all of the size adjustable sewing patterns you need to know about
AKA how you all benefit from my obsessive search for the best sewing patterns
So my content has really taken a turn into the sewing universe. Currently, learning to sew has taken up so much of my creative brain and my mind is constantly swirling with ideas of things I can make myself. I’m also musing on all of the ways my designs can fit into this universe as well so I promise there will be more content to come in that world. Every new interest I have feeds into my creative process and I’m hoping to create a symbiotic universe where each creative hobby I have informs and feeds the other ones and all adds up to a wonderfully creative life. More to come on that soon 😍
But one thing I’ve been obsessively researching is adjustable clothing. I have this habit of making everything I do as practical as possible. It may be a character flaw if I spend enough time analyzing this habit of mine. But on the other hand, it results in projects that are versatile and wildly practical that seamlessly combine with my wardrobe.
Now, I know every woman will relate to my frustration with ill fitting clothing. Being able to make clothing that perfectly fits my body is one of the major upsides of learning to sew. But another frustration I have is how my body shifts from day to day and can result in some of my wardrobe being unwearable to me any given day. Knowing that I have this frustration, I fully dove into the adjustable clothing rabbit hole and have discovered so many beautiful patterns that have elements that loosen or tighten or can be changed along with your fluctuating body. I have a feeling that I’m not alone in this frustration so I decided creating a collection of these adjustable sewing patterns would be a worthwhile effort. Read on to learn about all of my incredible new discoveries!
Magic Pants by Ann Tilley Handmade
These were one of the first adjustable sewing patterns I came in contact with (from a Carly B video - love her!) and I’m OBSESSED with the idea of a pair of smart trousers with an adjustable waistband. Ann has taken the one part of my pants that annoys me the most and made it adjustable and stretchy to increase the comfort by a million. Love that. This pattern is at the top of my wishlist and I can’t wait to make my own version one day.
Daisy Frock by Lydia Naomi
This pattern is adjustable in another way that really appeals to me and has it at the tippy top of my wishlist. So much so I’ll probably be buying it and making it in the next few months. But this dress is a classic milkmaid style with adjustable ties at the bust line and waist line. As a girlie with a bigger bust, I love the adjustable nature so I can tailor the fit to my bust. Plus the ties combined with the elastic on the top half will allow the dress to shift and adjust to my body throughout the day. However another element I love so very much is how Lydia has built in permanent access to the elastic channels so you can switch out the elastic if it stops fitting or loses it’s stretch. This allows the dress to be a part of my life for longer because there’s no built in obsolescence (looking at you fast fashion 😒).
More clothing should be doing this. There’s no reason for our clothing to fall apart and stop being useful to us. By creating this built in access, Lydia is making her pattern more valuable and I can’t wait to have my future Daisy Frock in my life for a long, long time.
Palazzo Pants by Sasha Starlight
These fun wide leg pants are supremely adjustable with a tie waistband. The flowy design is super forgiving and makes for a ton of room in the waist that can be cinched together to fit your body. This also lets them adjust with you throughout the day easily. I especially love that you can make the ribbon ties at the back a statement or allow it to blend in with your fabric and length choices. Sasha also has another pattern with adjustments (her dungarees linked later in this post), so I imagine there will be more adjustable goodness to come from her. Definitely a creator to follow!
Frida Skirt by Schultz Apparel
First of all - this skirt pattern is free. So already we’re off to a wonderful start. But this design is based on historical skirt designs and is well known in the sewing community. It has a two layered waistband where the under waist is adjustable and the second is tied overtop. I love the ability to cater the sizing to your body and ensure you have a good fit no matter the circumstance. I’ve also seen a version that has a corset style lace up portion in the front for an even more adjustable fit. I can imagine this skirt in all sorts of lengths, fullness and fabric types which makes it super versatile and lovely.
Other Honorable Mentions
The Bélem Pants - These pants are on my wishlist as a possible dupe for Lucy & Yak’s Cole Jeans. I love the elastic waistband that helps the pants have some flex with your body through the day. But ultimately the adjustable element doesn’t allow huge shifts in size, so it’s on this secondary list. It also comes in a shorts version which I love as well.
Meriam Trousers by Cashmerette - This plus size / curvy brand has a lot of amazing patterns and I recently discovered this trouser pattern with an adjustable waist. It has a piece of hidden elastic so the trousers still look super smart and I think this would be an amazing option for someone who wants adjustable clothing thats work appropriate.
The Willow Dress - This dress has ties at the waist that allow you to cinch it in a little bit. It looks super flattering but the adjustable isn’t large enough to warrant it’s own section in my opinion.
The Tulip Dress - This dress has a lace up side that allows you to adjust the fit to your rib cage. I LOVE the long ties that hang down but I know I won’t love the exposed sides on myself unless I wear something underneath. This girl can’t get away from wearing a bra unfortunately.
The Deja Vu Dress - This dress has a waist tie that allows you to take the silhouette from more oversized to as fitted as your fancy. It’s super fun and flirty and needed to be on this list as a fun option!
Dungarees by Sasha Starlight - These dungarees are ADORABLE and have ties at the waist and leg opening to help you adjust the fit from loose and baggy to more fitted. The level of adjustment is low but they’re super cute and I needed you to know about them.
I have no doubt that I’ve barely scratched the surface of the large universe of sewing patterns for adjustable clothing and that’s THRILLING to me. There’s so much goodness out there and I can’t wait to discover more. If you know of some good patterns, please share! I’d love to discover some new favorites to add to my sewing wishlist, especially ones with a good peer review!
If you’ve made it this far, I’m so happy you’re here to share in all this creative chaos. As always, I hope you all have the most amazing weekends! We’re headed to the farm (my in-laws house) in Virginia for FIL birthday celebrations and it promises to be a fun and relaxing time. Happy Friday my friends 💖
