Sew like a Bro: Where to Find Cool Men’s Sewing Patterns
- Words by Peppermint
There’s nothing inherently gendered about the act of sewing. Almost everyone could probably name a male sewist off the top of their head whether it’s Tim Gunn, Christian Siriano, or that fellow with the moustache from the Great British Sewing Bee (apparently he sometimes goes by Patrick Grant). But the healthy smattering of male sewing superstars does not necessarily translate into swathes of men comfortably choosing sewing as a fun personal hobby.
Male home sewists face a lot of challenges (we explore this topic in our ‘How Bro Can You Sew’ article in Issue 51, on sale now *wink wink*) but one of the most pressing issues facing these fashionable fellas is the lack of cool patterns available for men. It’s practically criminal that those of us on the femme side of style seem to be offered endless variation in vestments while those looking to craft more masculine garb are offered a button up shirt pattern and maybe a pair of chinos if they’re lucky.
So in solidarity with our brothers-in-attire, we’ve rounded up some brands that offer a range of men’s sewing patterns with variation, flair and style.
Thread Theory
Founded in 2012 by Morgan and Matt Meredith, Thread Theory was born with the aim of “bringing menswear to the forefront of the DIY fashion movement”. With collections like Alpine Outdoors, Parkland Casual and Quarry Workwear, Thread Theory cultivates a rugged, outdoorsy aesthetic for fans of the manly man with a sewing machine and a plan.
Wardrobe By Me
Based in Denmark, Wardrobe by Me offers a wide range of men’s patterns in classic contemporary Scandi-styles. Founder Christina Albeck brings over 25 years of experience as a technical designer in the fashion industry to her patternmaking, with a focus on practicality, ease of styling and broad appeal. There’s enough smart basics to put you well on your way to sewing a whole capsule wardrobe.
Grasser
These are patterns for the stylish man about town. Grasser is a Russian pattern company known for their affordable prices and designer-inspired looks. They have a considerable collection of men’s clothes on their English site and even more on their Russian homepage if you’re willing to entrust your instructions to the grace of Google Translate.
Jalie
Jalie is a family company founded in Québec City, Canada and run by mother-daughter duo Jeanne and Émilie. They make “practical patterns for the whole family” and feature a healthy selection of sewing patterns for men and boys. Jalie has a special focus on sports and athletic-wear patterns. They can take you from the beach, with board shorts and tank tops, to the mountains, with thermal underwear and puffer jackets.
Elbe Textiles
Lauren Boyle of Elbe Textiles should be well known to Peppermint pals. She worked with us on two of our most beloved patterns – the Wide-Strap Maxi Dress and the Bardon Dress! In her own collection there are a lot of pieces that are unisex as well as some designed specifically for men, all in that signature aesthetic we love so much!
Folkwear
If you’ve sewn all the sensible shirts and chinos you can stand and are looking for some more ‘out there’ attire, you may want to try Folkwear’s wares. Started in California in the 1970s, Folkwear makes high-quality sewing patterns for historic and folk clothing based on authentic garments, which can be used for historical and theatrical costuming or just some unique, eye-catching, everyday wear. Try making a Romantic era poet’s shirt, a pair of WWII Navy Sailor Pants or perhaps even a French Cheesemaker’s Smock?
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
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🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
