Cool weather sewing plans

Hello readers! 

I have a very funny situation going on. Its March and normally around this time its starts to get a little chilly, but summer just wants to hang around for a bit more! Which I'm totally cool with cause I love warm weather. Luckily its not the stinking hot version that saps your energy and makes you want to eat icy-poles all day on the couch. Though I have been doing a little too much of that anyway... 

So regardless of what its like now, the cool weather will eventually come and I've got a pile of projects I plan on executing in the next 6 months. 

I have this idea that I'm going to be super productive over the colder months (like I was last year) so I've created quite a large to-sew list.

Would you like to see? 

The first project I'm thinking of is this pinafore dress and blouse combination. The pattern is a bit too big so I'll need to make a muslin first. The tweed will be for the pinny and that vintage paisley will be the blouse. 

Interesting story, when the paisley arrived from Etsy it stank terribly of cigarette! I left it outside to air and over night it drizzled. I went out to check it in the morning and found that the dye had run! So I took it inside and started rinsing it in the laundry sink. As soon as water touched it, it was thick with excess dye! Lucky I didn't put it in the machine with my regular wash. It took a few wrings but it eventually all washed out, and so did the smell! 

Tweed pinafore and Paisley blouse - Simplicity 5028

Next up is the coat and dress combo that I have had on my list since last year! I've had the fabric for awhile but I was never convinced with the patterns I had chosen. 

So decided to search on Etsy for a specific pattern for a coat and dress in the correct size and this little beauty turned up. 

The coat has a standing collar which is good, because sometimes the collar facing combos confuse me and the dress has the option of a bow at the front. Though I think I'll skip that.

The fabric I actually designed myself! And you can buy it too from Spoonflower. The fabric is cotton sateen, which I plan to line as well. 

Dress and Matching coat - McCall's 8939

There's also going to be a lot of double knit sewing this winter! I discovered this year that double knit is not so great in the Aussie summer, so this will very much be at home in autumn and winter.

First up is this lovely purple fabric which I bought from The Fabric Store. I'm planning on using McCall's 2006. I was also going to use this pattern for the tweed pinafore above, but I wasn't convinced by the silhouette 

Purple knit dress - McCall's 2006

Also up, is Butterick 4518, but the lovely Norma Tullo, in a dark green knit and Buttrick 3109 in brown knit

Green knit faux double-breasted dress - Butterick 4518

Brown double knit smock style dress - Butterick 3109

Also on the pile but as yet unallocated to a pattern are these lovelies. The wool tweed as you may have already seen. The grey double knit I'd like to use it to replicate a Foale and Tuffin dress

Blue and purple tweed, Grey double knit and mystery green polyester

Their original grey wool flannel dress, had a black ruffle front with white binding. The ruffle is the same on the sleeves and also had a small box pleat at the front and back. It was designed in 1962 and was the first Foale and Tuffin dress to be featured in Vogue

Foale and Tuffin Grey Flannel dress - 1962

I also have enough of this green fabric to make a skirt. I think it may be crimplene, anyone want to take a guess?

And lastly, a dress which I may save till the end to be sewn in time for Spring - Butterick 4519 by Norma Tullo made from a vibrant cotton sateen

Purple cotton sateen - Butterick 4519

So that's what's hopefully going to be coming up over the next few months. Now to actually sit down and sew them!

What have you got planned for Winter? Or the warmer months if you're in the north?

Cat xo