I’d really like to title this “all the summer that’s left to sew”. We are in the first full week of September and racing through the end of summer (let’s face it, yes, we have summer weather through, but the crush of school, sports and, well, life, is back to fall settings.) But let’s talk sewing for summer anyway. Because, maybe it’s still summer or becoming summer where you are.
For transition summer to fall, I want to sew things that will bridge the gap without being too wintery in color or fabric. Summer to fall colors would be brighter, fabrics in cotton or linen with transitional options like short sleeves with a duster or casual blazer for cool mornings and warm afternoons.
I like to sew in threes, so here are groups of three patterns that work well together for summer to fall sewing and have multiple views.
Everyday summer to fall sewing patterns
If you’re a pant person – try the Rose by Made by Rae – a classic pleated pant, wide leg, but with a back elastic waist for comfort and no zipper sewing for speed. This comes in cropped, shorts and long wide leg. Sew these up in a linen/cotton blend like Essex, which comes in a zillion colors. I love to pair a light neutral like cream, light gray or taupe with a bright top and a darker jacket for transitional season (the light pants echo summer, and the jacket grounds the outfit for early fall.) An alternative is the Emerson by True/Bias. These both have flat fronts and elastic backs – so they wear like a tailored trouser but comfortable. You can make a matched suit with the pants and a blazer pattern in the same fabric, or mix and match separates. I think this pic from Made by Rae is the perfect summer to fall in color and style!
On top, try the Ruby tank top, also by Made by Rae – this sleeveless top has a yoke and it would be terrific for using up some scraps (from your pants!) as well as smaller lengths of fabric for the base of the top. It’s sleeveless, so perfect for warm afternoons.
On top, I like a loose oversized jacket – if you’re a blazer person, try the knit or woven Christine Jonson Boyfriend Blazer (designed for knits, make the sleeve 1/2″ wider at the hem for wovens, make your usual size for an oversized fit as designed). It’s hands down my favorite unlined blazer. I’ve sewn about 7 of these!
If you’re more in to a relaxed collarless jacket style, I love the Hovea by Megan Nielsen. It has a banded neckline, three lengths and an oversized fit. Lined, unlined, very generous pockets, I’ve sewn this three times.
Top row: August Bandeau Blouson tube top (free), Christine Jonson Boyfriend Blazer, Emerson cropped pants. Bottom row: Megan Nielsen Hovea jacket (cropped view), Emerson pant, Emerson short
If you are looking for a longer duster, this one, the Moss by Helen’s Closet looks great. I also have the Make it Yours by MimiG book and that has a ton of patterns in it, including a duster. The hacks alone are the reason I got the book from my local fabric store. It has detailed how to hacks for each pattern, which can be applied, really, to almost ANY pattern. A great learning book for intermediate sewists.
If you’re a skirt person, the slip skirt is still going strong. I use a vintage Vogue Elements one I first sewed in 1996 but there are some excellent bias slip skirt patterns out there. I review them here.
The long column “denim” skirt is also trending. I have several vintage patterns including a Donna Karan from the 1980s, but also one from Tauko Magazine this spring, that I would like to sew in a cotton canvas in a camel color for fall.
Colors for summer to fall sewing
If you’re still living the summer life, try adding a bright color in your tops – chartreuse, coral, fuscia, lavender or a print – and muting the outfit with a blazer or jacket in a gray glen check, a black/cream tiny houndstooth lightweight tropical weight wool, or a lightly textured crepe in cream, black, gray, or camel. If you’re a navy person (and I am), navy is a great basic for all seasons and looks less wintry. I love to take inspiration from late summer colors in nature – bright poppy, yellow, gold, fuscia, coral, lavender and purples, but also crimson and chartreuse, brown and deep blue.
Weekend summer to fall looks:
I love to wear shorts with a cardi or sweater on weekends. Maximize your sewing by making the Rose in shorts version for summer to fall transition – you can batch sew them with the pant version. On top, your favorite cotton summer sweater and a tee.
I also love a bandeau top for this time of year – we’re getting very warm sunny days and the free August Bandeau Blouson top is flattering on all figures, super easy to sew from a yard of fabric and works great over shorts OR pants, and under a jacket or cardi.