It is getting increasingly difficult to identify independent pattern designers who offer woven patterns as part of their offerings. It seems almost every day a new designer will emerge with a number of knit patterns - perhaps they are easier to design, or more forgiving in fit, and they have become very popular in the last 10-15 years. But many people still want to make children's clothing with some of the lovely woven fabrics that are around, me included, so I did some research to try and identify designers that do offer woven patterns. (I'm not including the traditional 'Big Five' or however many there are - they do all do woven paper patterns but you probably know them already. I'm talking about people who provide digital patterns on-line for you to print.) If you are specifically looking for boys patterns, there's also more information here.
One of my grand-daughters loving her woven cotton dress
I'll list designers in alphabetical order, and note whether I've used them, how easy it is to find their woven patterns, and whether they offer any free patterns (woven or otherwise). There are so many indie designers now, that, speaking personally, I wouldn't buy patterns from them unless I'd had the chance to at least look at a free pattern first. But some of those I've listed are well-established and seem to have a good following, so that having free patterns may not be the first priority. Prices given are valid in February 2021. I have not included anyone who only sells through Etsy or Facebook. I want to buy from someone who has a properly set-up website. Even some of these come and go, but in my experience those without their own web site last a lot less time than those that do have one.
Note that all the pictures in here are mine, most are for woven projects. If I haven't used a designer's patterns yet, I don't have pictures!
I haven't personally used this designer, they are new to me, and don't appear to have any freebies. But their prices are pretty reasonable, typically $6.90, and they have a good choice of different styles, for boys and girls. I'd say the majority are for babies and toddlers, with dresses up to 6 years, and a handful of patterns for older children up to 12 or 13. It appears that their patterns are 100% for woven fabrics.
This is a company in New Zealand, though, as I look at the web site from the UK, I see the prices in £sterling. Typically the prices are between £7 and £9, or from about $9.50. The patterns are 100% woven, though I couldn't see any offered for free. (Hence I haven't yet tried them.) Mainly for girls and women, children's sizes 1-10, though there are some dungarees that could work for boys.
This is not a professional designer, in that all of her patterns are free. However, I've included her here, as she has a number of woven patterns, albeit in limited sizes, including one of my personal favorites, the Tulip Hem dress. Although this pattern is only shown as size 3, I had no problem adapting it to ages from 2 to 6.
Bloomsnbugs Tulip dresses
Boo has a few simple designs free, and a good choice of woven patterns. Prices for paid-for patterns are given in Australian dollars, so are actually cheaper than they may appear to anyone used to seeing pricing in US dollars. Typically they are $10-$12AUD, or about $7-$9.50US. And, helpfully, they are one of a handful of designers who have a woven v knit tab, so you can instantly find the woven patterns. I haven't used them yet, but I will! Sizes 0-14 years. Mainly girl patterns.
Typically the paid-for patterns are about $8, but there are some free ones - mainly in the form of templates with tutorials. A good mix of woven and knit patterns and these are clearly identified. More for girls than boys, but there are some boy patterns.
Very pretty dresses for girls, all woven. For some reason, although this is clearly a US company, the prices show up on my computer as £7.84, which I think equates to about $11. There are several free patterns including the very popular and versatile Party Dress. The Christmas dresses below were made from the Party Dress pattern with the addition of sleeves and a faux Peter Pan collar, and without the sash.
Probably about 90% of the patterns are for woven fabrics, wirth an excellent choice. This is a nicely organised web site, and there are a couple of free patterns so you can try before you buy. The paid for patterns are $4-$8. Again, this is a designer I haven't yet used personally but I probably will. No boy patterns.
Although the majority of Elemeno's patters are for knit fabrics, probably about half could be made with either knit or woven fabrics, as they have positive rather than negative ease. It's not too hard to find the ones that would be suitable for woven. Most of the patterns look as though they would be suitable for beginners. Patterns are around $6-$7 (no free ones though). However, the pattern sizes only go up to age 6. Boy and girl patterns.
Most of the patterns are suitable for woven fabrics except the obviously tee-shirty type. They retail at $10. There is one free pattern, the Tropisch dress, a basic A-line dress. I made it with giant flutter sleeves and a lace frill. (Below.) The pattern worked well. A few boy patterns and adutl patterns.
This is one of the best known and longest-established indie pattern designers, with a very large team, not only for design, but for testing, so that you can be pretty sure the patterns do work.There are separate categories for adult and child patterns, with a very large number of patterns available. They are normally priced at around $10, though at the time of writing many were reduced to $6.
However, at first, they didn't make it onto my list of woven pattern designers, because it appeared the patterns were 95% for knit fabrics. Having done some more research, I realise there are quite a lot of woven patterns, perhaps because 5% of a very large number is still significant! I've asked them whether it's possible to include a 'Woven' tab, as it is otherwise very laborious (a multistage operation!) to find the woven patterns. The other good points, however, are a regular 'Wacky Wednesday sale, with many patterns reduced to $1, and other sales as well. There are several completely free patterns, though none of these is for woven projects. I haven't made anything as yet with their patterns because of my assumption they were all knit, however, I've now downloaded a few to try, including the Strawberry Kisses Romper currently at $6. This looks very similar to the pattern I made myself for playsuits, so I'll be interested to try it.
Another of my favourite designers, with no paid for patterns - ALL are free. As the name suggests, many are for fleece fabrics, but others are suitable for other woven fabrics (and knits) as well. I have used them a lot for hats and mittens etc. Lots of hat patterns, but several others - capes, bathrobe, pants, skirt, aprons etc. Suitable for girls and boys and adults.But they have produced the template and instructions for the face coverings my family have liked best of all. Not the quickest to make, but by far and away the best fitting. (I've written several blog posts on making fitted face coverings or masks - just do a search.) Fleece Fun now has a tab by which you can find projects by fabric type - wish they all did this!
Two adult and one child masks
Another designer that is new to me, but I will definitely be going back there. Most of the patterns are for woven fabrics, other than some baby clothing and a couple of knit dresses, and are priced at between $6.50 and $12. Free ones include an apron, a bolero, skirt, and some other bits. A few boy patterns plus some unisex for babies.
I've used some of Hey June's patterns, though mainly the free Monkey Bar skirt. (Below.) This is actually intended for knit fabrics, but I've made it with knit shorts underneath, and a woven skirt. There are some woven patterns available in Junior. Paid-for patterns are priced at around $8-$10. There are some freebies as well as the Monkey Bar skirt below, but only for knit projects - nonetheless, an opportunity to try before you buy. Although only pictured on girls, some patterns would be suitable for boys.
Again, no paid-for patterns - all are free, and there are some great patterns, all for girls or women. I've used a lot of them. There is a mixture of knit and woven patterns, some are in limited sizes. For example, the pink top below came in size 4 - but I've used it with only minor changes for ages 3-6.
Flutter Sleeve dress / top in age 4
Pleated Flutter Sleeve dress
Play All Day dress (knit)
Another of my favourite designers. She has two sons and a daughter as well as numerous nieces and nephews, hence a good selection of patterns for boys and girls and adults. The huge majority of her patterns are free, and the few 'premium' ones are at very reasonable prices of between $2 and $5.50. There's a mixture of woven and knit. The pictures below are for woven fabrics.
Sweet Rose Dress (with added tier) and Bermuda Shorts
Very welcome on this web site (new to me so far) is the separation of the patterns into knit and woven so that it is easy to find what you want. There are some very attractive woven patterns. Prices are around $11-$12. None free that I have found. There are only girls patterns, atlhough some of the trousers and jeans might work for boys. Most patterns are for ages 18 months to 10 years.
A well-established design company with patterns for girls, boys, women and babies. There are several designers in the group. A lot of woven patterns.The paid-for patterns are $9. There are 3 free patterns: Galena (a knit dress), the Verona blouse, and my favourite, the Raleigh top. This is a woven crossover back top. The pattern is for pretty much a crop top, which would be too short for our tastes, but I simply lengthened it by a few inches and came up with several beautiful reversible tops. Here are a couple.
Reversible Raleigh tops extended 3-4" in length
A small craft business with only a limited number of patterns, all woven as far as I could see. Nearly all are also free, apart from a small number sold on Etsy. The free patterns include some pyjama pants, a sunhat, and a vest (what I'd call a waistcoat). I haven't tried them yet, but this was recommended to me by someone in a sewing group.
No free patterns here, but the prices are so reasonable you can hardly grumble! Only $4-$5. I'm not sure whether this is a European site, as the prices show up to me as £3.17. Which is an odd sort of a price. A lot of lovely patterns including several woven patterns, and several that look suitable for less experienced sewers.
There are a small handful of free patterns here, but only for babies in the 0-3 month age group. I never had occasion to use these. If that's what you are looking for, though, they'd be perfect. However, among the paid for patterns at around $10 are several woven patterns. A search for woven helped. Boys, girls and women, but only a small number of patterns in total.
Dana is probably best known for her excellent tutorials on many aspects of sewing. And for one of her free patterns, the 'Perfect' Diaper Cover. I've used the latter multiple times, to make diaper / nappy covers, knickers (what I think people horribly call 'bummies' these days) and also bubble rompers for babies. There are a small number of paid-for patterns from $6-$10. Most for woven. A couple of the links on her web site seem broken currently, I will follow this up with her.
Until recently, I hadn't included M4M patterns, as I had found it very hard to identify woven patterns, although there clearly were a few. And indeed, there are far more knit patterns than woven. However, this is a prolific designer, and although woven pattern only account for a small proportion of all their patterns, there are still enough to make it very worthwhile having a look! Typical patterns cost $9. There are several freebies too, though not for woven clothing patterns. From their Facebook page, I got advice on how to find woven patterns, and I'm glad to report that these links will take you straight there.
Woven boy patterns
(There are currently only 2 in the latter group. I think like most designers, they assume boys want to wear knits.)
So far I've only used their knit patterns, including the free Bonny Leggings pattern. So at least I know the patterns work!
(There are currently only 2 in the latter group. I think like most designers, they assume boys want to wear knits.)
So far I've only used their knit patterns, including the free Bonny Leggings pattern. So at least I know the patterns work!
Another designer with only free patterns and tutorials. This is mainly a sewing blog (a bit like mine, but more professional!) So she also does some very good pattern reviews of patterns by other designers. Free patterns include a flutterby top and leggings.
Another designer with only free patterns and tutorials. I particularly like the Any Occasion A-line dress. Ages for most patterns range from 0-5, with some up to 11. Mixture of woven and knit, boys and girls. (She also has a tutorial to help adapt patterns for G-tube access.)
own pattern, but could be made from the Midnight Sewer pattern
There are more woven than knit patterns, for you woven pattern seekers! Womens and children's patterns. However the children's patterns only seem to go up to age 5. I couldn't find any free ones but prices are around $6.50, with a discount of 30% on multiple orders.
I love the Oliver+S patterns, There are at least 5 free ones, all of which work for woven fabrics, including the very popular Sunny Day Shorts. These have a boyish straight leg styling, but I have simply flared them out a little more for the girls sometimes. They are very easy to make and the girls love their superhero/ine shorts. Oliver+S is a professional designer, and the web site hosts her patterns under a number of different brandings. There are several woven patterns for both boys and girls. The paid for ones vary from about $9-$15+.
Sunny Day shorts
A very large company, sister to Made for Mermaids. Again, specialising mainly in knit patterns, but with a number of useful woven patterns. The main reason they make my list, in spite of being mainly for knit, is because they have very clear signposting to their woven patterns, separately for women, girls and boys. Patterns typically $9, with some freebies, including the free woven Walk the Plank PJ bottoms. So far, I've only used knit patterns from P4P, specifically the Tiny Tulip Tee which I modified to make a dress - but a least I know the patterns work!.
There are a few free patterns including some available with a code on the Facebook page. Patterns are for men, women, girls and boys. There are some woven patterns which can be identified via a separate tab at the side. Prices are very fair, at around $8. They have a 'Thrifty Thursday' at which some patterns are reduced. I've just ordered the Darcy Romper / Dress at a reduced price of $5. It looks good, and I'll be having a go of it for the summer. I haven't previously used the patterns from Peekaboo.
This is a small outfit wth just a few very pretty patterns, all for girls, and many are woven. I couldn't find any free patterns (other than for a pocket). Prices range from $6AUD to $12.50AUD, or about $6-$9 US.
Patterns are for adults, kids, and babies.There are a number of free patterns on Petite Stitchery: ear flap hat, kids joggers (yoggers), poncho, hat, mittens, snuggle top (tee shirt/ sweatshirt), leggings, dress, paper bag skirt, circle skirt etc. So a number of opportunities to try before you buy. A search on woven does bring up a number of woven patterns. Paid-for patterns are about $8.50.
This is a Canadian company, and I believe that most of the patterns, for girls and boys, are for woven fabrics, though there is no easy way to find the ones that are. There is also an annoying popup on every new page that asks whether you want to join the mailing list. Prices are reasonable at $5-$10CAD (about $4 - $7.75 US currently). No free patterns that I could see.
Purl Soho is actually a shop selling knitting wools, quilting supplies, and patterns from other designers as well as their own. Many woven patterns. Patterns from around $7-$12. But they have several free patterns, including my all-time favourite woven pattern for girls, the Summer Romper. I've made at least 7 of these, and also used the pattern to make separate shorts and tops.
I've also used a simple top pattern that is free - the Kids Gathered Summer Top - and a cute bonnet pattern.
Winter Baby Bonnet
Another pattern designer who only has free patterns: skirts, tops, dresses, leggings etc. No paid-for patterns. About half the patterns are for woven fabrics. A mixture of boy and girl patterns, though many of the boy patterns are from the Peekaboo pattern shop rather than being her own patterns. I've made a number of dresses and tops with her patterns, especially variations on peasant tops. The one on the right below is her Flutter Sleeve Peasant Top. (The one on the left is another top made from the Its Always Autumn pattern Flutter Sleeve top mentioned earlier. This was made for Ada's cousin Rose a couple of years earlier but it now has a new life for Ada. And both the shorts were made from a slightly flared version of the Oliver+S Sunny Day Shorts.)
Flutter Sleeve Peasant Top (right)
The pattern headings in the shop are for women, boys and girls, most patterns being priced at $12. A search on Woven reveals some woven patterns. Some baby patterns are free, in limited sizes, most 0-3 months, and mostly for girls - Baby Raglan, Easy baby dress, Blessing dress, Tankini and Ruffled Bloomer (18-24 months, based on the Easy baby dress), more bloomers, a pinafore dress.
Easy Baby Dress
On a search, I found this designer has 6 pages of woven patterns, though some of the patterns are from other designers, and some are mixed knit and woven. Paid-for patterns are $7-$9. There are a few free patterns, some in limited size ranges, including costumes, a sweatshirt, bomber jacket, and dresses, though the best of these free ones are for knit fabrics. The popular Movie Night Pyjamas pattern is free with a promotional code on the Facebook group. These are pictured below. Obviously they are knit; I haven't as yet made any of their woven patterns. Some boy patterns.
Knit Movie Night PJs
A British company with lot of woven patterns, albeit most patterns are for women, but there are some girls patterns among the free ones. Patterns are priced at between £6 and £9, paper versions cost more. There are several free patterns.
In fact, this designer has only a relatively small number of paid for patterns (at $5) in the Pattern Shop Shwin Designs, but a very large number of free patterns on the blog, some only in a limited size range. These do include some useful woven patterns for children. I've used these succcessfully a number of times, but I would say they are most useful if you are experienced enough to play with them a little. Some worked perfectly, but one, the Carolina dress, though pretty, was very tight on the shoulders for my granddaughter, and I had to modify the shoulders and the sleeve pattern. However, you can't quibble, with so many free patterns. I particularly like the baby patterns.
All three of the dresses below are from the Elouise dress, one of Simple Life's paid-for patterns ($10 - which is the price for most of the single patterns). Heavily modified by me as I prefer not to have bare backs on little girls, but it's a very popular style. A lot of the patterns are of this type (i.e. with bare backs.).There are a couple of simple dresses free if you join the Facebook group. I think there are quite a few woven patterns on Simple Life, but there's currently no way to easily find them. There is a tab for knit, but no tab for woven. I asked the designer about this and she said - good point - something for the next web site upgrade. So this may change. No boy patterns other than baby rompers.
Elouise dresses
There are in excess of 30 free patterns, for girls, boys and a few for women, on the Small Dream Factory web site. A mixture of knit and woven. The free ones are mostly in small sizes. Almost all her patterns seem to have at least one free size. There is a comment I picked up somewhere that they may only ship in Europe? I don't understand this because you can just download the digital patterns. Possibly she only accepts payment in Euros for the few paid-for patterns (6 euros for paid-for patterns.) I have used a lot of the free patterns when the sizes were right for my grandchildren, and found most are very successful. One thing to watch for - some of the patterns are (I think) without seam allowance, which you would need to add. It is more common in Europe to have patterns not including seam allowance. It's fine as long as you remember. Some of them do include it, so you need to check for each one.
Dutch Baby Dress, and Sleeping bag
Patterns for babies, girls and women, including a number of woven patterns (which I found via a search). Most are priced at $9. One free pattern only, for a teeshirt, free if you join the Facebook group.
About half the patterns from this Australian designer appear to be for woven fabrics, indeed, there is a tab for woven. And, as also befits the climate, there are a lot of bareback styles. Paatterns are $12.90AUD, or about $9.75 US. Patterns are for baby, young kids, older kids, tweens, men and ladies. The only free pattern is for a simple gathered skirt, although this would probably show you what the tutorials are like.
Yet another designer who seems to have a very large number of delighful woven patterns, perhaps most of her total number, but as yet, not an easy way to find them without opening each pattern up. I found the easiest way to find woven patterns was to search on knit (of which there are not that many) and to assume everything else is woven! The designer has promised to put a woven tag next time she updates. Children's patterns are at around $7 - $9, with one free one if you join the Facebook group.
This designer helpfully labels all her patterns with the fabric they are suitable for. There are only a small number of patterns (all for children, boys and girls) but there are several for woven fabrics. They are all priced at $10-$12. There is a blog with tutorials for mash-ups, increasing the number of styles that can be made with the patterns. Age range 0-3 months to 12 years.
This is a very well laid out web site, with filters for woven patterns, children v adult etc. There are lots of woven patterns. Prices are from $6-$10. Free patterns include a woven hat, and my personal favourite, the Petal Dress and Art Smock pattern. The only reason I haven't used it yet is because I was partway through making a Bloomsnbugs Tulip Hem dress which is a bit similar when I found it, but it is on my list to try.
Lots of cute and feminine patterns in woven fabrics. As the name suggests, these are all for babies and girls. If you like this style, vintage with a lot of frills, then there is a wonderful choice of woven patterns priced at around $9. No free ones that I could see.
Last but definitely not least, Violette Field Threads has at least 90 woven patterns, including many in vintage style. They are priced at around $7 for baby patterns to $10 for girls' dresses. There are a couple of free patterns to try (Lola, London) and many free tutorials. Again, these designs are almost all for girls and women, though some of the baby patterns would be worth looking at for boys - Brooklyn Baby Shorts / Overalls for instance.
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I'll end up by saying that there are numerous other designers who may offer just one or two woven patterns that have become real favourites of mine, especially if they are free! But here I've tried to stick mainly to designers that do offer a number of woven choices. You'll find others of my personal favourite patterns, knit and woven, in the Summary Links to Free Patterns tab at the top on the blog.
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