How to make your handmade wardrobe more wearable? (Part 3): 10 very sensible sewing patterns to make

In my series of How to make your wardrobe more wearable? (Part 1, part 2) I have tried to figure out ways to plan my sewing so that I wouldn’t end up with pieces that I do not wear. Now it is time to turn my theoretical musings into practice and do some sensible sewing! Thus begins my Sensible Sewing Challenge!

I have gone through my wardrobe to get an idea of what I really need. The rattiest items in my wardrobe are very basic and sensible tops, t-shirts and leggings. My pyjamas are also in a bad shape and I need more of them. The state of my old garments in this category already gives an idea of how much I wear these kinds of sensible basics. Even if you prefer wearing fancier clothes these basics are items you cannot do without.

So, my challenge to myself and for anyone else wanting to take part is to make a set of basics that I will actually wear. I selected 10 patterns that I think will fit in this category and I’m going to make all of them. The list contains a variety of different kinds of garments to make the process a little more fun!

1. Lago tank

I have some black-and-white stripy cotton jersey in my stash that is perfect for a sleeveless tank top. Itch to Stitch has a perfectly suitable free pattern called Lago Tank:

The pattern is easy to make and requires justs a little fabric.

2. Crystal cove cami

Itch to Stitch also has a nice Crystal Cove cami pattern that would work for some lovely silks that I have in storage. It would be perfect layering piece and I love the layered back:

3. McCall’s M6886 dress as a t-shirt

McCall’s M6886 is a dress pattern but it works just fine as a t-shirt pattern. I used it to make my pyjama top and since I like the fit I will use it again. I have black cotton jersey that would work nicely for this and I think I’ll have some stripy jersey left even after the Lago top.

4. Flounce top by bootstrapfashion

I loved the ruffled dress I made last year and I am pretty sure that this similar top from Bootstrapfashion would work for me, too. The pattern is for drapey wovens but I actually think it might work for knits, too. That would make the zipper unnecessary. I think that this top would work not only with my vintage-style skirts but also with jeans.

5. Donna Karan leggings

Sometimes a failed make is a successful make in the long run. I made a pair of leggings from the Vogue V1140 Donna Karan set. The result was way too big and baggy for me and I buried the failed make into my closet without ever blogging it. So it happened that my steady diet of cookies has miraculously improved the fit of these leggings so that now they are the only pair of leggings in my wardrobe that actually fits me. So I will dig out this pattern and make a few more pairs. They will not only be handy when lounging at home but also a great layering piece during the cold winter.

6. Flint trousers by megan nielsen

Another thing I need is trousers, preferable solid coloured ones. I have noticed that the patterned trousers, although pretty, are also pretty hard to combine with different tops.

A while ago I was despairing with my trouser fitting issues as I find my trousers uncomfortable after eating, even when they fit perfectly before lunch. One of the lovely ladies at Patternreview.com suggested trying Megan Nielsen Flint trousers. These trousers have a very unusual closure that is hidden inside the left-side pocket. The result is adjustable waisted trousers with no zippers or flys to struggle with! What’s not to like! The pattern is available in both printed and pdf form.

7. Carolyn pajamas

I have a plenty of cotton lawns that need using before I can buy more. Making a few sets of pyjamas would make very much sense. I love the Carolyn pajamas pattern by Closet Case patterns. My previously made set has got a lot of use and I should make a short sleeved summer version and another long-sleeved version for the colder seasons. If you’d rather want a pdf pattern, it can be found here.

8. Sew Over It Penny dress

A girl needs her dresses. So, what would actually make a good dress that I would wear a lot? The answer was obvious: The SOI Penny dress! I love wearing the dress I already have and I would easily find use for a second Penny dress. It’s an everyday dress with an elasticated waist so it is comfortable and I have viscose fabric ready for it. During the colder days I can throw a cardi on top of it and it still works!

9. MakeBra DL01 and DL04

Basics cannot get more basic than underwear! As these garments are against the skin and are washed the most it’s almost never a bad idea to sew some more. Thus far I have made two bras using pressed foam cups. The foam cups are expensive and restrict the number of styles I can make. So my first target in the bra front is to learn how to use cut-and-sew foam. I chatted with Annele from MakeBra at Ommel and she selected me two of her patterns to try: DL01 and DL04. (I’ll count these as one pattern in my list of 10, though!)

10. Megan Nielsen Acacia underwear

Sewing bras is fun but it is even more fun to make whole sets! For this, I have Acacia panty pattern. This is a free pattern if you subscribe to the Megan Nielsen newsletter and it will be easy to add some lace or other decorations to make this pattern really personal.

So, here was my list of 10 sensible sewing patterns for my Sensible Sewing Challenge!. This was also part 3 in my series of How to make your wardrobe more wearable? In part 1 I talked about my past successful and not-so-successful sewing projects. In part 2 I made a list of 10 question to ask yourself when choosing a sewing project.

What do you think about my choices? Do you have good patterns to suggest? Comment below! Wish me luck with my sewing and for you: Happy Sewing!

Katja