Should you sew that? How to decide what to sew next and planning a capsule wardrobe from what you already have. Grab this free worksheet (see below), the Sew Paradise Pick One, Sew Two and go into your closet. Pick one or two things you love (or maybe that haven’t gotten enough love) and then go to your stash to find coordinating fabric and pattern to make those two things into something brand new you’ll gush over. All from your stash! You can choose to pick two and make one, or pick one and make two!
I snipped this from J. Crew. In it, we can see a bunch of things they want to sell us for Mother’s Day. Upper left, straw bag. Many of us have this style bag. I have two, I’ll share both in my pics. They also share a chain necklace (I have several), chunky earrings, a bright sweater, hair accessories. I’ll bet if you go into YOUR closet, you can accessorize that one new garment you’re going to sew, with the two garments already in your closet.
Gypsum Skirt and summer accessories
Gypsum skirt, straw bag, heart earrings, lip gloss, blush (both were my daughter’s, she brought them to my makeup basket for use), a coral sweater. The garments I chose: a coral tank top, the fabric is gray sheets – actual sheets, from our linen closet, circa 2003, had a big tear. I decided to just upcycle, into a Gypsum Skirt from Sew Liberated, with some lace accents (see the pile of lace, which I have since untangled and organized), also from stash. Since I’m upcycling the sheet AND using stash notions, and all my own accessories, I’ll be making just one garment (not two.)
Ann Normandy Bermuda Shorts and spring accessories
Second pic, upper left, insulated backpack style bag. I got it in one of those subscription boxes when I used to get those. I’ve chosen some additional fabric from stash and two more garments, a Ann Normandy Bermuda shorts, and a navy quilted jacket, the Hovea from Megan Nielsen, with my to-sew item, the Mile End hooded sweatshirt in a heavier cotton/lycra print knit from Sew Batik. My goal is to pack a picnic in the insulated tote, go for a bike ride to the local outdoor gardens, and have a picnic in this outfit!
We need to all get a lot less “ooh, shiny new thing to buy” and start using our stash (with the occasional local fabric store/indie pattern purchase), start wearing the things we’ve sewed, and purchased. Planning a capsule wardrobe from what you already have is a great way to live sustainably – and have more pieces in your closet that work with what you already own.