Back in February, before we moved, while I was packing, Becca DuVal of Free Notion proposed a challenge: Create a capsule wardrobe in a week. I thought this was a brilliant idea, but because my fabric needed to be going into, rather than coming out of, boxes, I had to put off participation. That didn’t stop me from thinking about how I would put together a “wardrobe Sudoku,” though. (In fact, I created a few of these).
I should probably also mention that I have very little to wear. I’m in an awkward place where clothes are too big, in disrepair, or in the case of one pair of pants, just tight enough to where I don’t quite fit back in them. So, clothes are in order. I’ve made a lot of fun things, and I should do some basics sewing soon, but I also would benefit from ready-to go outfits. Enter the wardrobe Sudoku.
Each row across, column down, and diagonal set makes an outfit. By setting up a wardrobe plan this way, it helps me to be absolutely sure that everything I make in this challenge will be interchangeable. That’s a pretty neat perk. I hopped on Polyvore, and I started with “casual.” I’m in desperate need of things i can wear when we head out of the house. I’ve also put together ideas for a workout wardrobe, a business casual wardrobe (for when I need to meet with clients), and a super casual wardrobe – for toddler and infant wrangling and working from home. It’s pretty sad that the t-shirt I’m wearing right now is barely held together by threads…but one might expect that to be the case when a shirt is nearly 25 years old.
All of that said, here’s my casual plan. I also put together a “spring/summer” casual plan, which I’ll share in a moment.
It looks pretty cool, right? Here’s an example of how the pieces might work together:
And:
You get the idea. So the plan, then, isn’t to buy all these pieces, but instead, to use what I have in my and available to me to make the wardrobe. While the original challenge was to make a wardrobe in a week, I’m realistic. I have two small people who need a lot of love and attention right now, and my completion schedule is pretty dependent on their moods. However, I want to try to get this done soon. Here are the patterns I plan to use (starting at the top left):
The check wrap style shirt: Originally, I was thinking I’d use McCall’s 6991 for this, but it looks like there may be a new pattern coming out soon that looks much more like the French Connection shirt. I have to check my stash for fabric, but I’m pretty sure I have a similar check fabric in my stash.
The button-front skirt also presents an interesting challenge. I actually have a vintage pattern in my stash, Simplicity 9822, that looks like this skirt. However, I need to grade that pattern up since it’s a vintage size 8, and I’m so not even a modern size 8. Frankly, I’m not looking forward to that project. It’s not that I can’t do it, it’s just that with limited time, I’d rather spend my time doing other things that are more conducive to a finished result. Thus, I’m thinking I’ll use McCall’s 7392 for the job. I have some green fine-wale corduroy for it.
For the cardigan, I have some burgundy sweater knit in my stash, and I have some red sweater knit. I will most likely use the
Patterns for Pirates’ Grandpa Cardi (affiliate link) for it. If I can find some really awesome skull sweater knit, I will use that instead…because skulls. If not, I’ll be on the lookout, because I must make a sweater using skull sweater knit fabric at some point!
Moving down to the next row, I will bead a necklace to match the one in the squares. Then, we come to the jeans. For those, I plan on using the
Winter Wear Designs Real Deal Jeans pattern. I have some denim fabric ready and waiting for me to use it to make some pants. I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous about making jeans!
Going down a row, to the cowl infinity scarf, I’m planning to crochet that based upon a pattern in the book,
Crochet Red: Crocheting for Women’s Heart Health (affiliate link). I first have to figure out where I hid that book from myself, and the red yarn, after our move. But that will be a lot of fun, I’m looking forward to doing that while we watch
Gilmore Girls before bed.
Next is this gorgeous tank top. To replicate this, I’m going to pull some black silky fabric from my stash and use
SisBoom’s Tortola Tank top. I’m actually planning to make a couple of these in other colors as well. I think the tank will make some good summer wear. Plus, it’s a pretty easy pattern to make.
For the pencil skirt, I’ll use some black knit and
Love Notions’ Sybil Illusion Skirt (affiliate link) pattern. I also will make a gray version of this skirt as well as a red version. I think though instead of a pencil skirt for the gray version, I’ll do an A-line skirt. I’ve already got the pencil skirt cut out.
Speaking of Love Notions, I’m using the
Sabrina Slims Pants pattern for the red pants. I found some great red stretchy fabric that’s nice and thick for pants at Hancocks’ closing sale.
The striped bateau top will be made from black and white fabric in my stash and
Tessuti’s Brigette pattern. I’ve got this pattern printed off, and almost ready to go.
Finally, for the chambray button down shirt, I’ll use some chambray fabric I have in my stash with the Hey June Cheyenne Pattern (affiliate link). I’m really excited about this one. I purchased the pattern back in December thinking I’d participate in a blog tour, and then it was time to have little guy. So I’ll finally get to sew this up.
I hope to have progress updates for you! I have a couple of things on my sewing agenda I must attend to first (a dress pattern test, and a couple other little things), but if I can get the tanks and pencil skirts done this week, I’ll be happy.
Have you tried to sew an entire wardrobe for yourself? How did that go? How did you plan it? Post your thoughts in the comments.
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