Spring Top Sewalong: Call for Pattern Ideas

A few of you have asked about possible patterns if you are a beginner sewist. I usually make my patterns up, but you have to start somewhere, so here are a couple I think are pretty great:

Simplicity Built By Wendy 3835

Simplicity 3887 (warning: the neck is really huge on this one, so err on the side of smaller size-wise)

McCall's 5388 (maybe try a Simplicity or Butterick before this one; it's pretty easy but is maybe not the best beginner beginner pattern)

Generally, Simplicity and Butterick are the easiest of the mainstream patterns (but sometimes don't fit as well), McCall's is slightly more complicated (usually just more steps, not necessarily trickiness), and Vogue I usually only attempt if feeling very ambitious. There are also a ton of patterns in compilation books. One I've been wanting to try is the smock top in Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner which looks really easy.

I know there must be other really nifty easy-peasy patterns for beginners...so let's hear other suggestions from the rest of you.

Other miscellany:

  • Here is the new Spring Top Week Sewalong Flickr Pool for those of you who would like to begin putting tops in!
  • I've gotten alot of questions about selling/donating the Buttercup Bag purses, so I've tried to make it more clear with a Terms of Use statement on the Buttercup Bag post. It pretty much comes down to: you may not sell Buttercup Bags, but you can probably donate them for charity, and just ask if you're not sure!