DIY Roundup – 10 Sewing Patterns for Spring

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Over the past few weeks I’ve been following along with the Seamwork Design Your Wardrobe project/class. It’s been a great way to develop wardrobe inspiration and start planning a DIY wardrobe refresh. I’ve been looking at lots of patterns and considering how they might fit into my spring wardrobe. You can check out my inspiration board on IG here. I enjoy wearing dresses too but I already have a lot of those in my closet. I’m going to be focusing on pants and tops for a casual work wardrobe. I’m taking the planning process slowly, but I’m excited to dive in soon. Today I’ll give you a sneak peek of some of the patterns that are topping my list  (plus a few dresses to balance it the imaginary wardrobe).

10 Patterns for Spring Sewing

1. Lander Pants by True Bias
I don’t think it would be an understatement to say that "these pants are my everything”. I love the high waist and exposed button fly. I can’t wait to finally give them a go. 

2. Willamette Shirt by Hey June Patterns
This pattern selection was very much influenced by my inspiration board. I already knew that I really like boxy tops (like my pattern the Lou Box Top) and this one has the extra details that I’m looking for this season.

3. Veronica Dress by Seamwork
I love the fitted waist and cap sleeves on this dress. 

4. Calyer Pants by French Navy
One of the silhouettes that I’m really drawn to is high-waist pleated pants that taper to the ankle. They are so casual and chic at the same time and very nearly fit exactly what I want (I’d only like a slightly higher waist). 

5. Collins Top by In the Folds
This top is on my 2018 Make Nine and I love the easy fit and interesting design lines.

6. Highlands Wrap Dress by Allie Olson
This is such a classic wrap dress that would flatter any figure.

7. Wyome Boyfriend Jeans by Named Clothing
I love the tapered leg and angled pockets on these jeans. Oh and they have an exposed button fly, which apparently I have a bit of an obsession with. 

8. Winslow Culottes by Helen's Closet
I love the dramatic wide leg of these culottes.

9. Mila Dungarees by Tilly and The Buttons
Last year I made the Burnside Bibs by Sew House 7 and have worn them a lot, proving that I do still love to wear overalls. These are fun, more traditional version. 

10. Darling Ranges dress by Meghan Nielsen
I made this pattern last year and really love it. It’s easy to wear (and sew) and I love the button front and v-neck.

What's on your sewing list for spring this year?

Winter Sewing Plans 2018

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I had a small sewing hiatus when I moved house last month and by the time I was ready to get started again, my ongoing mental list of what I wanted to sew had somehow disappeared. I usually have four to five things in my mental queue at all times so it was odd to have nothing come to mind. I went back and looked at my 2017 Make Nine list and even though I have 4 things left to sew, I decided to make a new list for the winter season.

Living in Los Angeles, we don’t get the classic seasons. The months all kind of blend together in endless days of sunshine. There are occasional heat waves in November (records were broken this Thanksgiving!). The biggest change is the amount of daylight during the day and it gets really cold, really fast at night. My winter wardrobe is pretty much pants, boots, cardigans and scarves–things that can be layered and un-layered as needed for the variable temperatures. (In case you missed it, check out my inspiration post here.)

I selected these patterns because they are things that I can wear everyday and/or will be fun to make. I've really enjoyed following Elena's Maker Capsule Wardrobe and while I would not call this plan a capsule wardrobe I do hope that it will mix and match with my existing pieces and be frequently worn. Plus I'm really excited to try a few new patterns and silhouettes because that's just one of the fun parts of sewing clothes. 

2018 Winter Sewing Plans

1) Lander Pants by True Bias
There are so many things to love about this queue jumper – the high waist, the exposed button fly. On my last trip to The Fabric Store I picked up some of this dark denim that I think will be perfect for these pants. (Disclosure: I have an ongoing partnership with The Fabric Store. They give me fabric to play with and post about. However all opinions are my own and I can honestly say that I love their store.)

2) Kalle Shirt Dress by Closet Case Patterns
I bought this pattern along with the sleeve expansion during the recent sale. I love the loose fit, drop shoulder and exaggerated curved hem. I was also thinking about doing an Archer/Alder mashup but it seemed like more work. So a new pattern it is! I have two plaid fabrics, also from The Fabric Store that are the perfect weight for a shirt or shirtdress.

3) Rosa Shirt by Tilly Buttons
The Rosa Shirt is from my Make Nine list and I've had the pattern printed for months. Again, I have a fabric from The Fabric Store that would make the perfect western style button down. 

4) Simplicity 3966 (OOP)
Before our latest heat wave it was really cold (for LA) and I somehow got it in my head that I should make a coat. I've had Simplicity 3966 in my stash since it was released in 2006. I love the oversized style and I think making a coat could be fun. The only tricky thing is that I'm allergic to wool and it's really hard to find wool-free coating fabric. I ordered this boucle from Joanns. It arrived this week and I love it but I didn't realize that it has stretch in it and I think it may not work for a coat. 

5) Blackwood Cardigan by Helen’s Closet
I've made this cardigan three times (including the fair isle fabric shown above) before and I love it. It's totally a TNT. Perfect for that extra layer of warmth I always need. For the fair isle sweater knit, I made a long split hem variation (tutorial here). 

Of course, I'd love to finish sewing all these things in December but realistically it will likely be around February when I actually finish. If ever. Haha! Sometimes the best part is the planning.