A cool weather wardrobe retrospective.....

Spring has arrived in Melbourne like a lovely warm smoochy cuddle and I couldn't be more delighted. I thought I'd share a mini mid-year roundup of my Autumn/Winter sewing achievements and analyse how successfully these garments have been in my cold-weather wardrobe. I've been rather prolific with my cold weather sewing, and am finding my wardrobe is getting rather full, BUT I have worn a lot of what I have made, and have few regrets with my choices. Sometimes I do question myself on how much I really NEED these clothes and the pace with which I seemed to have churned them out. I certainly would never have purchased this many garments with this much regularity before I discovered my love of garment sewing. But I justify it with the knowledge that many of my earlier makes haven't been super wearable or have been questionable in fabric quality or fit or construction. This year I've been a lot more mindful with my fabric choices, and I figure it's a hobby, and my creative outlet and gives me enormous pleasure. So with those thoughts my choices for Spring and Summer sewing will continue to be mindful and hopefully I will be continue to make things that I love wearing. I've been trying ever so hard to buy fewer print fabrics (well actually trying to buy less fabric altogether), sticking more to solids and basics and it's no surprise that many of these less fancy makes have been the winter workhorses.

So looking back to my cold weather sewing goals/plans here, I've been successful in ticking many off the list, missing out on a few and adding in a few non-scheduled makes.

(if you're interested in any of the specific makes, most of them are linked off my Hits and Misses page, here)

Elle Pants.

Oh Elle Pants - you treasures. I think between you, the Maria Denmark kimono tee and the Tessuti Mandy tee I need never purchase work clothes again. Thus far I have made 9 versions of Elle's - 4 for work, a ponte pair, a cord pair, a printed pair and a wool knit pair adapted to fit like leggings, and some gym pants. Out of those 9 I made 5 this Autumn/Winter and it was an easy choice for this pattern to be my OWOP if I do participate. My leggings pair is a 100% wool knit and do bag out around the knees and bum over time - the lesson learned here is to always have a little Lycra content in knits destined for the lower half of the body. I also had the lightbulb moment that these pants fit me so well then it's likely that the rest of the Style Arc trouser range will also - I've a pleated boyfriend style on my spring list so fingers crossed that my theory is right because if so it will mean PERFECT PANTS ALL THE TIME. Words fail me at that thought.

New Look 6808/Colette Laurel mashup

I love this pattern so very much. Best bodice fit ever. My blossom blouse has been worn several times, and I always feel fab in it. And my denim shift dress. Let me count the ways that I love thee... I already have at least another 3 incarnations of this frankenpattern in my Spring/Summer plans.....

Knit tops

I was a bit meh with my first Tessuti Mandy boat tee but have worn it constantly to work, and tinkered with the fit to make my perfect boxy, slouchy 3/4 sleeve top. I'd wear these in stripes every day of my life happily. This autumn-winter I have made 2 more and the love affair continues. I made my first Deer and Doe Plantain and despite the rather cheap fabric it is also worn constantly to work. Another great basic that may even come to rival the Renfrew and my favourite Burdastyle dolman tee. I've worn my wool contrast Renfrew and black wool dolman constantly throughout winter and I'm really pleased I've made the effort to source and sew with more merino knits - they're just so lovely to wear in cold weather. My Burdastyle funnel neck sweater has been worn a bit, but I can't see myself making it up the same again. The shoulders are too wide, but I love the neckline and will reuse that on other jumpers in the future.

Whilst not technically a top I surprised myself with coveting the Nettie bodysuit and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it on me. I haven't worn it yet, mostly because the scoop back was too cold for winter wear, but I'm on the hunt for the perfect black knit to make a spring version. 

Knit dresses

Sneaking in at the end of winter were a couple of lovely wool knit dresses. I've worn them both twice now - my favourite is my recent wool wrap dress, but I've come around to the Wendy Marc & Moi dress and had a lot of fun wearing it. The Melbourne spring is pretty unpredictable so I'm expecting to wear these guys well into November. 

Cardigans and jackets

I've managed 3 cardigans this autumn-winter (two sewn, one knitted!). I do wear my Style Arc Fiona cardi pretty much every day at home - one commenter shrewdly predicted it would become like a 'housecoat' and whilst that is a very unsexy description they were right! I've come around to the longer length, and next winter will probably make at least one more. I also made the Swoon scarf-neck cardigan. I only ever wear it to work. It's warm and comfy but that drapey style just isn't me. You live and learn. I haven't worn my Featherweight cardi much over winter - too cold with 3/4 sleeves, but I loved wearing it in Autumn.

My Salme blazer is one of my favourite makes ever - I'm ridiculously proud of it, but it's not scored much wear over winter due to the 3/4 sleeves. But I expect to be wearing it constantly this spring.

Random makes and out of season sewing.

I snuck in my silk splatter Aime Comme Marie top at the start of Autumn and as I thought I have only stroked it longingly in my wardrobe. Soon my precious, soon....  Similarly my Caroline shirt and Alder shirtdress haven't been worn yet but will be perfect in the warmer weather. And I can't believe I nearly forgot my Sound of Music Singalong outfits! 

It's interesting looking back at these pics - my colour choices are overwhelmingly pinks, blues, greys and blacks and surprisingly cohesive! I can't say I consciously went out to choose these but obviously it's what I like and it just goes to show that if you only buy what you love, it all goes together in the end! 

I can't wait to get going on my spring/summer sewing - are you interested in what I have planned?