It Starts with a Square

Learn to Sew Your Own Clothes Using Simple Shapes—No Patterns Required!

It Starts with a Square introduces 17 size-unlimited, low-waste garment patterns for beginners and beyond—no paper patterns, special notions, or sewing experience required.

Learn to sew your own low-waste, size-free wardrobe—starting with a simple square.

Tired of confusing sizing charts and tissue-paper patterns? Discover a beginner-friendly method that’s inclusive, modern, and sustainable with It Starts with a Square.

In this innovative guide to garment sewing, designer Cris Wood presents 17 wearable projects made entirely from basic squares and rectangles—no pre-sized pattern pieces or special notions needed. With Cris’s guidance, you’ll learn to measure your body and draw each pattern piece directly onto fabric, creating custom-fit clothing that’s both stylish and waste-conscious. With no zippers, no buttons, and only straight seams, this book offers the perfect on-ramp for new sewists.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Styles You’ll Make Again and Again: 17 size-unlimited garments, including tops, skirts, and dresses, plus variations
• Beginner-Friendly Support: A glossary of sewing terms and beginner FAQs
• Inspired Ideas for Confident Sewists: Hacks for mixing and matching pattern components
• Make-It-Your-Own Customizations: Tips on customizing garments for fit and function
• Inclusive Visuals: Over 200 illustrations and photos, including every project modeled on different body types

More than just a how-to, this book encourages you to have fun while you sew, exploring necklines, sleeves, skirt styles, and more, to build a modular, personal wardrobe. Packed with detailed illustrations, clear step-by-step instructions, and an innovative size-inclusive method, It Starts with a Square is your must-have guide to sewing garments you’ll love!

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.