Autumn and Winter Plans

It’s getting really chilly now, after a mediocre start to Autumn in Yorkshire, so I’m thinking about the gaps in my wardrobe that I’d like to fill for Autumn and Winter this year.

My lifestyle has changed slightly over the last year, I’ve moved to a new city and am cycling to work regularly. I also find myself walking much more than I used to, so comfort and flexibility in my clothing is really important now.

Whilst I love making dresses and skirts (and there are still a couple showing up on my makes list this season) I really need to make some versatile trousers that will transition from bicycle to desk. I have been wearing my linen Bobs, which work well in the warm weather, but my ankles are cold now! I need a tapered leg as well, to avoid the bicycle clips!

I watched The Foldline Sew The Trends video, which I highly recommend if you are feeling a bit lost, and I was able to narrow down some of the patterns I want to make and come up with a rough colour palette.

I have actually mainly ignored the ‘trendy’ colour palette because I don’t enjoy wearing beige or burgundy, but I will be including neutrals with green and rust / orange, to mix in with my existing wardrobe. I love wearing colour and want to be able to wear more bright colours, but I do find that it makes it more difficult getting dressed in the morning, and I actually need to think about outfits and plan them a bit.

Outerwear

The first thing I want to make is a new winter coat. I haven’t made one for a few years, and I have a RTW one that doesn’t fit me very well. I bought some deadstock checked coating fabric a few months ago and will be making the Classic Coat from The Maker’s Atelier. This is a timeless style, but there is a double breasted option that is more on-trend at the moment. I want to start this soon so that once the weather gets really cold it’s ready!

I also want to make a boxy jacket for the warmer autumn days, and have decided on the Lunar jacket by The New Craft House. This is another classic, simple style, that I can see getting a lot of wear. I’m not sure what fabric to use for this, I have a few options in my stash, including a chunky corduroy.

I have also cut out The New Craft House Everyday Waistcoat in a quilted tweed wool that I got from Cool Crafting after seeing at the Knitting and Stitching show last year. I went to the show with my mum (we try to go every year) and she was the one who suggested a waistcoat out of it would work well and could be layered under a coat for extra warmth. I will be making one for her at the same time, and we will just have to try not to wear them together.

Dresses

Moving on to dresses, I have already planned another Tilly and the Buttons Lyra Dress. I made a navy blue one earlier this year but in a poor quality fabric and it really lets it down. For this one I will be going for a Lady McElroy cotton lawn in green with a white dot pattern, I think it’s called “dotty about dots” but it’s sold out where I bought it from.

I also want to make a long, jersey dress, and have the Ruska Knot dress from Named’s first book “Breaking the Pattern”. I have some fabric options for this in my stash already, so need to make a decision on that. There are a lot of options for this dress, but I think I like the simple version with the high neck, long sleeves and side splits. I haven’t worn a figure-hugging dress for a long time, as I’m not really comfortable in that style anymore, so I will oversize this so that there is some ease and movement in it. I know it will be really comfy with tights and boots and my new green checked coat for winter walks. I also think it will work well paired with the Everyday Waistcoat.

Tops

I really enjoy wearing shirts in winter, with jumpers or tank-tops over. I already have a Paper Theory Olya Shirt cut out of a stripe Atelier Brunette viscose. The fabric is a very dark green and white stripe, which ties in with my colour palette and will seamlessly integrate into my wardrobe.

I also want to make the Patina Blouse, by Friday Pattern Company, in a white cotton. Again, I think this will look great with a v-neck jumper or tank top over, and will get a lot of wear.

I’ve been wearing my Anthea Blouses loads through the summer, but the sleeves are a bit annoying for wearing under jumpers and cardigans.

Knitwear

I will also be doing some knitting and have recently bought the Knitting for Olive book, which has a great simple tank top.

Trousers

Whilst tailored and wide-leg trousers seem to be ‘in’ at the moment, they just aren’t going to work well for me with cycling and I already have a few pairs that I can still wear through Autumn and Winter. I have recently finished the Everyday Trousers by The New Craft House in a pinstripe linen.

They have an elasticated waist, faux fly and pockets. Whilst they are a casual style, they look a bit more work appropriate in the pinstripe fabric. I’m wondering if I can make these out of a sweat shirting fabric and get away with them for work. My office isn’t smart smart, but I still need to be presentable for impromptu meetings, etc.

So in total, I’ve got 3 outerwear items, 2 dresses, 2 shirts / blouses and a pair of trousers. I need to find some more cycling appropriate work trousers, so if you have any recommendations please let me know :)

I am using fabrics from my stash for all of these makes, and will hopefully be able to get some wool for the tank top from my mum. The aim is to not buy anything in order to create these seasonal additions to my wardrobe, though I may need a few notions…

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