What is pattern hacking?

Pattern hacking is a fun and creative way to adapt dressmaking patterns. You start with an existing pattern as your base but make some strategic changes to transform it into something new. Once you start to experiment with pattern hacking, the possibilities are endless!

Start Simple

One of the easiest pattern hacks is simply removing the sleeves from a garment! You can use bias binding to finish the armhole openings, which maintains the shape of the garment. For an example of how easy this can be, take a look at the SewGirl Hilda tunic.

Designer of the Month: Fiona Hesford of SewGirl

Find out more about Fiona and claim your FREE Cecily dress pattern worth £18.50 here.

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Extend the seam lines

Another easy hack is taking a pattern for a top and extending the length to turn it into a dress. Ruth Brown shared her hack of the Simple Sew Juliette Blouse in Love Sewing Issue 90. She turned this simple and versatile wrap top into an elegant maxi dress and we absolutely love it!

Download the Simple Sew Juliette pattern in sizes 8-20

Cut it Short

This works the other way round too! In Issue 101, Miranda Griffith showed you how to turn the M7999 dress pattern into a cosy sweatshirt. We especially love the way she reshaped the sleeves!

Add Pockets

If you're turning a top into a dress, why not go one step further and add pockets? When Kate made her version of Love Sewing Issue 83's Threadcount t-shirts pattern, she not only turned it into a dress by extending the seam lines but she also added pockets, using a pattern piece from another dress pattern in her stash.

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Make it Your Way

Once you get to grips with the basics of pattern construction, you can hack a pattern to make it better suit your wardrobe. Take a look at Fiona's hack of her own Ursula coatigan (half coat, half cardigan!) pattern. She's explained her process here, with a handy diagram!

Fabulous Frills

In Issue 100, Sewing Bee winner Juliet Uzor shared a wonderful pattern hack with us. She added a frill detail to our Vogue jumpsuit pattern, which is such a simple but effective way to elevate the pattern.

Download the issue to find Juliette's step-by-step tutorial.