Every Sew Liberated Pattern I’ve Made: Reviews & Styling Inspiration

I have been purchasing and sewing with Sew Liberated’s sewing patterns since I first checked out the book, Sew Liberated, from the library in 2011. I have followed designer Meg McElwee and her blog and business with delight for all these years. I’ve purchased many patterns from her pattern shop, and have sewed up several of them. Today I’m going to do a quick review of all of her patterns that I’ve made.

Strata Top

This is a quick and easy top, perfect for a novice sewist. It has a hi-low hem and is a great layering piece. I love that you can also tuck it in to a high waistband for a blousy look, like I did with these matching Arenite Pants. All of the Sew Liberated patterns are versatile and work together well. Next time I make a Strata Top I am going to attempt to make a higher back and/or lower neckline, because I felt like the shirt kept sliding backwards over my shoulders, and the front neckline would ride up too high.

Matcha Top

I absolutely love this top. I made mine years ago out of some double gauze that I scrunched up and dipped in indigo. I reach for it often, and honestly should probably make like three more. It looks good tucked or untucked. The neckline is the perfect shape. If I remember correctly, I made my neckline a tiny bit higher, which was easy to do by simply sewing the center front seam up a little more.

Arenite Pants

I made a pair of Arenite Pants out of some sturdy brown linen fabric about four years ago. In the summer, I reach for them first thing out of the wash. The huge pockets are useful, and make a fun silhouette. These pants look great paired with the Matcha Top or Strata Top, tucked or untucked. The waistband is elastic, so it’s a comfortable way to have an outfit that shows your natural waist.

Hinterland Dress

The Hinterland Dress pattern might be my favorite Sew Liberated pattern. I have made it four times, and can’t get enough. I believe this pattern would be great for the confident beginner. I recently got some new fabric (nice linen from the thrift store!) and will be making at least one more Hinterland Dress. Meg has a whole companion course about this pattern, showing you how to easily alter the details and create many different dresses out of the same pattern. I haven’t taken the class, but it looks very useful. I’ve made all of my Hinterland versions with either linen or raw silk and I wear them constantly. My first Hinterland Dress has, sadly, bit the dust from being worn too much, and become scrap fabric.

Stasia Dress/Top

This pattern is a great beginner pattern for learning to sew knit garments. Knit fabric requires some different techniques, but it’s really not difficult. The design of this pattern is really flattering to women who have a “motherhood belly” that sticks out. The v-shaped front waist seam skims over bumps so well, and highlights the natural waist. I always feel like a princess when I wear this dress, and it’s so stretchy and comfortable. I made the maxi version twice: once out of a slinky tie dyed jersey, and once out of stretch velvet. I altered the neckline to be higher, especially in the back.

Studio Tunic

This layering tunic is so practical. It’s meant to be a useful tunic/apron to wear as a working artist. It fits on over a regular outfit. It has pockets galore, and can be made from sturdy fabrics. I made mine out of a less sturdy raw silk (similar to linen but not as crisp.) This pattern has a lot of seam finishing techniques so the inside looks as good as the outside, and everything is designed to be durable.

Lichen Duster

This dramatic, flowy duster looks amazing over the Hinterland Dress, or you can wear it to dress up a jeans and t-shirt outfit. I love the shawl collar and slanted pockets. This pattern was probably the most challenging Sew Liberated pattern I’ve made. There are a lot of pattern pieces, and it has a more challenging construction. But I was really happy with the outcome. I wore it several times before I could admit to myself that the fabric I had chosen attracted lint and dog hair like mad, and it just never looked good. It’s now on my scrap fabric pile. I have plans to make another one ASAP.

I’ve got a few patterns on my list to sew soon:

Arthur Pants out of some sturdy linen fabric.

Metamorphic Dress out of some rayon in blue and gray.

Estuary Skirt out of a striped blue and white cotton.

Sew Liberated has many more beautiful sewing and dressmaking patterns, and is always coming up with new products and designs. She has several video sewing courses, and a wardrobe building course, which look amazing, but I haven’t taken any myself. All of the patterns have been easy to read, with good, clear drawings and instructions. Every pattern has all the instructions you need to sew the piece, but the blog includes even more help in the form of fitting help, alterations, fabric suggestions with shopping links, photo instructions, and more. Sew Liberated is my favorite sewing pattern design company. Highly recommended!