3 Dresses I Want to Sew by Autumn

This summer has been a doozy. I’m behind on everything. Well, except for, miraculously, my book challenge. Which I’m ahead on (somehow) and shows how much I’m walking and/or driving these days. Ever since I’ve been asked to go back into the office 3x a week, all I do is not sew. It’s infuriating. More notably because I have 3 Dresses I Want to Sew by Autumn.

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3 Dresses I Want to Sew by Autumn

Honestly, as the last rays of summer sunshine give way to falling leaves and PSLs, it’s time to refresh our wardrobes for the upcoming autumn season. This year instead of buying, why not create dresses that can transition from summer to autumn?

I’m going to try my best to get these done by the Autumn equinox. All three of these dresses will transition to Fall with ease by just adding tights or boots!

The Floral Wrap Dress:

A wrap dress is a summer staple and, with the right fabric choice, it can effortlessly transition into autumn. I’ve picked out a few floral prints with a mix of deep autumnal colors but I’ve decided to go with a different fabric. I have a lot of quilter cotton fabric which is wonderful for home projects but tends to be stiff and wrinkle easily.

I’m on the hunt for a lovely lightweight flowy material that will keep me cool during the last days of summer but also has longer sleeves and warmer tones making it a perfect choice for early autumn events. I really love the idea of making a sleeveless dress and then adding buttons to the inside to attach full puff sleeves for the Fall months. Something I’ll definitely think about during the design phase.

Here’s the fabric I’m looking at:

The Midi Shirt Dress:

I made one of these last summer that was oversized and wonderful. I traced my favorite summer dress and made my own pattern off of it. Though it was meant to be a prototype, I wear it a ton.

However, I’d like the dress in a different color and material. I love that I was able to add pockets and I’d like to find a lovely lightweight fabric to add pockets to the original too.

Midi dresses are incredibly versatile from warm to cooler weather. For the new summer-to-autumn transition dress, I’m channeling something chic that I can wear to the office but also something I can open and wear as a cardigan at home.

I love the idea of embroidery. Here are the fabrics I’m debating between below… I honestly might make two and turn my old dress into a cover for my sewing journal. 🤔

Fabrics I’m looking at!

The Denim Jumper Dress:

A denim jumper dress is the perfect classic piece that I’m missing from my wardrobe. I saw this gorgeous denim dress from Anthropologie and I can’t unsee it. It reminds me very much of my childhood and, trust me, I want to just buy it… but I can’t when I have the materials and I know I can draft it.

The denim fabric I own though, is a bit weird. It’s tough and a smidge heavy for summer but it’s lightly shaded and has distressed holes, which will provide a nice breeze.

I like that the design allows layering underneath, from light t-shirts on warm days to long-sleeve turtlenecks and tights as autumn hits. It’s, officially, a wardrobe essential that I can’t wait to sew!

For each of these dresses, my goal is to transition them from summer to autumn effortlessly. I’m tired of packing away my favorite summer dresses and not seeing them til the following year. With a little creativity, I think I can create adaptable pieces that work for both seasons. Whether it’s the wrap dress, midi shirt dress, or denim jumper dress, let’s embrace the changing weather with style!

What sewing projects are you planning for this summer-to-autumn transition? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!