freesewing/sites/orgdocs/docs/about/guide/readme.mdx

---
title: Getting started with FreeSewing.org
order: 100
---

Hi there 👋 and welcome to FreeSewing.org 🙂

If you are new to FreeSewing, please take a few minutes to read this page and learn all about:

- [What FreeSewing is](#what-is-freesewing)
- [What FreeSewing.org is](#what-is-freesewingorg)
- [What the difference is between patterns and designs](#patterns-vs-designs)
- [What measurements sets are](#measurements-sets)
- [Where to turn to for support](#where-to-turn-to-for-help)

Sounds good? Then let's dive right in:

## What is FreeSewing?

FreeSewing is the leading [open source library](https://github.com/freesewing)
for on-demand garment manufacturing.  Loved by home sewers and fashion
entrepreneurs alike, FreeSewing provides the tech stack for your creative
endeavours.

FreeSewing is the brain-child of [Joost De
Cock](https://github.com/joostdecock), the FreeSewing maintainer.  Various
other people have contributed to FreeSewing over the years (the [FreeSewing
contributors](https://github.com/freesewing/freesewing?tab=readme-ov-file#contributors-)),
and the project is financially supported by [the FreeSewing
patrons](https://freesewing.org/patrons).

:::tip


For more info about FreeSewing -- the open source project -- refer to
[FreeSewing.dev](https://freesewing.dev/) which hosts documentation for
developers, designers, contributors, and translators.

:::

## What is FreeSewing.org?

Freesewing.org is the FreeSewing project's flagship website where we offer
our ever-growing collection of bespoke sewing patterns to makers all
over the world.

FreeSewing is not about fashion, trends, or publishing the hot new pattern of
the season.  Instead, we want to empower makers by distilling the knowledge of
the sewing community into parametric designs + documentation, and make that
information freely available.

FreeSewing.org is our most visible asset, and for many people their first
encounter with the FreeSewing project.

## Patterns vs Designs

If you came to this site looking for _sewing patterns_ and did not immediately
find a place to download them, that's because all of FreeSewing's sewing
patterns are **made to measure**.

We don’t scale or grade patterns.
Instead, FreeSewing drafts a design into a pattern made to your measurements.
That happens in real-time, in your browser.

- **Design**: One of the styles that we offer. We've got dozens of designs, and
  you can try them all
- **Pattern**: The result of *drafting the design* (turning it into a sewing
  pattern to your measurements). We've got thousands of patterns stored for our
  users, and some might be yours

:::tip
##### Saving is optional

When you generate a bespoke pattern, you can tweak it endlessly through its various options,
and export it to a range of formats, including PDF.
But it remains ephemeral until you save it to your account, so it
becomes one of **your patterns**.

Saving your pattern is optional, but it allows you to re-visit the pattern later,
make further tweaks to it or simply download the PDF again.

You can save as many patterns as you like.
:::

:::note
##### We respect the strictest privacy laws on the planet
To generate bespoke sewing patterns, we need your measurements.
Asking for them every time would be rather tedious, so we store them in your account.

Your account data is stored on our backend, subject to [our privacy notice](/docs/about/privacy),
and with respect for [your rights](/docs/about/rights/).
:::


## Measurements sets

Once you have an account, you can start adding measurements.
But that quickly brings up the next question: what if you want
a pattern for you, but also for your partner?

That's why we have **measurements sets**. You can add as many measurements sets as you like.
Having just one for yourself is fine too.

:::tip
##### Curated measurements sets

FreeSewing also provides **curated measurements sets**. These are measurements
set from real people that we use to test our platform and designs. But you can
also use them to test-drive our platform before you break out the measuring
tape.
:::

## Where to turn to for help

If you get stuck, consult [the support page](https://freesewing.org/support/) for various support options.