Make your own clothes: Liberty sewing patterns
Photo: Claire Pepper
Good news, dressmakers. Liberty has launched a new range of paper sewing patterns. Inspired by the department store’s archives, the latest designs have been given a high fashion spin. The five different sewing patterns include: a maxi dress worthy of Florence Welch, a snazzy palazzo suit (wrap top and wide leg palazzo pants) and a 1940s-inspired tea dress.
For someone who doesn’t possess the skills to make their own clothes, I have spent an inordinate amount of time in Liberty’s haberdashery department over the years. This is a habit picked up when I first moved to London and worked near Oxford Circus. Many a lunchtime was spent drooling over the beautiful printed fabrics in-store (not literally, that would’ve been expensive). Then saving up to buy Liberty Tana Lawn fabric, in very small quantities. I could just about afford enough for a pair of shorts. I was in my twenties. This was pre-varicose veins.
Liberty invited me to see a preview of the patterns (available HERE) and very generously offered to make up the garment of my choice in a Liberty print fabric. I know, I am spoilt. Embracing Big Sleeve Energy I opted for the Thea Boho Sleeve Shirt in a cotton Liberty print Tana Lawn fabric called Felix and Isabelle. The sleeves are not quite Olivia Coleman at the Golden Globes dimensions and fit easily inside the sleeves of my coat. I am beyond delighted with my ‘design’.
Making the fabric selection for my boho shirt
Style Notes: My cross body bag is by Mimi Berry, trousers are very old Rag & Bone and suede boots are Acne Studios (part of a collaboration with FarFetch)
More lovely paper sewing patterns and style inspiration:
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Discussion (43 Comments)
What a lucky girl you are, Alison! That blouse is lovely. And the print is so great with navy, and will be equally great with jeans. I wish I could sew. Oh, I know the basics of how to run a sewing machine courtesy of my grade eight Home Economics class where we made dirndl skirts of cotton broadcloth. This was 1969, and of course we all made them super short. So imagine my long skinny legs sticking out from under that puffy skirt that looked more like a tutu it was so short. Sigh. Not a good look. Ha. But I was thirteen and thought I looked amazing.
Linda B Kerr says:
I am ordering the blouse pattern immediately. I am fortunate to have been taught to sew as a young girl. I LOVE those sleeves, and the fabric as well….Will probably be duplicating it exactly.
Thank you!Luna says:
They are absolutely lovely patterns but they are also exact copies of vogue patterns. I’m assuming they arranged something with vogue as they are line for line exact. They do look much nicer in the Liberty fabrics however!
Wow, thanks Luna. I’ll have to see which one is a match-up for this blouse and order some Liberty fabric. Vogue is so accessible to me and priced much less (especially when on sale).
Shirley says:
Thanks Luna for the heads up! I was wondering why it looked familiar. 🙂
Mrs Tonia says:
This is a post after my heart Alyson. Lovely blouse you are wearing in a super Paisley lawn.
I too haunted the haberdashery department of Libertys from when I was a school girl. Recently buried deep in storage I uncovered many pristine lengths of Liberty fabrics : lawns, poplins, fine wools and furnishing fabrics. I’d bought these and put them aside for projects. Now I’m determined reading this, seeing you in this garment and thinking about the sustainability aspect to definitely make some dresses or tops for myself.
You are very fortunate to have been given a finished garment to your specifications.
Thanks for bringing these patterns to our attention.I am able to sew (as a matter of fact, my current blog post is of a jacket I made). I am going to seriously consider buying this pattern. I love it in the blue/teal fabric that’s on the model.
I was tempted to use that fabric too, Kimberley, it’s absolutely lovely. Such a beautiful shade of blue.
Hilary King says:
I’ve still got precious lengths of Tana Lawn from the 60’s. I used to bunk off school and spend the day in the store off Regent St, taking sandwiches and a flask of tea. Best days out of my life. Yay to the patterns. Still making clothes after 55 years but can’t bear to use that fabric………yet!
Susan says:
I’m with you Hilary.. My frequent trips to London from Ontario Canada, were often spent with hours at Liberty handling and trying desperately to choose the right Tana Lawn to bring back home. I still have many uncut yardages that are awaiting that perfect design. It’s hard to cut into a piece of art.
Saba says:
A nice topic! An interview with a present or former designer of Liberty fabrics would also be a welcome column.
Johanne says:
There was a documentary television series about Liberty a few years ago, called Liberty of London.
Amongst the many wonderful things in that series was an interview with the head of the fabric design department. There were brilliant scenes of going through the fabric design pattern archive and visiting the fabrics being printed to check colour and quality of the fabric.
Christine Dyson says:
Thanks for the heads up on the new patterns from Liberty. This one looks like a good buy, there are quite a few variations on the sleeves included in this one. Aged 57, I can now contemplate reliving the 70s, I loved 50s and 60s vintage back then. I had a beautiful full sleeve blouse in pale pink with a penny collar from M&S as a kid, worn under a short sleeved jumper. Not sure I’ll be able to make one in Tara Lawn, sadly, the prints are so dreamy x
Karen McBride says:
These are just FUN! No, I couldn’t wear these prints and furbelows any more, but they make me happy to see them. And you look splendid in that blouse!
Trefor Watson says:
I shall order the blouse pattern. Its a stunning design and going to be a challenge. I have been having sewing lessons using my late mother’s machine which l love using. Liberty fabrics are just stunning and beautiful to work with. Been trying to visit the shop in London but l have major mobility problems and need to persuade my carer to take me. This is going to be a great new project for me. Thank you.
Jac says:
I’m so happy to see this revival of home sewing. I worked in the fabric department of Liberty years ago when a whole floor was given over to sewing and needlecraft. Was sad to see it reduced to one or two small rooms over the years with the advent of fast fashion. Thankfully these crafts have thrived and survived online in the intervening years. There’s nothing like a Liberty print to lift the spirits.
olwyn fleming says:
Thanks for this;I love Liberty cotton fabrics.I live in S W France and last year I found a fabric shop that had a wide choice of Liberty fabrics.Had some tops made and they are great for our long hot summers.
Linda Pennell says:
This is indeed a great return to the heydays of Liberty from my Youth!! Would be great to have John Lewis take a step this way- maybe not have the whole ground floor for fabric etc as in the 70s though!
Also I have just discovered that marvellous Merchant and Mills have now some patterns in larger sizes Hoorah!!
Great for traditionally built women!Robyn says:
The blouse is beautiful. The updated sleeves really makes the blouse look fresh. I’ve not been a Liberty Print fan until recently. They seemed kinda of sweet looking for me. A month ago I bought two blouses and love them, I like the style of your blouse better but with broad shoulders and a larger chest it’s not the most flattering on me.
Wish I could sew!Rach with an E says:
Living in London in the mid/late 80s, I too used to while away hours in Libertry with a long wishlist but no money. I did have an Ianthe print blouse which I made, sadly long gone, bit I might have to revive it with the new patterns. The maxi dress is beautiful, as is the fabric, bit will spoil dragging through the puddles of Manchester!
Isobel says:
What a beautiful shirt, and I think that particular design is the nicest I’ve seen of all the big puffy sleeves around. Paisley has been one of my MOST favourite prints since the 70s, when I worked selling dress fabrics (not Liberty’s, unfortunately!) and made my own puffy-sleeved blouses and mini and midi skirts. I’d love to have the exact one you’re wearing, Alyson! And you’ve had me drooling over more Liberty fabrics online!
DENISE BRIESE says:
Wow you Rock that shirt! Really stunning on you!
I am 58 year old just getting back into sewing and you definitely have peaked my interest with these patterns! I love how your blog is all over with your posts/reviews! Thank you.Martine Large says:
I was put off sewing at school, where any passion for the subject was killed making full-body pinnies (we were 12!). However, as a poor student I used to buy stuff from jumble sales because I liked the fabric, and remake it. And Honey magazine used to print free diagrams of patterns for you to size up onto checked paper. I’ve not used those skills for decades, but presumably they are lying dormant somewhere.
Freida says:
It is soooo nice to know that I am not the only crazy drooling person who cannot bear to use her liberty fabrics!
Maisie says:
The blouse is lovely, I’d have a go at making it but will have to finally do something about my two sewing machines, since both have problems, and I’m reduced to doing my sewing chores by hand.
In the early 70’s my work was just a few doors down from Liberty’s. I remember making a smock ( remember those ? ) in a Tana lawn print on a black background. I still have it. I also made a skirt with contrasting panels of Liberty print. Worn with my black suede Biba boots. Those were the days ….I wonder what happened to that skirt..and the boots.Patrish says:
I was in London 4 X per year for dozens of years on business. I’d fly from the US a day early before I had to be in Shepton Mallet for business.
That day I spent at Liberty. I still have clothing in my closet, decorative pillows, scarves, jewelry and more from those days in the 80’s and 90’s. I can still see me roaming through each department….lovely memories. Their fabric department is bar none.
Thanks for the memories……I once remarked to someone working there that I should be spending my day roaming around a museum and she said ‘Liberty IS a museum of sorts’. Love love love the place.Janet says:
I’ve sewn with a variety of Liberty fabrics throughout my life; in the late 70’s they had deliciously floaty cotton voiles, also some lovely Varuna wool skirts (varuna was a very fine woven wool, printed with Liberty designs.) Last year I made myself a sleeveless shirt/blouse in a Tana lawn with Isle of Wight print – ideal for hot summer weather. Its lovely fabric to sew, and also washes and wears well.
Ah yes Varuna wool. I’ve got some skirt/dress lengths of the stuff I’d kept for decades. Off in a trunk. The fabric designers I especially admired were Bernard Neville and the Collier Campbell sisters. Great designs in wonderful colourways. Glad I’m not the only person keeping fabric for future use inadvertently. There seems to be a “club” of us from comments above.
And I’ve also got silk scarves I bought there in 60s, 70s and 80s still going strong. Still beautiful patterns. Still wearable. The secret for keeping them looking and feeling so good has been the hand washing. The first time I did this was with a square I got on sale as a teenager. I washed in tepid water with Brora cashmere wash. Rolled it in a towel and hung it up to air dry. Great results which inspired me to hand wash other ones. They don’t age if looked after.
Allie says:
Love the blouse, it’s going to be my next project 🙂 I’ve brought my old sewing skills out of hibernation, as the clothes I like are so expensive. We have an informal women’s craft group going locally – all are younger than me, and never learned to sew. I’m going to show them how to make a simple pair of culottes / trousers for summer.
Gabrielle KNOWLES-GREEN says:
Liberty used to make a lovely fluid viscose, so good for garment movement (and as a natural fibre, no static). I do wish they would bring that back, especially as so many High St lines are made from polyester – which is just plastic. Yuk on a hot day, and terrible for the environment.
I like the style of your blouse and the fabric used.I Live in Perth WA. Could you please let me know if this fabric and the patterns mentioned is available here. Thanks.
Susan says:
I think Tessuti fabrics are stocking them. Check their website. They have shops in Sydney and Melbourne. Their online store is great. Great service as well and fast shipping.
Vikki says:
Oooooohhhhh, you chose well, absolutely adore your blouse and the fabric, give me anything paisley!
Son lives in London now and so I get to peruse Liberty much more, and yes, the stationary!
Love your blog and podcasts,
Vikki xxxSharan says:
It looks beautiful on you! As a sewist, I’m excited to know about Liberty patterns.
Maryann 
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Ooh, those sleeves are gorgeous! I share your haberdashery dept habit and have perved over lots of yarn, fabrics and accoutrements, and even bought some of them…