It’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee long holiday weekend.
I haven’t got an ideal post for celebrating it – I don’t really write about copying the Queen’s style 😀 Not many patterns for a sheath dress with matching coat. (Saturday she wore her usual coat with pleated ruffle round neck and front edge, attractive and current.) This can be a more interesting look than a suit, especially for a petite. So perhaps start from New Look 6163. Leave off the band collar for a more classic effect.
And she always shines in her ‘Spring’ Colours. Good Luck to her anyway.
I could just go on as usual, and post more comments on Judith Rasband’s summer capsule. Or write about my current obsession – getting basic blocks to fit – which I plan to spend the weekend doing. I’ve chosen instead to post the first of some pieces on relaxed clothes – suitable for a switch-off and laze weekend.
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This post is inspired by The Vivienne Files. Usually I enjoy looking at the ideas there but would never copy them for myself. All those close fitting tees, leggings, short skirts and sheath dresses – not my style at all.
But she (Janice) recently suggested a some loose casuals which I could happily wear. All clothes from L. L. Bean.
In fact I got so inspired by this it has turned into 4 pieces – this on patterns for her basic wardrobe, another on accessories and layers, yet more on big jackets for wearing over loose casual tops, and some comments on simple wardrobe plans.
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Janice talks about building a wardrobe in groups of 4 items, and starts with 2 tops, 2 bottoms. Sleeveless and sleeved tops, gathered waist skirt and capris.
image from The Vivienne Files with permission
Everything in the same accent colour. An interesting idea if you like strong colour in summer. But not essential! Don’t let the colour put you off considering this approach to wardrobe building 😀 Personally I prefer variants around a colour rather than everything exactly the same, and I rarely wear accents.
A bit like Kate Mathews’ ideas for a 6-yard wardrobe, in her oop book ‘Sewing a Travel Wardrobe‘. She uses a jacket, dress, skirt and pants all made in the same fabric, as the core of a travel wardrobe.
Or follow the trendy colour blocking idea, and make each garment in a different strong colour – red, green, aqua, blue, orange, yellow, chartreuse, purple.
True basics, with minimum style elements – co-ordinate easily with almost any other relaxed loose fit styles. Easy to reproduce using Cutting Line Designs.
Cutting Line shell – Pure & Simple
Cutting Line sleeved top – 2 x 4
Looking closely at the photo in the red group, this might be a boat neck raglan top, like a classic sweat shirt. See my post on patterns for sweatshirts and relaxed tees.
Cutting Line skirt – In the Trenches
Cutting Line pants – One Seam – at cropped length
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Janice then adds 4 to the initial group, 2 more tops, 2 more bottoms. Tee, knit cardigan for layering, shorts and pants.
For colour this time she uses a simple medium-light or medium neutral.
image from The Vivienne Files with permission
For the top, use your favourite tee pattern.
If you’re looking for a starter tee pattern, find one with the right level of ease for you. Do you prefer loose fitting knits ? knits which are the same size as your body ? knits with negative ease, that stretch over and emphasise your shape ? Skin fit knits are ‘modern classic’ but may not be your style. Carefully check illustrations of the effect. Best to measure a knit pattern before cutting out, so you don’t get too-big/ too-small surprises.
I’m learning the importance of this from a tee pattern I’m currently trying. This pattern has negative ease over the hips (oh dear, not an area I need fabric stretched over), sleeves so tight I couldn’t bend my average size arms, and a neckline too small for my large head to get through. (Sewing Workshop Trio Tee – use very stretchy fabric.) As always, a huge pay-off for me from making a muslin. (And a huge pay-off from all my previous fitting struggles – I’m merrily slashing around and altering my muslin without concern 😀 )
Plus Janice’s second group includes a classic button up cardigan in a textured knit, perhaps chosen from Butterick 5760.
Pants with waistband, fly, slant pockets – shorts and full length.
Palmer-Pletsch have a pattern for chinos, McCall’s 6361.
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Finally Janice adds 4 more tops – a variety of ‘casual classics’.
Using fabrics which bring together the colours. Here she adds white (use your lightest neutral).
And added interest with multicolour weaves :
– accent-light neutral stripes
– accent-medium neutral-light neutral plaid.
image from The Vivienne Files with permission
Make a big change to the style of the wardrobe by using prints instead of straight line weaves.
This season’s print possibilities : underwater aquas, paisley, Afro, pretty florals, or techno prints that could only come from a computer.
Or introduce a current fabrication : sheer, satin, metallic.
Prints for jackets and pants as well as tops this season.
For garment patterns, repeat your favourite shell and tee.
‘Polo’ shirt with set-in placket in a knit. A couple of patterns :
Jalie 2562
Silhouette Patterns 225 Sarah’s Top has B, C, D cup sizes.
Well, only if you like polo tops of course. For some reason I feel ‘no never’ about them – too many associations with high-school sports perhaps 😀 Though I do like a lowest layer with a collar. So I would replace the ‘polo’ top with a collared blouse in a woven.
Big shirt which can be worn alone or layered – many possible patterns, even a men’s shirt.
There’s the shirt in Butterick 5760 mentioned before. Or a new big shirt from them, Butterick 5773.
Or, staying with Cutting Line patterns, use The Blouse Perfected.

Louise Cutting also has a ‘big shirt’ pattern coming out this summer.
I like the big shirts from Rag Merchant, which have softer corners and some added ‘crafter’ design interest. Here’s their Back Country Shirt.
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Use quality fabrics : linen, sheers, satin, light textured knits or stretch lace, pretty or striking prints. Fabrics for work, relaxation, special occasions. Add your favourite embellishments. Wear these relaxed shapes without looking like you’re on a camping trip 😀
Janice is always good on accessories. But this post has got very long, so I’m putting them in a later post.
And relate your choices to your own tastes and needs. Even in summer here I usually need an added layer. It’s the ‘essential fifth’ for me – the initial core 4 plus layer. So I’ll suggest a range of jackets for a different look to these relaxed basics.
Or perhaps you only wear dresses and can ignore all this. (Here’s the start of a series from The Vivienne Files on how to accessorise a basic dress.)
Or perhaps like the Queen you prefer tweeds and a Barbour when not on show.
Are these clothes in your style – a quick make for an easy-wear collection ? or too casual and shapeless for you to be happy in 😀
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Links and patterns available June 2012
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Sewingplums 