From skinny jeans to wide legs, here are the best sewing patterns we’ve found for women, men, and kids. 2 are free! And if you’ve never sewn jeans before, check out our beginner-friendly guide on how to sew denim.
Contents list:
- Free patterns
- Style bundles
- High-waisted
- Skinny
- Mom jeans
- Boyfriend jeans
- Men’s jeans
- Wide leg
- Baggy
- Straight leg
- Pull-on
- Bootcut and flared
- Vintage
- Kids and toddler jeans
Free jeans patterns:
“Calamint” loose-fit jeans with turn-ups
Download now from Mood Fabrics – FREE
- Sizes: US 2 – 30. Hip: 34 ½” – 63” (87.5 – 160 cm).
- Design: Vintage style high-waisted jeans. Straight legs with turn-ups. Loose boyfriend fit. Zipper fly and button fastening. Slant front pockets. Patch pockets at the back. Waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabrics with no stretch. For example, denim, denim twill, canvas, or heavy cotton twill.
- Format: PDF digital download in US letter / A4 size. Illustrated instructions are included within the blog post here.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think a beginner would struggle to sew these jeans, it would be more suitable for an intermediate sewist. Sewing with heavy-weight fabric like denim can be difficult, and some of the steps like sewing the zipper fly or the topstitching would be challenging for a beginner.
“Ren” high-waisted flared jeans
Download now from Mood Fabrics – FREE
- Sizes: US 00 – 32. Hip: 34” – 63 ½ ” (87 – 161 cm).
- Design: High-waisted jeans with dramatic flared legs. Zip fly and button fastening. Slant pockets on the front, patch pockets at the back. Waistband. Belt loops. Back darts.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabrics with no stretch. For example, denim, denim twill, canvas, corduroy, or heavy cotton twill.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter / A4 print-at-home sizes. Illustrated instructions are included within the blog post here.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate sewist with some previous experience sewing trousers. The jeans are a reasonably simple style but there are some difficult techniques involved such as sewing in a zipper fly, a waistband, or the topstitching.
Style bundles:
“Dawn” high-waisted jeans with button fly in 4 styles
Buy now from Megan Nielsen in standard and plus sizes – AUD $28 – 32 (Approx. $19 – 21.5)
- Sizes:
- US 0 – 20. Hip: 34” – 48” (86 – 122 cm).
- US 14 – 30. Hip: 42” – 58” (107 – 147 cm).
- Design: High waist.. Fitted at the waist and hips. 4 styles: tapered, straight, or wide leg, and shorts version. Tall, regular, and cropped lengths. Front fly with multiple buttons (no zip). Front and back pockets. Belt loops. Back yoke.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy weight woven fabrics with no stretch. For example, denim, cotton twill, canvas, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 and US copy shop sizes. A paper version is also available for sizes 0 – 20.
- Instructions: Illustrated instructions are included with the pattern. There’s a photo sew-along blog series available here, and a video tutorial from a sewist here.
- Suitable for beginners? No, I think it suits intermediate sewists. An adventurous beginner may try sewing them with help from the sew alongs, but some of the techniques like sewing the zipper fly, the waistband or the topstitching would be challenging for beginners.
“Ash” stretchy high-waisted jeans with zipper fly in 4 styles
Buy now from Megan Nielsen in standard and plus sizes – AUD $28 – 32 (Approx. $19 – 21.5)
- Sizes:
- US 0 – 20. Hip: 34” – 48” (86 – 122 cm).
- US 14 – 30. Hip: 42” – 58” (107 – 147 cm).
- Design: High-waisted, fitted, stretchy jeans. 4 styles: skinny, slim, flare, and wide leg. Tall, regular, and cropped lengths. Front fly with zipper closure and button. Front and back pockets. Belt loops. Back yoke.
- Fabric: Stretch denim with 2% elastane/spandex/lycra and at least 15 – 20% stretch.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 and US copy shop sizes. A paper pattern is also available for sizes 0 – 20.
- Instructions: Illustrated instructions are included with the pattern. There’s also a sew-along blog series available here.
- Suitable for beginners? No, I think it suits intermediate sewists. Working with stretch denim and sewing in a zipper fly, a waistband, and topstitching would be difficult for beginners.
“B6800” four pocket jeans with leg style variations
Buy now from Something Delightful – $4.99
- Sizes: UK 6 – 22. Hip: 32.5” – 50” (83 – 127 cm).
- Design: Waist-fitting jeans. Contoured waistband. Belt loops. Zip fly opening. Front pockets. Back patch pockets. Back yoke. Option for slim, straight, or boot cut.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabrics with some stretch. For example, stretch denim, stretch corduroy, or stretch cotton twill.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper pattern is also available here. Instructions are included with all options.
- Suitable for beginners? No. Although the pattern level is rated ‘easy’ I think this one would best suit an intermediate sewist with some previous sewing experience. The jeans are an involved make including some difficult techniques such as sewing in a zip fly and attaching a waistband and belt loops. Denim and heavyweight fabrics can also be difficult to sew without practice.
High-waisted:
“Everyday” high-waisted jeans with straight legs
Buy now from New Craft House – £12.50 (approx. $15)
- Sizes: UK 6 – 34. Hip: 33 ¾” – 61.5” (86 – 156 cm).
- Design: Very high-waisted jeans. Snug fit around the hips. Relaxed, straight legs. Zip fly opening. Front pockets. Waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke. Back patch pockets.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabrics with no stretch. For example, denim, cotton twill, canvas, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. An illustrated instruction booklet is included.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate sewist. A beginner would struggle to sew these jeans due to some of the technical sewing involved such as fitting a zip fly and sewing in the yoke. Sewing with denim and heavyweight fabrics can also be difficult.
“Brooks” high-waisted jeans with tapered legs
Buy now from Helen’s Closet Patterns – $16
- Sizes: US 0 – 34. Hip: 33” – 62” (84 – 157.5 cm).
- Design: High-waisted jeans with gently tapered legs. Zipper fly and button closure to the waistband. Front and back pockets, optional coin pocket. Belt loops. Back yoke. Includes a shorts view.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabric with no stretch. For example, 9-13 oz denim, bull denim, cotton twill, corduroy, and canvas.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A detailed, illustrated instruction booklet is included.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate sewist, but it would make a great first jeans pattern. Helen’s Closet patterns come with very detailed, beginner-friendly instructions. Some of the classic jeans details like the zipper fly, the back yoke, the waistband, and the topstitching would be challenging for a beginner.
Skinny:
“S8516” skinny jeans with zipper fly (+Video)
Buy now from Simplicity – $14.67
- Sizes: US 6 – 22. Hip: 32.5” – 46” (83 – 117 cm).
- Design: Skinny jeans. Separate pattern pieces for slim, average, and curvy fit. Zipper fly with button closure. Front and back pockets. Belt loops.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy weight woven fabrics with some stretch. For example, stretch denim, cotton twill, or corduroy.
- Format: Paper pattern.
- Instructions: The pattern comes with a printed instruction booklet. A free video sewing tutorial is also available on Youtube.
- Suitable for beginners? No, I think it suits intermediate sewists. The detailed video tutorial would be helpful for an intermediate sewist looking to sew their first pair of jeans. Some of the details like the fly, the pockets or the waistband would be challenging for a beginner.
“Augusta Moto” jeans with pintuck panels
Buy now from DIBY – $9.99
- Sizes:
- US 00 – 20. Hip: 34” – 48 ¾” (86 – 124 cm).
- US 14 – 36. Hip: 45.5” – 67” (115 – 170 cm).
- Design: Tight fit. Pintuck panels at the thighs. Mid-rise or high-rise views. Ankle and capri lengths. Front and back pockets. Belt loops.
- Fabric: Heavyweight woven fabrics with stretch. For example, 8 – 13 oz stretch denim.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. Instructions are included.
- Suitable for beginners? No, I think it suits intermediate sewists. The pintuck details, the close fit and other jeans details like the fly and the pockets would be too challenging for a beginner.
“Ginger” jeans with rise and leg style variations (+Video)
Buy now from Closet Core Patterns – $16-20
- Sizes:
- US 0 – 20. Hip: 33” – 48” (84 – 22 cm).
- US 14 – 32. Hip: 45” – 63” (114 – 160 cm).
- Design: Classic five-pocket jeans. Low and high-rise options. Straight and skinny legs. Zipper fly and button closure. Waistband, back yoke, belt loops. A mid–rise version of the pattern can be purchased here. An add-on pack for flared legs can be purchased here for sizes US 0 – 20.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabrics with some stretch like stretch denim with at least 2% lycra.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper pattern is also available for sizes 0 – 20.
- Instructions: An instruction booklet is included with the download. A jeans sewing class can be purchased here if you would like some additional help.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think a beginner with some previous garment sewing experience could sew this pattern if they also purchase the additional jeans sewing class. The class is aimed at beginners and it will walk you through how to sew jeans. Without the course I think the pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced sewist.
“Safran” high-waisted jeans with skinny legs
Buy now from Deer and Doe – €12 (approx. $12)
- Sizes: EU 34 – 52. Hip: 33 ¾” – 48” (86 – 122 cm).
- Design: High-waisted, skinny-leg jeans. Fitted waistband. Zip fly and button fastening. Slant pockets. Belt loops. Back yoke. Optional patch pockets at the back.
- Fabric: Medium-weight woven fabrics with at least 20-30% stretch, such as stretch denim.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 / US copy shop sizes.
- Instructions: An illustrated instruction booklet is included within the download. Additional helpful blog posts for adjusting the pattern can be found here.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think a beginner would struggle with techniques such as fitting the waistband, the back yoke, and the zipper fly. Some previous garment making experience would definitely be an advantage.
“Jamie” jeans with slanted contrasting pockets
Buy now from Named Clothing – €13 (approx. $13)
- Sizes: US 0 – 14. Hip: 33” – 56” (84 – 142 cm).
- Design: Skinny-leg jeans. Regular rise. Slimming front leg seams. Fitted waistband. Zip fly and button fastening. Slant pockets with contrasting panels. Belt loops. Back yoke. Two-piece patch pockets on the back.
- Fabric: Medium-weight fabrics with at least 15-20% stretch like stretch denim.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. An instruction booklet is included with the download.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think a beginner would struggle with sewing the vertical front leg seams, back yoke and zip fly. Stretch fabrics can also be difficult to work with for beginners.
“Vienna” standard and moto jeggings
Buy now from Sinclair Patterns – $9.99
- Sizes: US 0 – 30. Hip: 34” – 63” (86 – 160 cm). Three height ranges: petite, regular, and tall.
- Design: Fitted jean leggings. Medium or low-rise option. Ankle length. Optional decorative back yoke. Optional mock front pockets. Faux fly. Optional moto patch with knee pads. Back patch pockets.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight woven or knit fabrics with at least 30-50% horizontal and 20-30% vertical stretch. For example, stretch denim, knits, or Ponte Roma.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0/US copy shop size. Projector files are available. An instruction booklet is included.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an advanced beginner could make this pattern. The style of the jeggings can be as difficult as you would like them to be, meaning some of the trickier techniques such as the back yoke can be left out if preferred. The waist is elasticated, making for an easier sew and fit.
Mom jeans:
“Noice” high-waisted mom jeans with relaxed legs (+Video)
Buy now from Muna and Broad – $14
- Sizes: A – M. Hip: 41.5” – 71.5” (105 – 182 cm).
- Design: Relaxed fit mom jeans. Ultra high rise. Options for tapered or wide legs. Fitted waistband. Zip fly and button fastening. Front pockets. Belt loops. Back yoke. Patch pockets at the back.
- Fabric: Heavyweight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, heavy canvas, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size.
- Instructions: An instruction booklet is included with the download. There are also several video tutorials on different steps of making these jeans in this playlist.
- Suitable for beginners? I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced sewist. The pattern requires a heavy weight fabric which can be difficult to work with and the design of the jeans includes some advanced techniques such as sewing in a zip fly, a back yoke and a fitted waistband. The video tutorials would be helpful for someone who’s looking to sew their first jeans.
Boyfriend jeans:
“Sunshine” high-waisted slouchy and tapered jeans
Buy now from I Am Patterns – €8.25-12.50 (approx. $8.5-13)
- Sizes: EU 34 – 52. Hip: 33” – 47 ¼ “ (84 – 120 cm).
- Design: Classic high-waisted jeans with a relaxed fit. Fitted through the waist and hips. Two leg options: slouchy or tapered. Zipper fly and button fastening. Front Italian pockets with a coin pocket. Patch pockets at the back. Waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke.
- Fabric: Heavyweight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, heavy canvas, cotton velvet, gabardine, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper pattern is available for sizes 36-46. An instruction booklet is included.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced sewist. The jeans are an involved make, sewn from heavyweight fabric. A beginner would struggle with the more advanced techniques involved such as sewing in the zip fly, the waistband, and the topstitching.
Men’s jeans:
“V1915” close-fitting men’s jeans with tapered legs and panel details
Buy now from Something Delightful – $6.99
- Sizes: Men’s 34 – 46. Hip: 35” – 47” (89 – 119 cm).
- Design: Close-fitting men’s jeans with tapered legs. Fly zip opening. Waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke. Panel details on the back. Ankle zip vents. Front pockets with a coin pocket. Back patch pockets.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabrics with some stretch. For example, stretch denim, stretch cotton twill, or corduroy.
- Format: Paper pattern. An instruction booklet is included in the pattern envelope.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think a beginner would struggle with some of the details such as inserting the zip fly and sewing the ankle zippered vents. Fitting a waistband and back yoke is also difficult to do in a heavyweight fabric such as denim.
Men’s five-pocket jeans pattern (+Video)
Buy now from Wardrobe by Me – €13 (approx. $13)
- Sizes: Jeans 26 – 42. Hip: 32” – 48” (81.5 – 121.5 cm).
- Design: Classic men’s jeans. Relaxed boot cut leg. Fly zip opening. Waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke. Classic five-pocket design featuring two front pockets, a coin pocket, and two back patch pockets.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, cotton twill, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper pattern is also available, but it’s only sold through other retailers.
- Instructions: Instructions are included with the pattern. An instructional YouTube video is also available here.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think this pattern could suit an adventurous beginner wanting to try their first pair of jeans. The instructional YouTube video is very helpful with good reviews. Some previous garment sewing experience and experience working with heavyweight fabrics would be helpful.
“Fulford” classic men’s jeans with straight legs
Buy now from Thread Theory – CAD $18-27 (approx. $13-20)
- Sizes: Jeans 26 – 50. Hip: 35” – 57” (83.8 – 144.8 cm).
- Design: Classic men’s jeans with straight legs. High rise. Fly zip opening. Waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke. Front pockets. Coin pocket. Back patch pockets. Flat felled seams.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, cotton twill, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0/ US copy shop sizes. A paper pattern is also available to buy here.
- Instructions: An instruction booklet is included in the download. There’s also a sew-along blog series available here.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think a beginner would struggle to sew these jeans. There’s a lot of technical sewing involved that would be challenging for beginners, such as sewing a zipper fly and the waistband, especially in heavyweight fabric. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced sewist with some previous garment sewing experience.
Wide leg:
“Lander” high-waisted, wide leg jeans with button fly & big pockets
Buy now from True Bias – $16-20
- Sizes: US 0 – 18. Hip: 34” – 46.5” (86 – 118 cm).
- Design: High waist. Tight fit around the waist and the hips. Wide legs. 3 lengths: shorts, ankle length, and boot length. Big patch pockets at the front and back. Button fly. Belt loops.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy-weight woven fabrics with no stretch. For example, denim, cotton twill, canvas, linen, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0/ US copy shop sizes. A paper version is also available. There’s also an expansion pack for converting the button fly into a zipper fly available here at an additional cost.
- Instructions: Illustrated instructions are included with the pattern. There’s also a sew-along blog series available here.
- Suitable for beginners? No, I think it suits intermediate sewists. The pattern features a really close fit through the waist and the hips, so the fitting could prove challenging for a beginner. There are also some details like the button fly, the waistband, or the pockets that would be difficult for beginners to tackle.
“S8701” High-waisted, wide-leg jeans
Buy now from Simplicity – $14.67
- Sizes: US 6 – 24. Hip: 32.5” – 48” (83 – 122 cm).
- Design: High-waisted jeans with wide legs. 7″ zipper fly and button closure. 2 patch pockets at the front. Back darts. Optional waist tie and belt loops.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight woven fabrics with no stretch. For example, denim, chino, linen cotton twill, canvas, or corduroy.
- Format: Paper pattern with printed instruction booklet.
- Suitable for beginners? No, I think it suits intermediate sewists. Some elements like the fly, the waistband and the topstitching would be tricky for beginners.
Baggy:
“Heroine” jeans with a baggy relaxed style
Buy now from Merchant & Mills – £8.75 – 16 (approx. $10.5 – 19)
- Sizes: UK 6 – 18. Hip: 34” – 46.5” (86 – 114 cm).
- Design: Baggy, relaxed-fit jeans. Fitted at the waist. Straight, generous legs. Generous turn-ups at the hems. Fly zipper and button closure. Waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke. Front pockets. Coin pocket. Back patch pockets.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, cotton twill, corduroy, or linen.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper version is also available here. An instruction booklet is included with both options.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced level sewist. There’s a lot of technical sewing involved in these jeans such as sewing in the fly zip, the coin pocket, and the back yoke. A beginner would struggle to sew these without any previous garment sewing experience.
Straight leg:
Women’s five-pocket slim straight-cut jeans (+Video)
Buy now from Wardrobe by Me – €13 (approx. $13)
- Sizes: Jeans 26 – 40. Hip: 35 ¼” – 48” (89.5 – 122 cm).
- Design: Women’s classic five-pocket jeans. Slim, straight-cut legs. Fitted at the waist. Fly zipper and button closure. Regular rise. Curved waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke. Front pockets. Coin pocket. Back patch pockets.
- Fabric: Medium to heavy weight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, cotton twill, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size.
- Instructions: Instructions are included with the pattern. An instructional YouTube video is also available here
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think this pattern could suit an adventurous beginner wanting to try their first pair of jeans. The instructional YouTube video is very helpful with good reviews. Some previous garment sewing experience would certainly be helpful as would some experience sewing with heavier-weight fabrics.
“Ames” jeans designed for curved shapes (+Video)
Buy now from Cashmerette – $16-20
- Sizes: US 12 – 32. Hip: 42” – 62” (107 – 167 cm).
- Design: Stretch jeans designed for curves. “Apple” and “pear” pelvis pattern pieces to fit different body types. Skinny or straight-leg options. Fly zipper and button opening. Regular rise. Curved waistband. Belt loops. Back yoke. Front pockets. Coin pocket. Back patch pockets.
- Fabric: 9.5 – 12 oz stretch denim with at least 2% lycra and 10-15% crosswise stretch.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper pattern is also available at an additional cost.
- Instructions: Instructions are included with the pattern. An online workshop for jeans-making is also available here.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an advanced and adventurous beginner could have a go at this pattern following the online course. The pattern level is rated intermediate so some sewing experience would certainly be helpful as there are some technical sewing techniques involved, such as working with stretch denim, or sewing classic jeans elements like a fly, pockets, and a waistband.
Pull-on:
“Eleonore” pull-on jeans
Buy now from Jalie – $12-16
- Sizes:
- Children: Ages 2 – 13. Hip: 22” – 34.5” (56 – 87 cm).
- Women: US 4 – 22. Hip: 36 – 53” (91 – 135 cm).
- Design: Pull-on stretch jeans. No closures. Full length or cropped leg options. Back yoke. Faux fly. Back patch pockets. Waistband. Fitted waist and hips. Straight leg. Mid-rise. A hack for turning the jeans into skinny leg jeans is available here.
- Fabric: Medium-weight woven fabrics with at least 20% cross grain stretch like stretch denim or stretch cotton twill.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper version and a PDF + Paper pattern bundle are also available.
- Instructions: Instructions are included with all versions. A YouTube sew-along video is available here.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an advanced and adventurous beginner with some experience sewing with stretch fabrics could have a go at this pattern. The sew-along video would be helpful and the style of the jeans is simple. There’s an elasticated waist and no fastenings to sew in, making them easier to fit and to sew.
Bootcut and flared:
Women’s flared bootcut jeans
Buy now from Jalie – $12-16
- Sizes:
- Children: Ages 2 – 13. Hip: 22” – 34.5” (56 – 87 cm).
- Women: US 4 – 22. Hip: 36” – 53” (91 – 135 cm).
- Design: Women’s flared leg, boot cut stretch jeans. Low and mid-rise options. Zip fly with button closure. Back yoke. Waistband. Belt loops. Front slash pockets and back patch pockets.
- Fabric: Medium-weight woven fabrics with at least 20% cross-grain stretch such as stretch denim or stretch corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. A paper pattern and a PDF + paper pattern bundle are also available. Instructions are included with all versions.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced level sewist due to the technical sewing involved in sewing the fly zipper, back yoke, and the waistband. Some previous garment sewing and fitting experience with heavyweight stretch fabric would be an advantage.
“Ultimate jeans” pattern bundle with style variations (+Video)
Buy now from Sew Over It – £13.50 (approx. $16)
- Sizes: UK 6 – 30. Hip: 34” – 48” (86 – 122 cm).
- Design: Women’s jeans with style variations. Cropped mom jeans, straight-cut jeans, or flared legs with a retro feel. Back yoke. Fly zip opening. Back patch pockets. Waistband. Belt loops. High rise.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight woven fabrics with no stretch. For example, denim, cotton twill, canvas, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size.
- Instructions: Instructions are included with all versions. Sew Over It also have a fitting jeans course available at an additional cost here.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an adventurous beginner with some prior sewing experience could have a go at these jeans with the additional fitting course as a guide. Without the course I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced level sewist due to the technical nature of some of the sewing and fitting involved.
Vintage:
“Helene” selvage jeans with wide turn-ups
Buy now from Anna Allen Clothing – $14-16
- Sizes:
- US 0 – 22. Hip: 34” – 51” (86 – 129.5 cm).
- US 14 – 32. Hip: 43” – 61” (109 – 155 cm).
- Design: Women’s vintage-inspired selvage jeans. High waist. Back yoke. Option for concealed button fly or zip fly. Back patch pockets. Straight waistband. Belt loops.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, cotton twill, canvas, or corduroy.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. Instructions are included within the download.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate or advanced sewist, since there are a few advanced sewing techniques involved in these jeans like sewing the concealed button or fly opening and sewing in the yoke and the waistband.
“S9266” Women’s ankle length jeans with button or zipper fly
Buy now from Simplicity – $14.67
- Sizes: US 10 – 28W. Hip: 34 ½” – 52” (88 – 132 cm).
- Design: Women’s ankle-length, slim-fit jeans. High waisted. Option for visible button or zipper fly. Back yoke. Back patch pockets. Front jeans pockets. Waistband. Belt loops.
- Fabric: Medium to heavyweight non-stretch woven fabrics. For example, denim, cotton twill, canvas, corduroy, or linen.
- Format: Paper pattern. Instructions are included in the pattern envelope.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think a complete beginner would struggle to sew this pattern due to the advanced techniques involved such as sewing the button or zipper fly. Some garment sewing experience would be very helpful in sewing this pattern.
“Marilyn” vintage style jeans
Buy now from Charm Patterns – $20
- Sizes:
- US 2 – 20. Hip: 36” – 54” (91.5 – 137 cm).
- US 18 – 34. Hip: 48” – 64” (122 – 162.5 cm).
- Design: Women’s 50s style vintage jeans. Hidden side zipper. Adjustable waistband. Option for full or capri length. Option of contrast cuffs. Topstitched front slant pockets. Back patch pockets. Back V-shaped yoke.
- Fabric: Medium-weight woven fabrics with or without added stretch like denim with 1-2% lycra.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. Instructions are included with the download.
- Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced level sewist due to the vintage details involved such as the side zipper, the adjustable waistband, and the back yoke. Some previous garment sewing experience with heavy stretch fabric would be an advantage.
Kids and toddler jeans:
“Small Fry” kids’ skinny jeans
Buy now from Titchy Threads – $10
- Sizes: Ages 0-3M – 12. Hip: 16 ¼” – 32 ¼” (41 – 82 cm).
- Design: Comfortable, classic skinny jeans for kids. Inset pockets. Optional patch pockets. Half or full zip fly. Two waistband finishes. Back yoke. Belt loops.
- Fabric: Medium-weight woven fabrics with stretch, such as stretch denim or stretch cotton twill.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. Instructions are included with the download.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an adventurous beginner with plenty of sewing experience could make this pattern. There’s a detailed tutorial that contains everything you need to learn to sew jeans included in the pattern purchase. Some garment sewing experience and experience sewing stretch woven fabrics would be an advantage.
“Joey” kids’ jeans with curved back yoke
Buy now from Rebecca Page – $12.50
- Sizes: Ages 12-18M – 12Y. Hip: 20” – 33” (50 – 84 cm).
- Design: Comfortable, regular-fit jeans for kids. Front and back pockets. Zip or faux fly. Adjustable or regular elastic waistband. Belt loops. Coin pockets. Curved back yoke.
- Fabric: Medium-weight knit or stretchy woven fabrics. For example, stretch denim, ponte, double knit, or French terry.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. Instructions are included.
- Suitable for beginners? I think an adventurous beginner with prior sewing experience could make this pattern. There are options for sewing a simple pair of jeans without a fly zip. Use a stable fabric to make the sewing process easier.
Children’s skinny jeans and jeggings
Buy now from Rebecca Page – $12.50
- Sizes: Ages: 12-18M – 12Y. Hip: 20” – 33”(50 – 84 cm). The jeans are also available in adult women’s sizes here.
- Design: Skinny-fit jeans. Full length. Pockets. Fly zip closure. Waistband. Button closure. Optional belt loops. Option to make as a pair of jeggings with an elasticated waist and faux fly.
- Fabric: Medium-weight knit or stretchy woven fabrics. For example, stretch denim, Ponte, double knit, or French terry.
- Format: PDF pattern in US letter and A4 print-at-home sizes and A0 copy shop size. Instructions are included with the download.
- Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an adventurous beginner with some prior sewing experience could make this pattern. The option for making the jeggings would be easier to sew than the skinny jeans and would make a great first pair of jeans for a beginner.
Quick Q&A’s:
- Can you sew jeans with a regular sewing machine?
- Yes, you can sew jeans with a regular sewing machine. Using a denim sewing machine needle and topstitching thread can help when sewing heavy-weight fabric. Some patterns use a regular seam with double topstitching rather than the traditional flat fell seaming method which is easier on a regular sewing machine. Using a walking or quilting foot can also help when sewing thicker fabrics.
- How much fabric do you need to make a pair of jeans?
- A pair of jeans can be sewn from approximately 1.5 – 3 yards of fabric depending on the size you are sewing and the style of jeans you are making. For example, sewing a pair of skinny jeans will take less fabric than sewing a pair of wide-legged flares.
- How much does it cost to sew jeans? Is it cheaper to make your own jeans?
- Prices of denim can vary greatly depending on the quality and type of fabric that you buy. It will almost always be cheaper to make yourself a pair of jeans than to buy a designer-label pair of jeans. That said, there are a lot of fast fashion brands out there that will offer jeans at a cheaper price than one could ever sew them for.
- What kind of fabric is used for jeans?
- Denim is the most popular choice of fabric for jeans. This can be either stretch or non-stretch. Denim comes in lots of different weights. Baggy, boyfriend, and mom jeans will usually be sewn from heavier-weight, non-stretch denim. Skinny, fitted, or bootcut jeans will usually be sewn from lighter-weight denim with some stretch to it. Alternative fabrics that can be used for jeans are bull denim, cotton twill, cotton drill, gabardine, and occasionally corduroy.
- How long does it take to sew jeans?
- Depending on your experience it will usually take around 6-8 hours to sew a pair of jeans, longer if you are sewing a pair for the first time or are unfamiliar with the process. Jeans are an involved make with a lot of topstitching and fitting involved, making them a slow sew. It’s best to take your time and enjoy the process.
- Tension settings for sewing jeans?
- This will differ by machine, but start with a 5 and sew test stitches on a scrap of your project fabric (4 is generally the standard tension, so 5 is a little higher). If the stitches don’t look straight and defined on the front and back, keep increasing the tension. (source)
- What needle should I use for jeans?
- Use “Jeans” needles because they’re stronger than “Universal” ones and less likely to snap. Try a size 80/12 for medium-weight denim and a 100/16 for heavy-weight denim. (source)
- How do you finish denim seams?
- Flat-felled, faux flat-felled, and serged/overlocked seams are the most common. Photos and sewing instructions for each are in our How to sew denim guide.
What to read next:
- How to Sew Denim from Start to Finish
- 50 Stylish Sewing Patterns for Women’s Pants
- 31 Sewing Patterns for Women’s Shorts
- How to Dye Jeans Black – Complete Guide for Beginners
- How to Reuse Old Jeans to Make New Clothes: 46 STYLISH Ideas
This article was written by Sally Gauntlett, and edited by Nisan Aktürk.It was originally published on 15 December 2022 and it has since been updated.
Sally Gauntlett (author)
Sally started sewing as a child. In 2008, she started a handmade business selling personalized gifts and homeware. She then became a sewing content creator, sharing her makes on Youtube and Instagram. Read more…
