Hello Seamworkers,

When it comes to seasonal planning, I have always felt that we as sewists have to be two steps ahead when it comes to prepping our wardrobes for changing seasons. Maybe it is the fact that we love obsessing over clothing just a tad more than the average person? Or because we have to account for the time we will spend sewing new clothes? Regardless of the reason, when August rolls around, sewists start talking fall sewing.

Here at Colette HQ, we are gearing up for the fall session of Design Your Wardrobe. If you aren't already familiar with Design Your Wardrobe, it is a 4-week series delivered by email; it includes worksheets, activities, a planner, and a private community to share your progress with others. This series is unique because, by the end of the four weeks, you'll have detailed plans for a seasonal wardrobe AND an organized queue of projects so you can stay on track. Plus, you'll make some new sewing buddies along the way that will cheer you on and celebrate in all your sewing victories.

This is our second time hosting this series, and we received a bunch of amazing feedback that is helping us to improve the experience for the forthcoming round. The main thing we heard is that you guys wanted a way to interact and share in a way that did not involve Facebook.

So we’ve put a ton of work into creating a place to share and communicate that’s still private, but more personal, easy to use, and organized. Design Your Wardrobe participants who sign up for the next season will be the first to see this new platform before it’s available to all Seamworkers!

We’ve also built a central page where participants will be able to download all of the dispatches and worksheets as we go, so they won’t just be available through an email. We hope this makes it easier to find what you need at any time.

While the content and process for Design Your Wardrobe will pretty much be the same each season, we think the added organization and interaction will make it fun to do again and again with your fellow Seamworkers.

Sign-ups for Design Your Wardrobe close on August 5th, and the series starts on August 6th. Be sure to sign up, so you don't miss out on all the sewing fun! We hope you'll join us—this round is going to be even more of a sewing party! Learn More!

This month we are presenting two new wardrobe staples to help you jumpstart your fall sewing. These patterns were designed with transitions in mind, whether it is the changing of a season or the transition from work to play. The Adria top and Christina skirt create a versatile set you'll love wearing now and in the coming months.

Separates are the bread and butter of a versatile wardrobe. The Adria top is a cropped woven shirt, designed specifically for wearing with high-rise pants and skirts. With a relaxed fit and feminine shape, you can use the Adria pattern to create a minimalist chic look or as a blank canvas for inspiring prints and trims.

Few garments are as enduring as the pencil skirt. The Christina skirt is a wardrobe classic with subtle modern details like a faced back split at the hem. Make this skirt in a neutral twill for a workwear staple or try something daring like faux leather.

In addition to these new patterns, the August issue of Seamwork explores techniques, ideas, and resources to help renew your creativity in the coming month. This month, we go behind the scenes with sewing icon, Mimi G. Seamworker, Sarah Joiner, shares her Design Your Wardrobe journey, from a mood board to a 12-look collection. And Sarai talks about building creative grit.

Make sure to check out the All About the Adria Top and All About the Christina Skirt features to see all the ways you can customize the Adria top and Christina skirt to fit your wardrobe needs. In each issue, we explore pattern hacks, fabrics, and tutorials that help you create clothing you’ll love wearing.

As always, I look forward to seeing your inspired makes.

Happy sewing,

Haley Glenn
 | Editor-in-Chief