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Designing Your Wardrobe

Other members of Seamwork will will know about the Design Your Wardrobe course they run 4 times a year.

I've found it really helpful in bringing some purpose to my sewing (not as boring as I have made that sound). It's not about planning things out to the nth degree; it's more about thinking about what you need and want and how that might work with what you already have. It's about having a theme and a goal and using both of those to guide you when making sewing plans.

For me it has saved money and gradually over the last 2 years I have built a wardrobe where things work together. I find the whole process to be very pleasing and helpful!!

This is my mood board for Autumn. Firming up on a colour palette and thinking about fabrics and patterns comes later. The last week has been about inspiration, goals, context, life events and life areas.

My goal is to be able to move seamlessly through my days - working from home, walking the dogs, able to meet friends for coffee, doing some yoga stretches, jumping on Zoom for work meetings, running errands - without having to get changed. I only want to get dressed once each day! I also want to wear the good stuff! I want to stop 'saving it for best' (I know, that dates me even more than my face does!). My words for Autumn are Colour - Comfort - Chic.

· 3 weeks ago

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Ariane_et_le_fil · 2 weeks ago Community Member

I love the colors you chose !

· 2 weeks ago

SewHayleyJane · 2 weeks ago Admin

This sounds great Donnie, I do love the look of Seamworks design your wardrobe!

The moodboard is great, those colours are gorgeous and very you! Have you picked out patterns and fabrics already?

· 2 weeks ago

DonnieH · 2 weeks ago Plus Member

Not yet! Trying to be a good girl and work the process! Next stage is to shop our existing wardrobe and stash and then plan to fill in any gaps…..

· 2 weeks ago

Anniehen · 2 weeks ago Plus Member

Your mood board is gorgeous Donnie. Looking forward to seeing the patterns you choose (missed you at Saturday’s sewcial).

· 2 weeks ago

DonnieH · 2 weeks ago Plus Member

Thank you Annie. Had to move some things around for work last week and, long story cut short, managed to face plant across my front door threshold whilst carry stuff around. I’m fine now but felt very sorry for myself at the end of last week and found it difficult to sit for any length of time. Arnica has brought the bruises out and the old bones are recovering! The worst thing was that it triggered some sort of emergency call protocol on my watch. A. I didn’t know it could go that and B. I had no clue how to stop the damn thing. It took my mind off the initial impact whilst I was trying to sort that out!!!! You have to laugh!!!!

· 2 weeks ago

Anniehen · 2 weeks ago Plus Member

I suppose we have to laugh, but falling when we’re older is a different ball game entirely to falling when we’re younger. Take it easy. Hope to see you soon 💐

· 2 weeks ago

Wendy_sews64 · 2 weeks ago

I love your mood board and the colours you gave chosen

· 2 weeks ago

JaneMurphy · 2 weeks ago Plus Member

Hey Donnie, I have done this course as well. I love seamwork, most of my tnt’s are seamwork. The hansie top bonus with the lower neck, the fig cardigan, the kit blouse and I have the cosmo blouse cut out and ready to sew. I have also really enjoyed seamwork radio and their tutorials. Definitely worth the money

· 2 weeks ago

DonnieH · 2 weeks ago Plus Member

I haven’t listened to the radio! That’s a great reminder. Thank you Jane. The Cosmo top is one of my favourites too. I like the Fig. I’ve only made one but find the shape very good for my body. I’m not a fan of buttonholes on jersey but when I made mine I only had my very basic machine. It might be a bit easier on my new one! Another great reminder Jane! Thank you x

· 2 weeks ago

JaneMurphy · 2 weeks ago Plus Member

You are so welcome. My first fig was my first foray into buttonholes and they turned out okay. I did lots of practice ones on scraps first. I have made it in sweater knit and rubbed cotton jersey and I love both. Also for both I used the nikko too from true bias (sleeveless tneck) and I makes a nice co-ord sweater set

· 2 weeks ago

Lisasaved1 · 1 week ago

I want to do this as well. I have so many clothes that I don’t wear because I have gained so much weight, or I don’t like the way they fit me. I need clothes that are comfortable but still make me feel feminine and put together. I have shirts that I don’t like the sleeve length, because I don’t like my elbows. I have skirts or pants that I don’t have the right shirt to match…so many things. 😆 I love the idea of creating a wardrobe that I love and making missing items or modifying things I already have to bring it all together! I love your color choices and I so agree with wearing the good stuff!!!

· 1 week ago

DonnieH · 1 week ago Plus Member

It has been a challenge for me, and it is still a work in progress, to give my body some grace. I think it is important that we all do that. Our bodies are amazing!

Also, slowing down is important. Find the pants or skirt that you like best and make or alter an existing top to go with them. You then have one outfit! It’s overwhelming to try to fix everything all at once. (Voice of experience speaking).

I have two large storage bags holding clothes I really like but for some reason I can’t wear. I’ve divided them into spring/summer and autumn/winter. I’m in the Uk so I’m not looking at the warm weather bag now. Motivation is low to fix something I probably won’t wear for 6 months and a lot can change in that time! It also helps not to have wardrobes full of unwearable items!

I alternate in making something new and then altering something. It works for me, you’ll find your own pattern of working. A lot of us on here are prolific sewists and that can be a bit daunting for those who aren’t . It’s not a race. Sewing is my happy place and racing to get things done was robbing me of the pleasure of the doing!

I’ve fallen into the trap of loving a beautiful me-made dress on one of my sewing friends, rushing to make it and only then thinking about what I actually wear for my life. I’m a country girl - dogs, horses, gardening - who also spends far too long sat at a desk working. Beautiful dresses don’t work for my current life. I’m not sure why that penny took so long to drop for me!

Talk to us in here about your plans. Use your ‘sewing room’ on this site to keep track of your plans and allow us all to see and get excited with you.

Most of all be kind to yourself. I have no doubt your body has done amazing things for you over the years you’ve inhabited it. We all show a little wear and tear! I think we should be proud of that!! X

· 1 week ago

DonnieH · 1 week ago Plus Member

The course is just finishing and I have a plan!

Finish the binding on the wool cape started back in January (in the grid photo as it is already made - it just needs finishing!)
Finish my 3rd pair of Nolan pants - this time I have lengthened the leg below the knee to make them a bit more season appropriate - in a tan vintage cotton
More Kila tanks as layering pieces. I have already made in navy and cream and have a caramel and denim blue rib jersey to still make up.
The Merchant & Mills Heroine Jeans - dark rigid denim
The Style Arc Tatum dress - still debating the fabric on this one.
The Liesl & Co Fitzroy blouse - again have two fabrics in mind.
Another Lenny dress in a wildcard fabric
A ‘black’ evening style co-ord from a Vogue pattern.
And I have plans for a few Fig cardigans too.....

Will a lot of this roll forward to the Winter plan - almost certainly and I am fine with that!!

The grid photo is of items ‘shopped’ from my existing me-made wardrobe - 2 pairs of Maison Fauve Ronsard Jeans, a Style Arc Harriet Jacket, 2 Reeta shirtdresses, a Cashmerette Grafton co-ord jumper and skirt, a Seamwork Cosmo top (a favourite) along with a pair of Nolan pants and a Lenny dress, a Merchant & Mills Ellsworth blouse, and an Atelier Jupe Charlie sweater. I think they lend themselves to my colour palette for this season.