MyBodyModel-sketch-to-finished-my-fall-winter-wardrobe-by-whitney.

#Sketch2Finish: My Fall Capsule Wardrobe

Are you ready for some cozy fall wardrobe ideas and inspiration for your next sewing or knitting project? Whitney shares her completed fall capsule wardrobe, and how it compared to her initial fashion sketches on her body model croquis.


It’s time for an update on how my fall sewing and knitting plans worked out! In case you missed it, I had planned a whopping 12-piece collection, comprised of 4 tops, 3 skirts, 3 dresses, and 2 sweaters (one knit and one sewn). 

Sewing and Knitting Plans on MyBodyModel croquis by Whitney
My original sewing & knitting plans: a cozy and versatile 12 piece fall capsule wardrobe collection

When I started planning this collection, I focused on separates that would be easy to mix and match. I tend to get bored wearing the same thing every day, but my penchant for sewing dresses makes getting creative with my wardrobe a little tricky sometimes. I also needed some layering pieces that would transition well from summer into fall.

The T-Shirts

One thing my wardrobe was really lacking were basic, short-sleeve tops that could work all year round. For this collection, I made three: a Seamwork Alice in an oatmeal striped cotton-rayon blend jersey, a Laela Jeyne Indigo Bodysuit (cropped into a t-shirt with a hi-low hem) in a pumpkin-colored cotton rib knit, and a Seamwork Adria in a white woven cotton with blue boro pattern.

Whitney's handmade fall capsule wardrobe includes 3 T-shirts: Seamwork Alice in an oatmeal striped cotton-rayon blend jersey, a Laela Jeyne Indigo Bodysuit (cropped into a t-shirt with a hi-low hem) in a pumpkin-colored cotton rib knit, and a Seamwork Adria in a white woven cotton with blue boro pattern.
The T-Shirts: Seamwork Alice, Laela Jeyne Indigo, and Seamwork Adria

The Foundations

Of course to go with my cute new tops, I needed some bottoms that would go with everything! Over the summer I had the opportunity to test the Sew Liberated Estuary Skirt, and I ended up making two of them for this collection: one in a lightweight indigo tencel chambray, and the other in a medium-weight camel-colored tencel twill.

I also made a Helen’s Closet York Pinafore (with the gathered skirt hack from Helen’s blog) in an indigo Brussels washer linen-rayon blend. These three pieces go with just about everything else in my wardrobe, and I’ve had a lot of fun layering them up!

Whitney's handmade fall capsule wardrobe includes 3 bottoms: two Sew Liberated Estuary Skirts: one in a lightweight indigo tencel chambray, and the other in a medium-weight camel-colored tencel twill. And Helen’s Closet York Pinafore (with the gathered skirt hack from Helen’s blog) in an indigo Brussels washer linen-rayon blend.
The Foundations: Sew Liberated Estuary Skirt & Helen’s Closet York Pinafore

The Cozy Knits

When our fall weather (finally!) arrives in mid-October, I start reaching for longer sleeves, cozier fabrics, and fun patterns to brighten up the dreary days. These three garments will be in even heavier rotation as we head into winter: a Seamwork Ace in a retro striped cotton jersey, a Seamwork Elmira wrap sweater in an oatmeal faux cashmere sweater knit, and the Cashmerette Dartmouth cross-front tee in a plum floral rayon jersey. I also completed my gray Ishnana Cardigan (not pictured).

Whitney's Fall capsule wardrobe includes 3 Cozy knits: a Seamwork Ace in a retro striped cotton jersey, a Seamwork Elmira wrap sweater in an oatmeal faux cashmere sweater knit, and the Cashmerette Dartmouth cross-front tee in a plum floral rayon jersey.
The cozy knits: Seamwork Ace, Seamwork Elmira, & Cashmerette Dartmouth

The Ones That Got Away

So what about the projects I didn’t complete? There was the red daisy-print viscose poplin Colette Myrna, the charcoal gray merino Laceleaf Pullover, and the mustard floral viscose challis Cashmerette Lenox shirtdress. Well, I hit a snag with the sweater when I realized — 30 rounds in on the lace pattern of the yoke — that I had misread the chart and neglected to decrease over 80 stitches several rounds back! I was gutted to realize that I’ve got to rip back over 200 meters of knitting, so I’ve put the project aside for now.

As for the other two, I lost my sewjo around the middle of October. Fortunately, sketching on my custom MyBodyModel croquis templates is usually a pretty good antidote for a creative block, so I think I’ll spend some time this winter re-imagining those looks for spring!

The ones that got away
The ones that got away: red daisy-print Colette Myrna, charcoal gray merino Laceleaf Pullover, and the mustard floral viscose challis Cashmerette Lenox shirtdress.

Finished outfits

Even though I didn’t finish every single item on my list, I ended up with so many new outfits! Here are a few of my favorites, next to the original inspiration sketches on my body model templates.

MyBodyModel fashion sketches and finished makes by Whitney: Cashmerette Dartmouth top in plum floral rayon jersey goes perfectly with the Sew Liberated Estuary Skirts, this one in copper tencel twill from Blackbird Fabrics. Seamwork Elmira sweater in oatmeal faux cashmere sweater knit from Blackbird Fabrics is great over dresses like this Colette Wren dress in floral knit by Art Gallery Fabrics.
Left: My Cashmerette Dartmouth top in plum floral rayon jersey goes perfectly with both of my Sew Liberated Estuary skirts, this one in copper tencel twill from Blackbird Fabrics. Right: My Seamwork Elmira in oatmeal faux cashmere sweater knit from Blackbird Fabrics is great over dresses like this Colette Wren dress in a floral knit by Art Gallery Fabrics.
MyBodyModel sketches and finished makes by Whitney: Laela Jeyne Indigo bodysuit tee, Sew Liberated Estuary skirt, Helen's Closet York Pinafore, Seamwork Ace tee, Seamwork Adria top, and Ysolda Teague Ishnana Cardigan.
Top: Laela Jeyne Indigo Bodysuit (short sleeves, henley neckline) in rust-colored organic rib knit from Fenceline Fabrics worn with Sew Liberated Estuary Skirt in tencel chambray from Imagine Gnats. Middle: Seamwork Ace tee in retro stripe jersey from Blackbird Fabrics; Helen’s Closet York Pinafore (gathered skirt hack) in indigo Brussels washer linen from Imagine Gnats. Bottom: Ishnana Cardigan by Ysolda Teague, in light gray Knit Picks Stroll fingering yarn; Seamwork Adria top in Moda boro woven from Sarah’s Fabrics, work with my tencel chambray Estuary skirt.

The completed capsule collection

9 garments, and so much mix & match potential!

Whitney's 9-piece handmade fall capsule wardrobe: Seamwork Alice, Laela Jeyne Indigo, and Seamwork Adria. The Foundations: Sew Liberated Estuary Skirt & Helen's Closet York Pinafore.  Cozy knits: Seamwork Ace, Seamwork Elmira, & Cashmerette Dartmouth.
My completed 9-piece collection! Row 1: Seamwork Alice, Laela Jeyne Indigo, and Seamwork Adria. Row 2: Sew Liberated Estuary Skirts & Helen’s Closet York Pinafore. Row 3: Seamwork Ace, Seamwork Elmira, & Cashmerette Dartmouth.

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Are you ready for some cozy fall wardrobe ideas and inspiration for your next sewing or knitting project? Whitney shares her completed fall capsule wardrobe, and how it compared to her initial fashion sketches on her body model croquis.

Share your #sketch2finish photos!

Have you completed any of your planned makes this season? Use hashtags #sketch2finish and #mybodymodel to share them on Instagram with your original sketched ideas.

14 thoughts on “#Sketch2Finish: My Fall Capsule Wardrobe”

  1. You’ve got my body! Although I think I’m probably a lot shorter. Are your Fall/Winter tights Snags tights, from Scotland? I’ve got those in the pumpkin, raspberry, purple and charcoal and black. My legs aren’t as shapely as yours as I have a lot of scars but Snag tights smooth out my legs a bit.

  2. Really nIce collection.
    I love the fit of the copper T. (It looks on the hanger like it would have had a lower neckline – glad it matched closer to the pattern sketch. So many of the current necklines are too low for me!

  3. These are so cute! I love the color palette, and also the blend of both knitting and sewing projects. The idea boards are beautiful, with all the buttons and trims included.

    I hope you do find the perfect option for that mustard floral, because that’s what I’d most like to steal from you. 😉

    So inspiring…

  4. WOW! You are an inspiration! Great planning. Beautiful fabrics. Superb execution. And, especially, self-love when you missed your original mark. I took so much away from this article. Thanks Whitney.

  5. You just blew this project out of the water!! I now “get” how to think about my wardrobe pieces. Thank you so much for posting all of your decisions, too.

  6. Amazing makes! Great colors for the dreary weather ahead. In the news letter they mention you made an emerald green coat! Could you share a picture and which pattern did you use. We are on a hunt for a new coat!
    Thank-you. Linda P.

  7. You are such a good maker and very artistic. This is a lovely and thoughtful capsule – you look very good in everything. Thank you for sharing! I hope you keep sewing and knitting because your makes inspire so many others.

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