Ann Ringstrand Sewing Pattern Book Review
There are some sewing books that you buy for one particular pattern, and others that you find yourself returning to again and again. Ann Ringstrand's SEW books very much fall into the latter category for me.
I first discovered Swedish designer Ann Ringstrand through Instagram and was immediately drawn to her modern, understated aesthetic. Her designs have that distinctive Scandinavian simplicity I love, but they're far from basic: thoughtful proportions, tailoring and workwear influences give them a character of their own.
Perhaps most importantly, these are clothes designed to be worn.
Rather than focusing on individual statement makes, Ann encourages us to think about how garments work together and how fabric, colour and styling can help us create a wardrobe that feels personal and cohesive.
It's an approach to dressmaking that resonates with me more and more – choosing patterns thoughtfully, making clothes that work with what we already own and returning to successful shapes rather than constantly looking for something new.
Who is Ann Ringstrand
Ann Ringstrand has spent much of her career within the fashion industry and was one of the founders of the successful Swedish fashion brand Hope.
Her aesthetic combines Scandinavian minimalism with elements of classic tailoring, menswear and traditional workwear. Clean lines sit alongside functional details such as pockets, linings and carefully considered proportions.
In 2019, Ann was approached by Swedish publisher Bonnier Fakta to create a home-sewing book featuring full-scale paper patterns in her signature style.
The result was a collection that brought her fashion-design experience to home sewing, while embracing a slower, more considered approach to creating clothes.
SEW: 10 New Fashion Styles
Ann's first sewing book, SEW: 10 New Fashion Styles, brings together ten full-size sewing patterns for creating a modern handmade wardrobe.
The collection includes shirts, dresses, a kaftan, trousers, a blazer and a coat, ranging from relaxed everyday pieces through to more tailored garments. Full-scale paper sewing patterns are included with the book for you to trace and use.
What particularly appeals to me is the balance between simplicity and interesting design.
At first glance, many of the garments appear quite minimal, but look more closely and you'll find the details that make them distinctive – proportion, volume, pockets, collars and subtle elements borrowed from tailoring and workwear.
They're also the kind of patterns that leave plenty of room for interpretation through fabric choice. A design made in washed linen can feel relaxed and informal; the same pattern in a crisp cotton, wool or more structured cloth can become something quite different.
SEW: 10 New Fashion Styles
Ann developed the idea further with her second book, SEW: 10 Matching Key Styles for Your Wardrobe.
This time the emphasis is firmly on creating a collection of clothes that can be worn together.
The ten patterns include a coat, jacket, blazer, waistcoat, dress, skirt, two pairs of trousers and two shirts – essentially the building blocks of a small handmade wardrobe.
I particularly like this way of thinking about sewing. It's very easy to fall in love with a fabric or discover an interesting new pattern without considering how the finished garment will work with the clothes we already own.
Ann takes you through that process, with guidance on developing a colour palette, choosing fabrics and considering how the individual pieces can be combined.
Rather than simply giving you ten more sewing patterns, the book encourages you to think more like a designer creating a small collection.
More Than a Collection of Sewing Patterns
This is probably what distinguishes Ann Ringstrand's books most for me... alongside the patterns and construction guidance, Ann talks about fabric, colour and styling, with suggestions for how the finished garments might be worn.
It also encourages you to look beyond the photograph of the original garment and think about what else a pattern could become.
Sometimes that might mean making a noticeable pattern alteration, but often the changes can be incredibly simple: shortening a hem, leaving off a pocket, changing a sleeve or choosing a fabric very different from the one originally envisaged.
Ann's clean silhouettes lend themselves particularly well to this. They provide a strong starting point while leaving plenty of room for fabric and personal styling to change the character of the finished garment.
It's something I've become increasingly interested in with my own sewing – using a pattern as a starting point for creating clothes that suit the way I actually want to dress.
You might also enjoy my Making a Sewing Pattern Your Own post, where I share how a few simple changes transformed The Assembly Line A-Line Midi Skirt into one of my favourite recent makes.
Which Ann Ringstrand Book Should You Choose
I don't think there's necessarily a better book of the two – it depends on what you're hoping to sew.
If you're attracted to individual modern wardrobe pieces, I'd start with SEW: 10 New Fashion Styles. There's a lovely breadth to the collection, from relaxed dresses and shirts through to tailoring and outerwear, with plenty of opportunity to interpret the designs in your own way.
If you're particularly interested in building a coordinated handmade wardrobe, SEW: 10 Matching Key Styles for Your Wardrobe is perhaps the natural choice. The patterns have been conceived as a collection, and the additional guidance around colour, fabric and styling makes the wardrobe-building element especially useful.
Of course, the two books complement one another beautifully, giving you twenty modern sewing patterns that can be mixed, matched and revisited over time.
Why I Recommend Ann Ringstrand's SEW Books
I've stocked Ann Ringstrand's books for some time now, and they've become consistently popular with customers at The Draper's Daughter. I can understand why.
The patterns feel modern without being overly trend-led, the styling is inspiring without being prescriptive, and there's plenty of scope to make the designs your own.
For anyone drawn to Scandinavian style, modern wearable shapes and the idea of creating a more considered handmade wardrobe, these are books that offer far more than a collection of individual sewing projects.
What's Next for Recommend Ann Ringstrand?
There's another reason this feels like a particularly good time to rediscover Ann's work: a new sewing book is expected in 2027.
Details are still limited, but I'll be following its development with interest and will update this post as we learn more.
Explore Ann Ringstrand Sewing Patterns
You can find both of Ann's current sewing books at The Draper's Daughter:
SEW: 10 Matching Key Styles for Your Wardrobe – ten coordinating sewing patterns, together with guidance for creating a considered handmade wardrobe.
SEW: 10 New Fashion Styles – ten full-size sewing patterns combining modern Scandinavian design with tailoring and workwear influences.
You can also explore the full Ann Ringstrand collection at The Draper's Daughter.
Originally published March 2025. Updated September 2026.