such as hip pockets or a long sleeve and cuff, designed to extend one of its full patterns. They're free, but only useful if you've got the main pattern.
Fabric brand websites round things out. They're rarely the place for a fitted dress, but they're good for tote bags, cushions, aprons and quick gifts that show off one fabric line. If you're new to sewing, that's no bad thing: a project with straight seams and no fitting lets you learn your machine before you tackle a pattern with darts and a zip. You'll know far more by the time you print your first garment.
The print setting that ruins PDF patterns
Peppermint's FAQ says the most common problem with printing A4 PDF patterns at home is printing at the wrong size. Its advice is to always select Actual Size or scale to 100, and never select scale to fit. If the pattern has a test square, print that page on its own first and measure it before committing to all the pages. It's a two-minute check that saves a whole garment.
The second detail is how you're allowed to use the pattern. Peppermint says its patterns can be used for non-commercial community sewing groups, but not for ticketed sewing workshops, and that copyright stays with Peppermint. If you teach classes, read the terms on every free pattern before you plan a session around it.
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From PDF to fabric
- Download the PDF and open it in a PDF reader rather than a browser preview.
- Set the print scale to Actual Size or 100 and turn off any fit-to-page option.
- Print the page with the test square and measure it.
- Print the rest only once the square is exact.
- Trim and tape the pages in the order the layout guide shows.
- Trace your size onto pattern paper, so you can use the print again in another size.
First makes, gifts and sewing groups
Free patterns are perfect for a first skirt, a quick gift or a community sewing group. Many sewists collect ideas visually, and my piece on why Pinterest suits artists and creatives explains why it works so well for makers. If you design your own pieces and want to list them, my roundup of Etsy alternatives is worth a look, but don't list garments made from patterns whose terms rule that out.
My advice: start with Mood for range, print at actual size every single time, and read the terms before you teach or share. A free pattern still deserves your best fabric and your full attention.
Run a free sewing pattern site that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get free sewing patterns?
Mood Fabrics has a wide range of free garment patterns, and Peppermint Magazine and Tilly and the Buttons each offer a smaller selection of free PDF patterns.
Why is my printed sewing pattern the wrong size?
Usually because the printer scaled it. Peppermint advises always choosing Actual Size or scale to 100, never scale to fit, and printing the test square first to check it.
Can I print free sewing patterns at a copy shop?
Yes. Peppermint says most of its recent patterns come with an A0 version for large-scale printing at a copy shop.
Are Peppermint sewing patterns still free?
Peppermint says most of its patterns are no longer free, but a small number still are.
Can I use free sewing patterns to teach a class?
Check each pattern's terms. Peppermint allows non-commercial community sewing groups, but not ticketed sewing workshops.
