How good is it to be able to make your own clothes? Amazing, right! As sewers we have the ability to see something we love that inspires us and make it our own. Inspiration can come from lots of places. Travel, art, the catwalks, or just a glance of something cool someone on the street was wearing that you just can't stop thinking about. Any excuse to sit down at the machine and get sewing!
Are you a planner? I am! in pretty much every aspect of my life, and that extends to my sewing. I love a Pinterest board to collect ideas, and always have a mental, if not physical list of things I want to make.
With the weather cooling, I've been thinking about my winter wardrobe. Whilst it's cooling off, it doesn't get super cold in Sydney, not for very long anyway, so layering is our friend.
I made this dress recently from some Liberty stretch gabardine. It is the most lovely weight fabric, suitable for so many projects. It's mid-weight, with a little stretch and an absolute dream to sew.
The pattern used for this make is Butterick 6872 and whilst it's a summer style, in a heavier-weight fabric it translates well to winter with a jacket or coat.
I really love this dress and want to make another in a more floaty fabric, something like viscose or silk. So that's number one on my to-make list.
Next up.....
Another recent make, the new Tamarama set pattern from swim style patterns ( you can find it here) I was lucky enough to test this pattern, and it is an absolute winner. The twin set trend is still going strong and I feel like this style could work so well for winter layered with a long coat and boots. I've made two sets already and a third set is next in line on my to-make list. This set was made in a lovely botanical linen, which worked beautifully, but I'd like to make it again in something more floaty, and possibly extend the sleeve for a winter version.
The third and final item on my to-make list... for now, is a patchwork quilt coat. Now, I know a lot of you will be familiar with quilting, and even have a spare quilt at home you can re-fashion. I personally am not a quilter, but I do have a lovely vintage quilt that has some holes that I'm going to cut up and refashion into a coat.
Here's my inspiration:
I'm going to keep the style simple with a rounded neck and no collar and bind the edges with some self-made bias.
So.... that's what's on my current to-make list. How about you? Are you a list maker? Do you have plans for the upcoming season?
Julia Mulcair is the owner of Pitt Trading, an Australian online fabric store and the lingerie society, a monthly subscription service for lingerie sewers. She grew up around fabric, and has been sewing for 30 years.
Julia focuses on garment sewing, with a particular love of lingerie making. She shares her makes on Instagram and YouTube and is always working on the next lingerie design!
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