It’s going to be 91 degrees today (in the Great Lakes region!!) on September 1st. And you all know I am a SUMMER GIRL all the way through, but of course, the kids are back in school so I am thinking about what I am sewing for fall 2026 already.
I know, you think that you have a lot of time, but one morning, poof, it will be 43 degrees and fall will be HERE, but in the meantime, we’re still sweating through our summer things we sewed and upcycled. I personally am wearing a pair of lightweight Kaffe Fasset stripe pants in a red/orange/purple/teal stripe which has all the colors of fall but is very lightweight and slightly cropped.
Make nine planned garment: summer to fall stripe pants:
I used a Simplicity pattern for this, Simplicity 8922, that I picked up on Ebay. This pattern has three ankle variations including a gathered tie, a ruched/scrunched tie (the version I made) a tulip hem and a slit front hem band. I had to add width to this pant pattern because it wasn’t in my current size. I added it at the sideseam in this case. These are very lightweight Kaffe Fassett stripes, the ones everyone’s been sewing the last few years, so they are great for those 80 degree September days.
Fall pullover sweater
I have had the Serape sweater from Hot Patterns on my love to sew list for forever, and I am going to make it in a drapey animal print sweater knit that I bought from Trudy (HotPatterns) Hanson’s own stash during a stash sale she had when she was downsizing. Great on it’s own when it is warmer (especially in a softer sweater knit like this) but also over a turtleneck come winter.
Striped pants & corduroy pants
The Sew House Seven Free Range Slacks (and this striped denim) have been in stash for a few years and I’m finally getting around to it. The stripes on the side panels will be crosswise! This is a cropped pant pattern, perfect for fall’s changeable weather.
I already sewed a scrap cocoon jacket (see this post here), which coordinates with the soft fall colors that still feel summery, but I’d love to make a pair of soft cream corduroy barrel leg pants from the Emile pant by Ready to Sew. The fabric has been in my stash for, ahem, 25 years. The alternative is to make the Elvis (also Ready to Sew) wrap-front pants in the same corduroy (a recommended fabric for these pants) also in a barrel leg. I’ve not yet decided which I’d like to make. This is the kind of pant I wear many days of the week. Not jeans, but not knit pants either.
Sewing a coat
A coat is on my list, here are 2 I got from Simplicity this fall that will be perfect to head into winter. Coats are great because even though we might not be making “business blazers” that much any more to fill a casual wardrobe, you always need a coat in the fall and winter. Coats fill that “I would like to make something substantial” without it being too complicated. These coats aren’t too complicated to either make or wear and I can still wear them over sweatpants and a hoodie. I’d argue they elevate the sweatpants and hoodie. I did buy an oversized blazer pattern, because I cannot help myself, I love them! I go only to the grocery store, library, hockey rinks and board meetings on Zoom and at the library. I should go to coffee shops more, and we have a bunch of wonderful locally owned ones in my college town, but I don’t get there as often as I’d like.
And I do have a sweater to sew – my LFS carries both knit and matching rib trim so I am super excited to sew this in a lovely lavender combo. I’ll make the wrapover neck version.
I’m trying to tick all the boxes of cozy and chic this fall. And though a number of these will head into winter sewing, it’s always nice to have possibilities, isn’t it? Half of these are unisex patterns, which is a great and versatile way of extending the use of that pattern by also sewing for your loved ones, if they are as stylish as these sewing patterns. I’m not sure mine are, but you never know. I keep leaving the patterns out for my son to wander by and comment on.
Go plan your fall sewing! It’s as fun to plan as it is to sew.