When it comes to sewing for summer, I always feel a little late to the party. I often find myself desperately sifting my pattern and fabric collection to plug any gaps in my wardrobe (usually lighter layering pieces, trousers and shorts). This year, however, I’m jumping on the outfit planning bandwagon early so that I can not only sew any items I need but also optimise the pieces I already own.

For inspiration on exactly what to make and how to plan my outfits, I turned to Pinterest and capsule wardrobe collections. If you’re not familiar with a capsule wardrobe, the concept is pretty simple, you have a streamlined, seasonally appropriate collection of clothing and accessories that team seamlessly together for a variety of occasions. Most examples tend to follow a simple, neutral colour palette, but you can edit the collection to suit your style. A capsule wardrobe is something I’ve been working towards over the past couple of years, and although I don’t always find plainer fabric as fun to sew, I tend to reach for these garments more and find they have greater longevity in terms of my style preferences.

To plan your summer wardrobe effectively, it’s worth thinking about what you tend to wear and do day-to-day. How would you describe your style? I like classic styles and save images on Pinterest that align with this so that I have inspiration boards to refer to when considering patterns. You can even break down capsule wardrobe categories by what you need most, such as ‘summer workwear capsule wardrobe’ or ‘minimalist summer capsule wardrobe.’

While I won’t need to sew pieces for every category listed below, nor is the following list exhaustive, I’m hoping this post will help me (and you!) prioritise the gaps in my summer clothing collection and ensure I can put outfits together easily.

TOPS

A handful of plain tops in neutral colourways are the cornerstone of my capsule wardrobe. I tend to reach for these most days as they pair with most other items in my wardrobe. When I search for ‘summer capsule wardrobe’ on Pinterest, most examples feature a mix of basic tank tops, T-shirts and shirts, all with simple silhouettes. From experience, basic tops aren’t always the most fun to sew, so I tend to buy these (I have a few variations of this square neck top from Bamboo Clothing). However, I definitely want to try and make a pretty blouse to satisfy the classic ‘nice top and jeans’ combo, which is a little lacking in my current clothing collection.

For tank top options in softer knits, the Fibre Mood Elza top or Paradise Patterns Blomma tank are great options. For super stretchy fabrics, the Kila tank by Allie Olson would work well.

I also like the classic silhouette of the Fibre Mood Erica t-shirt, and for a slightly more sophisticated take on the classic tee, the Piper top by Christine Haynes features a modern funnel neck and the option of sewing a long-sleeved version.

A shirt or blouse is great if, like me, you prefer wearing jeans but want to elevate your look. Patterns by Vivian Shao Chen were recently added to the Fold Line database and the Nepheline blouse went straight on my wishlist; it has a beautiful, romantic style that would be lovely in a soft cotton fabric. For a classic linen shirt, my top picks would be the Jenna shirt by Closet Core Patterns or the Phen shirt by Pattern Fantastique. I sewed the latter last year and adore the billowy sleeves.

DRESSES

Although the typical capsule wardrobe follows a neutral colour palette, dresses are the category for injecting some bolder colours and prints. I do, however, consider what accessories I already have to match with dresses.

Casual dresses that I can wear on warmer days are definitely on my sewing list this year; I like the Ellery dress by Swim Style Patterns, which features loose romantic sleeves, a keyhole tie-back and a gathered tiered skirt. The pull-on Claudia sun dress by Tessuti Patterns is also worth mentioning, it’s been around for a while but balances chic and comfort so well. I also like View B of the Hallon dress by Paradise Patterns.

TROUSERS & SHORTS

It’s ironic that I prefer wearing jeans to dresses but lack these items in my me-made collection. I think sewing and fitting trousers scares me a little but I’m optimistic that I’ll find a pattern that suits my style and is relatively easy to sew. Although I’ve struggled with making jeans in the past, the Heidi Pants by Patterns by Masin have had positive reviews from other makers. I love the high-waisted style and think these would be a great option for light-coloured summer jeans. For denim shorts, I like the shape of the Dawn shorts from Megan Nielsen, plus you have plenty of jeans options in this pattern, too.

Lightweight tailored trousers regularly appear in images of capsule wardrobe inspiration. Made up in a lightweight fabric like linen, they’re great when you want something a little lighter than jeans. I love the High Waist Pants and Shorts pattern by Swimsuit Style, which has plenty of fabric options. The Vogue V2014 is also great for tailored pieces in more structured fabrics.

LAYERING PIECES

Layering pieces are key for UK summers where there can be bright, hot sunshine one day and blustery showers the next. I’ve been searching for alternatives to denim jackets to wear over dresses and recently came across the new blazer pattern by Atelier Brunette; it’s an oversized, easy to wear piece that I think would team effortlessly with both dresses and trousers, a real all-rounder. Shackets are also a great option for summer, such as the Portmanteau shacket sewing pattern from French Navy. I’m also finding myself drawn to quilted jackets at the moment; something like the Hovea quilted jacket by Megan Nielsen or the ZW Bell jacket by Birgitta Helmersson are great opportunities to play around with fabric options and I think these pieces would last you years.

Have you started sewing for summer yet? Let me know what you’re making in the comments below.