Autumn Vibes
- 22 hours ago
- 5 min read
There is something about early September that still feels like a fresh exercise book, even when school days are long behind us.
The light shifts. The mornings ask for socks again. The kettle goes on earlier. Suddenly, summer dresses and linen trousers feel a little too optimistic, and the idea of learning something new feels completely right.
That back to school feeling has arrived for me too. I have been looking ahead to autumn classes, thinking about the beginners I taught over the summer, and opening my wardrobe with that familiar question: what do I actually want to wear now?
The Autumn reset always starts small
I do not think a seasonal wardrobe refresh needs to be dramatic. No one needs to empty every drawer onto the bed unless they enjoy that sort of chaos.
For me, it starts with noticing.
What did I reach for all summer? What never left the hanger? Which pieces felt easy, and which ones made me tug, adjust, or change my mind at the door?
A gentle wardrobe sort is enough. I like to make three piles:
Wear now
The pieces that suit cooler mornings but still work if the afternoon warms up. Add a scarf or cardigan in an Autumnal colour to update the look.
Put away
Summer clothes that need washing, mending, or resting until next year.
Headscratchers
I would've worn this more if...
The useful pile. This is where ideas begin.
That last pile is the most interesting one. A dress that would work better with longer sleeves. A skirt that needs a new waistband. A favourite top that could be copied in a warmer fabric. A pair of trousers that would be perfect if the hem finally got finished.
Autumn is kind to makers because it invites layers. You do not have to make a whole new wardrobe. One good shirt, skirt, pinafore, or pair of pull-on trousers can give older clothes a new life.
New classes for a new season
Summer brought lots of beginners through the door, and it was such a pleasure to see confidence grow stitch by stitch. There is a particular moment I love, when someone stops saying “I’m not sure I can do this” and starts asking, “Could I make another one?”
That is the energy I want to carry into the autumn classes.
The new season is a lovely time to build on beginner skills because the projects feel useful straight away. Instead of sewing for a far-off occasion, we can make things that go straight into daily life.
For anyone who started sewing over the summer, you might like to join my Bring Your Own Project classes on a Thursday morning. You can choose your project and the pace you work at - and I'm there to help. It's lovely to spend a couple of hours in the company of like minded people, working on your skills.
The aim is not perfection. The aim is to keep going.
Beginner sewing improves when the next project is just challenging enough. A zip after a plain seam. Stretch fabrics after only sewing with woven. A pattern marking that suddenly makes sense because you have seen it before.
Looking at my wardrobe with fresh eyes
When I look at my own autumn wardrobe, I try to avoid starting with what is missing. That can lead to a fantasy list of clothes for a life I do not actually live.
Instead, I ask what my weeks really look like.
I need clothes that can handle teaching, moving around, sitting at the sewing machine, daily errands, and chilly walks. I want comfort, but not the kind that makes me feel as if I stayed in my PJs. I want clothes that layer well and wash well.
This Autumn, I am drawn to:
trousers with an interesting shape (barrel, carrot etc)
layers that work with lots of outfits (I am especially thinking of the Amara top I made last year in boiled wool perhaps in a plum or fern colour)
a plaid shirt made in the softest brushed cotton for layering
deeper colours, including brown, moss green, navy, plum, and rust
The best handmade clothes are often the ones that slot right into your life and suddenly you can't do without them. A top in the right sleeve length. A skirt with pockets. A dress that works with boots. A jacket that fits over a jumper without feeling bulky.
That is the real pleasure of sewing for a new season. You can respond to your actual body, your actual diary, and your actual weather.
Out with summer clothes, but not out forever
Putting summer clothes away can feel a bit sad, especially after such a glorious Summer. Still, it is worth doing properly.
Before folding things away, I check for small jobs:
loose buttons
dropped hems
small stains
seams under strain
fabric that has faded or thinned
If something needs mending, I try not to put it away untouched. Although the new makes siren call is much stronger than a pile of 'little jobs to do'
Some summer pieces can also be carried into autumn. A sleeveless dress might work over a fitted top. A linen shirt can become a light layer over a long-sleeved tee. A cotton skirt might last a few more weeks with tights, boots, and a jumper.
The question is not “Is this summer or autumn?” It is “Can I wear this comfortably now?”
The most useful autumn project is often the one that helps you wear what you already own.
A season for learning, layering, and making
Autumn has a way of making routines feel inviting again. Classes begin. Projects gather pace. Wardrobes shift from light and floaty to warm and layered.
If you came to a beginner class over the summer, this is a lovely moment to keep the momentum going. Choose one project that feels useful. Bring one garment back to life. Learn one new technique. That is enough.
As for my own wardrobe, I will be packing away the lightest summer pieces, mending what needs care, and choosing a handful of makes that fit the season ahead. Nothing too grand. Just clothes that feel good to wear, good to make, and ready for those crisp, golden mornings.
I hope to see you again soon.
Happy Sewing
Jo xx
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