Welcome to SewIndie
SewIndie brings sewing patterns from independent designers together in one searchable place. Instead of hopping between dozens of shops, you can search by garment, fabric, audience, or designer. Then save what catches your eye and buy directly from the designer.
Browsing is open to everyone. A free account adds the personal tools: favorites, ratings, and collections. This guide covers both.
Setting up your account
- Go to Create account and enter your name, email, a username, and a password.
- Check your inbox for a verification email and click the link to activate your account. Can't find it? Look in spam, or try logging in to resend it.
- Log in, and you're ready to start saving patterns.
Searching for patterns
The Patterns page is the heart of SewIndie. Type in the search box to look for a pattern by name, or narrow the whole catalog with the filters:
- Category
- The type of garment or project, like dresses, tops, or bags.
- Attribute
- Design details such as pockets, sleeves, or closures.
- Format
- How the pattern is delivered, for example PDF, print-at-home, or paper.
- Audience
- Who the pattern is drafted for: women, men, kids, babies, and more.
- Fabric type
- Whether the pattern is designed for wovens, knits, or both.
- Designer
- Show only patterns from the designers you pick.
Filters stack, so selecting a category and a fabric type shows only patterns that match both. Use the sort menu to order results by pattern or designer name. You can also switch between grid and list views.
Reading a pattern page
Click any pattern to open its page. There you'll find:
- Photos and a description from the designer.
- Details like format, categories, audience, and attributes.
- Fabric types and suggested fabrics, to help you plan before you shop.
- Size charts, where the designer provides them.
- A link to buy the pattern directly from the designer's shop.
Some patterns are marked In testing (not yet released) or Discontinued (no longer sold). We keep discontinued patterns listed so you can still look them up.
Exploring designers
The Designers directory lists every independent pattern company on SewIndie. Open a designer to see their full catalog in one place, which is a great way to discover patterns from a designer whose drafting already fits you.
Favorites & ratings
When you're logged in, every pattern page has two quick actions:
- Favorite: tap the heart to save a pattern to your favorites list. Tap again to remove it.
- Rate: give a pattern one to five stars. Your rating is private but counts toward the pattern's overall score, which helps other sewists.
Building collections
Collections are named lists you create, like “Capsule wardrobe”, “Gift ideas”, or “Next in my queue”. They're perfect for planning projects or grouping patterns around a fabric you already have.
- Go to My Account › Collections and create a new collection.
- Add patterns to it. A pattern can belong to as many collections as you like.
- Choose whether each collection is private (just you) or public (shareable with a link, shown under your username).
Your account pages
Everything you've saved lives in My Account, organized into tabs:
- Profile
- Update your username, or delete your account.
- Favorites
- Every pattern you've hearted.
- Collections
- Create, edit, and set visibility for your collections.
- Ratings
- Review and update the stars you've given.
- Password
- Change your password.
Contributing patterns
SewIndie grows with help from the community. If you know an indie pattern that isn't listed yet, submit it on the Contribute page with as much detail as you can. Moderators review each submission before it's added.
Before contributing, please read our community guidelines.
Where to go next
- Read the SewIndie blog for designer spotlights and sewing inspiration.
- Check the FAQ for quick answers.
- Still stuck? Contact us. We're happy to help.
Happy sewing!