Creative Threads
Meet Becky, the maker behind Pattern Paper Scissors. A lifelong lover of sewing and creating, she's passionate about helping others discover the joy of making something with their own hands.
From easy-to-follow sewing patterns and thoughtfully curated kits to beautiful fabrics that bring every project to life, everything Becky designs is created to make sewing feel achievable, enjoyable and rewarding. Whether you're stitching for your own children, making a heartfelt gift or simply carving out some creative time for yourself, she's here to help you create something you'll be proud to say, "I made it myself."
Based in South London, UK
Known forDesigning create joyful, comfy patterns that makers love making and kids love wearing.
Instagram: @pattern_paper_scissors
“A truly great pattern isn't the one with the most impressive finish — it's the one a total beginner can actually complete without giving up halfway through”
— Becky from Pattern Paper Scissors
How did your sewing journey begin?
I learnt to sew at school, and at home on my mum's machine — so it's always felt like something that was passed down rather than something I discovered on my own. That early foundation took me into a fashion design degree, where I spent my time making and customising clothing. Once I started working in the fashion industry, though, sewing for myself fell away — the hours were long and there wasn't much left for making things purely for the joy of it. It wasn't until I had my first child, that I rediscovered that love properly, making cute outfits for her. That rediscovery is really the start of the Pattern Paper Scissors story.
What first sparked your interest in creating patterns for other people to sew?
Having spent 16 years inside the fashion industry, I'd seen first-hand how disposable clothing had become — and sewing became the antidote. That feeling crystallised once I started making for my daughter: there's something different about sewing for someone else, even a tiny person, that makes you think about how you'd hand that skill on. Designing patterns for other people wasn't just about the technical side (which my industry background had given me), it was about handing that same rediscovery to beginners who might never have thought sewing was for them.
What does your design process look like from first idea to finished pattern?
It usually starts with sketches and ideas — often sparked by something I've spotted on someone in the street, or by items already in our wardrobes that I just love, whether that's the comfort of them, the fit, or simply the joy they've brought. From there it's about translating that feeling into something a beginner can actually make: working out how to keep the construction simple without losing what made the original piece special in the first place.
How do you approach fit across different sizes?
I work to a standard industry size, similar to what you'd find in Next or M&S, so it should feel familiar rather than like learning a whole new sizing system. My advice is always to look at a child's height and head circumference as well as chest, waist and hips when choosing a size, and if you're unsure, size up. Most of my patterns are designed with a roomy fit anyway, and I always give garment measurements too, so if you're still not sure after checking the size chart, you've got another way to check.
What makes a truly great sewing pattern in your opinion?
A truly great pattern isn't the one with the most impressive finish — it's the one a total beginner can actually complete without giving up halfway through. I find some instructions on traditional patterns so hard to understand, and I think the picture needs to be doing just as much work as the text. So clear instructions, forgiving fit, and fabric requirements that don't waste half a metre are all key!
What are the most common challenges home sewists face - and how do you design to support them?
Time is the big one — most of my customers are mums, grandmothers, and beginners fitting sewing in around everything else. My advice is always to set up ready for a project in advance, and to remember the prep for a project is always going to take a while before you even get to sewing: cutting the pattern out, measuring for the right size, PDF printing if that's how you're working, and cutting out the fabric. If you go in expecting the sewing itself to be the whole job, the prep stage can feel like it's eating your precious time — but if you know it's coming, you can carve it out separately and the actual sewing feels much more relaxed.
What inspires your designs?
Mostly comfort, and what kids can actually play in and get joy from — clothes that get worn again and again and again, not just for best. There's something priceless about seeing a child's happy face when they're gifted something handmade and that moment is really what I'm designing towards.
Sustainability and slow fashion sit right alongside that too: the idea of making something, wearing it, and passing it on rather than it ending up in landfill. I'm carrying that same thinking into the women's patterns I'm developing at the moment, thinking hard about how the 40 plus age range actually want to wear their clothes — comfort and fit are just as key there as they are for kids.
What does your typical day look like?
Every day is different, but it all works around school hours so I can do the drop off and pick up. Beyond that, it depends on the day: I might be working on the monthly Prima magazine pattern, which is fast paced and has its own deadlines to hit, or teaching beginners how to sew at a sewing club. Other days it's more Pattern Paper Scissors focused — packing orders, working on new ideas, and chatting with the community. It's a lot of plates spinning, but I love it.
What advice would you give to your younger creative self?
Things change. What feels right when you're younger (for me that was wanting to be a fashion designer with a catwalk show in New York) won't necessarily be the right thing in your 40s. I love working and being creative but being able to be there for my children around school matters just as much to me. I'm carving out a lifestyle that works around both those things, rather than choosing one over the other.
What is next for you?
I've been having a wonderful time developing Sewing labels and just bought out a Mum/Granny and Nan mini range. Next up is a small women's wear range I'm developing — joyful, comfortable patterns for women embracing midlife, designed with the same comfort-and-fit-first thinking that goes into everything I make. It's still taking shape, so I'm not putting a firm date on it, but I'm hoping to launch late 2026 into 2027. You can follow Pattern Paper Scissors on Instagram @pattern_paper_scissors and see Pattern Paper Scissors patterns on our website here.
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Creative Threads is our interview series celebrating the people behind the makes — from designers and makers to creative business owners and inspiring members of the wider sewing community. In each feature, we take a closer look at what inspires them, how they got started, and the small details that shape their creative life.
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