Sahara shirt sewing pattern

Sahara is a good starting point if you want a shirt project without a tight, fussy fit. The oversized cut gives you room to work, and the design details are visible enough to make the finished piece feel more polished than a plain cover-up.

For the easiest sew, choose cotton poplin or stable linen. If you have more experience, try satin, silk, habotai or sand-washed satin for a softer, more fluid version. The pattern can look relaxed or dressed-up depending on the fabric.

Fabric requirements

• Fabric: 140 cm / 55 in wide × 235 cm / 93 in
• Fusible interfacing: 140 cm / 55 in wide × 110 cm / 44 in

For a crisp, easy build, use cotton poplin or stable linen. These fabrics hold the shirt shape well and make the cuffs, belt and edges easier to control.

For a more luxurious version, use satin, silk or sand-washed satin. For a lighter summer cover-up, choose gauzy linen. The more fluid the fabric, the softer and more relaxed the final shirt will feel.

Supplies

• 11 buttons, 1 cm / ½ in diameter
• Main fabric
• Fusible interfacing
• Matching thread

Equipment

• Sewing machine
• Overlocker / serger
• Pins
• Needles
• Fabric scissors
• Paper scissors

Sahara is available in XS–L / UK 4–18 / EUR 32–46 / US 0–14.

The fit is oversized and relaxed, so choose your size based on how much volume you want through the body and sleeves. If you prefer a looser cover-up, stay true to size. If you want a neater shirt shape, check the finished proportions before cutting.

All sewing patterns are drafted for a dressmaker’s B cup, so fuller cup sizes may need a full bust adjustment.

Included in your download pack

• PDF sewing pattern in A4 and US Letter, tiled pages for home printing, all sizes nested
• PDF sewing pattern in A0, one sheet for a copy shop, all sizes nested
• Step by step sewing instructions PDF
• How to print guide PDF: print settings, scale check and how to piece the pages together

File structure

├── How to Print Documentation.pdf
├── Sewing Instructions.pdf
└── Sewing Patterns
    ├── A0 (one sheet)
    ├── A4 (tiled pages)
    └── US Letter (tiled pages)

The size chart is on this page and on the Size charts page. It is not a separate file in the pack.

This is a digital product. No paper pattern will be posted.

After checkout, you can download the sewing pattern pack from your order completion page, from your download email, or later through My Account → Downloads.

• PDF: Open the PDF files in Adobe Reader and print at 100% scale, not “scale to fit”.
• Downloads: Save the ZIP file to a laptop or computer rather than downloading it to a mobile device.

For personal use only.

You may not sell garments made from this pattern, and you may not resell, lend, share, or redistribute the original pattern files. Please read our Terms & Conditions for more information.

Sahara is the cover-up that does more than cover up.

The shape is oversized and easy, with dropped shoulders, open-tab cuffs and a belt that lets you pull the volume in when you want more definition. It works as a poolside layer, a summer shirt, a loose belted tunic or a softer holiday piece over swimwear and separates.

Make it in linen and it feels relaxed. Make it in cotton poplin and it becomes crisp. Make it in satin or silk and the whole shirt shifts into something more polished.

This is a good pattern for beginners who want a garment with impact, not just practice seams. Low stress. High use. The kind of piece that gets packed first.