#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). 

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.

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!

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).

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!

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.

The completed capsule collection

9 garments, and so much mix & match potential!

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Whitney Franklin

Whitney is a stay-at-home mom to 3-year old Cleo. She started sewing in 2017 as a way to reclaim her own identity separate from motherhood. Since then, making has become her favorite way to carve out a little time for herself at the end of the day. She also loves to knit, cook, and occasionally travel to her husband’s native Italy. You can find her on Instagram @whitneygetsdressed and her blog.