Sewing Pattern for Beginners: Recreating Ready-to-Wear Looks

Earlier this spring, I challenged myself, Jenni (my right-hand woman), and our social media manager, Marissa to each recreate a ready-to-wear (RTW) outfit from a previous video where I paired spring looks with sewing patterns and fabrics. It was such a fun creative project, and I’m so excited to finally share the results with you—even if I was the one holding us up (oops!).

The best part? All the patterns we used are beginner-friendly. If you’ve been itching to try your hand at sewing garments but aren’t sure where to start, these looks are perfect inspiration. They’re stylish, wearable, and approachable—exactly what you want in a sewing pattern for beginners.  You can watch the video here:

Marissa’s Athleisure Look

Marissa works remotely, but she’s still a big part of our sewing crew. For her RTW recreation, she went with a cozy-yet-polished athleisure outfit inspired by one of her favorite brands, Beyond Yoga. As a mom to a three-year-old and a one-year-old, this look had to be functional, comfortable, and still feel pulled together.

Here’s what she used:

• Top: Greenstyle Bobby Brami – A sports bra-meets-cami with beautiful lines and built-in support.
• Bottoms: Greenstyle Brooklyn Joggers – A great jogger pattern with a comfy fit.

She made both pieces in Greenstyle’s Brushed Yoga Fabric in Ocean Teal—a lovely color that’s both flattering and on-trend. Marissa is 5’1” and made a size D in the Brami (though she said she’d size up to an E next time for a bit more ease). For the joggers, she went with a size E and shortened the pants by 3 inches to match her petite frame. She totally duplicated the look, and it’s a great example of how accessible and rewarding sewing can be—even with a busy life.

Jenni’s Denim Skirt Look

Next up is Jenni—and she absolutely nailed her classic spring look! This one features a lightweight sweater paired with a button-front denim skirt. While the sweater leans into spring, the skirt is a wardrobe staple that can transition easily into summer. Picture it with a tank and sandals, and you’re good to go!

Here’s how it came together:

• Pattern: True Bias Blair Skirt (midi length, no adjustments needed)
• Fabric: Medium-weight denim in the lighter wash
• Extras: Jean tack buttons from Wawak, pink shoes instead of red (adorable!)

Jenni sewed most of the skirt on my Bernina 330, a basic but solid classroom-style machine, because her craft machine couldn’t quite handle the denim. And she did an amazing job—even sewing the buttonholes herself!

A few learning moments came up:

• She lined her pocket bags with Liberty scraps but later wished she’d used chambray scraps from my stash to avoid visible contrast when topstitched.
• Her belt loops are slightly misaligned because one got attached at a dart instead of the side seam. (Recovering perfectionist problems!) We had a great chat about how imperfections like that are part of the process—and most people will never notice.

Quick Tips for Sewing with Denim:

• Trim seam allowances inside the waistband to avoid thick spots that jam your buttonhole foot.
• Use a wooden or rubber mallet to flatten bulky seams before topstitching. It makes everything smoother—literally!

I’m so proud of how far Jenni has come—she started sewing with my Introduction to Garment Sewing class, and now look at her! A perfect example of what’s possible with a good sewing pattern for beginners and a willingness to try.

Whitney’s Embroidered Bubble Sleeve Top

And finally, I am wrapping things up with my own recreation! I absolutely loved this top from the moment I saw it. It was simple but impactful: the contrast between the check and floral sleeves, the statement embroidery, the dramatic sleeves—it all spoke to me. I found a similar check fabric at Stylemaker Fabrics. It has since sold out, but I’ve linked a great alternative HERE.

The check is a woven cotton poplin, which gave me a built-in grid—perfect for helping a beginner like me place embroidery accurately. While the original RTW had a ruffle neckline, I skipped that detail to better suit my shorter neck. I originally planned to hack a pattern for this, but Jenni suggested the Pattern Emporium Sweet Talker Bubble Sleeve Top* and it was a perfect match—no hacking needed! I used the shortest length, sized down the hem another 2", and selected the highest neckline option to mirror the original design.

The star of the show here? The bubble sleeves and embroidery. The sleeve is made with an outer and inner layer joined with elastic to create that full, puffy effect. I used a Bernina 790 Pro on loan from University of Sewing (along with its embroidery module), and created the motif using the Cinco Flores file from OESD. With YouTube membership community watching closely, I figured out motif placement, balanced the sleeves symmetrically, and made this shirt truly mine. The embroidery took around 6 to 8 hours over four days, mostly due to frequent color changes.

This top turned out to be such a joyful make. It reminds me exactly why I sew: to create something eye-catching and unique that no one else has. I’m hooked on embroidery now and already dreaming up future projects—perhaps a dress hem or a neckline next?

Why These Patterns Work for Beginners:

Here’s why these are great sewing patterns for beginners:

• Clear instructions: Greenstyle, True Bias and Pattern Emporium patterns are known for great instructions and helpful illustrations.
• Minimal fitting fuss: Knit fabrics, cotton woven, and demin are beginner-friendly and forgiving.
• Quick to sew: These patterns come together fast—even for those new to garment sewing.

If you're just getting into sewing clothes and want a project that looks amazing but won’t overwhelm you, these are fantastic places to start.

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