3 Fall Capsule Wardrobe Tops You Can Sew

One of my favorite things about sewing a capsule wardrobe is watching all the individual pieces come together! I've been working on my fall capsule wardrobe, and today I'm sharing the three tops I made to coordinate with the rest of my handmade pieces. I've got two comfortable knit tops and a fun woven shirt that I modified from one of my favorite button-up patterns.

If you've been following along with my fall capsule wardrobe plans, you know that I built my color palette around my Precious Fabric Challenge jacket. I'm working with olive green, apple green, warm peach, and navy blue. It's a little more subdued than my typical fall wardrobe, but I'm loving how cohesive everything feels.

I'm especially enjoying the combination of apple green and olive. Who knew that would become one of my favorite color combinations?

Read on or watch the video below to see how these three tops turned out!

The Challenge: Three Versatile Tops for Fall

For this capsule module, I planned three tops, two bottoms, and a layering piece. I wanted comfortable, wearable tops that would work on their own or layered underneath jackets, sweaters, and pinafores.

I also wanted some variety. Two tops are made from cotton/spandex jersey, while the third is a woven cotton shirt. Each has a different neckline and silhouette, giving me plenty of options.

All three fabrics came from University of Sewing, where I was able to take my Precious Fabric Challenge jacket fabric and match everything in person.

✨Use code TOMKAT for 15% off regularly priced fabrics at University of Sewing. (They also ship throughout the United States.)

The Three Tops

Cashmerette Grafton Turtleneck: A Perfect Fall Layering Piece

Pattern: Cashmerette Grafton Dress, Top & Skirt*
Fabric: Peach Stof Cotton/Spandex Jersey

Let's start with my peach turtleneck!

I know there are plenty of fashion rules suggesting that women with larger busts should avoid turtlenecks. We're supposedly better off with V-necks, square necklines, or lower scoop necks.

But you know what? I like turtlenecks, so I'm going to wear them!

For this top, I chose the Cashmerette Grafton, one of my absolute favorite knit patterns. In fact, if I could only take one knit sewing pattern to a deserted island, this might be the one!

The Grafton is incredibly versatile because you can mix and match the different bodices, sleeves, necklines, and skirts to create all sorts of garments.

Some of the options include:

• Fitted and relaxed bodice styles

• Multiple neckline options, including a turtleneck

• Different sleeve silhouettes

• Interchangeable skirt options

• Tops, dresses, and skirts

For my fall capsule, I chose the fitted bodice, fitted sleeves, and turtleneck neckline.

What size did I sew, and did I make any adjustments?

I made a size 10 with the G/H cup, graded out to a size 12 at the waist, and returned to a size 10 at the hip. That's it! No other alterations were necessary.

The fabric is a beautiful warm peach cotton/spandex jersey from University of Sewing. I absolutely love this particular jersey. It has a wonderful weight, feels luxurious, and is one of my favorite fabrics for sewing T-shirts and knit tops.

As a Copper Spring in the Color Guru system, I gravitate toward warmer colors, and this peach is perfect for my coloring.

I'm planning to wear this top primarily as a layering piece. It will look wonderful under my jackets, and I'm especially excited to pair it with my Cashmerette Pinehurst Pinafore.

It's a practical addition to my fall wardrobe that I know will get plenty of wear as the weather cools down.

Seamwork Elli Henley: A Comfortable Knit Top with Interesting Details

Pattern: Seamwork Elli Henley*
Fabric: Olive Stof Cotton/Spandex Jersey

My second top is the Seamwork Elli Henley, another pattern I've sewn before.

I wanted my knit tops to have a little something interesting about them, and the Elli definitely delivers!

This pattern features a beautiful deep scoop neckline with a small functioning snap placket. It's a fitted style, which is exactly how the pattern is intended to be worn.

I particularly love the shape of the neckline. It's a little different from a traditional T-shirt, and the snaps add a fun detail without making the top overly complicated.

Can you sew the Seamwork Elli without making a full bust adjustment?

For my version, I made a straight size 12 with absolutely no alterations.

Seamwork drafts for a C cup in its lower size range, and technically, I'm a larger cup size. You can see a few wrinkles around my bust that suggest I could benefit from a full bust adjustment.

But those wrinkles don't bother me enough to make the adjustment!

Not every garment needs to be absolutely perfect. Sometimes a comfortable, well-fitting top that you enjoy wearing is exactly what you need.

This is one of Seamwork's earlier patterns, so it doesn't include a dedicated projector file. However, I projected the layered copy shop file without any problems. Just make sure you check the four-inch calibration square before cutting.

For the fabric, I used another gorgeous Stof cotton/spandex jersey from University of Sewing, this time in a color called Grape Leaf.

To me, it's a beautiful olive green, and I love how it works with the rest of my capsule wardrobe.

I actually purchased the end of the bolt because I liked the fabric so much! I originally planned to buy two yards, but there were approximately three yards left, so I took the whole thing.

I've already cut another top from the remaining fabric for my winter capsule wardrobe, so you'll be seeing more of this gorgeous olive jersey soon.

This Elli Henley is going to be one of those tops I reach for constantly. I can wear it on its own with jeans or trousers, or layer it underneath a jacket.

Cashmerette Vernon Shirt: Turning a Button-Up into a Popover

Pattern: Cashmerette Vernon Shirt*
Fabric: Chartreuse Cotton

My final top might be my favorite pop of color in this entire capsule!

I used the Cashmerette Vernon Shirt, one of my favorite button-up shirt patterns, but made a few changes to create something different.

Instead of sewing the traditional full button placket, I converted it into a partial placket, creating a popover-style shirt.

I've made a similar modification before, including a cropped summer version, so I already knew I liked the look.

How did I modify the Cashmerette Vernon Shirt?

For this version, I made several adjustments:

• Converted the full button placket into a partial placket

• Removed the curved shirttail hem and created a straight hem

• Sewed a substantial two-inch hem with visible topstitching

• Shortened the sleeves

• Used contrasting dark green buttons from my stash

• Added darker green topstitching for extra detail

For sizing, I used a size 10 with the G/H cup and graded out to a size 12 at the waist. I also have a one-inch shortening adjustment at the waist already incorporated into my Vernon pattern.

The fabric is a beautiful chartreuse cotton from University of Sewing. It's such a fun, bright apple green, and I love how it looks with the olive pieces in my capsule.

I'm especially excited about wearing this shirt underneath sweaters and sweatshirts during the winter. When you live in Indiana, the winter months can get pretty gray, and having that little pop of bright green near my face is going to make me happy!

I used dark green buttons from my stash rather than matching the fabric exactly. They coordinate with the darker topstitching and add some contrast.

Choosing Fabrics for a Fall Capsule Wardrobe

One thing these three tops have in common is that I chose the fabrics intentionally. I wasn't simply shopping for pretty colors. I wanted fabrics that would work with my existing capsule pieces and suit the patterns I selected.

For the Grafton and Elli, cotton/spandex jersey was an easy choice. It's one of my favorite fabrics for sewing knit tops because it offers comfort, stretch, and recovery.

The Vernon, on the other hand, needed a woven fabric that would work well with the shirt's structure and topstitching.

If you're new to sewing with knits, I've got a couple of resources that can help:

• Free Knit Sewing Ebook — A great starting point for learning about knit fabrics and sewing techniques.

• Knit Sewing Essentials: T-Shirts and Beyond — My comprehensive class for building confidence with knit garments.

Bringing My Fall Capsule Wardrobe Together

I'm so pleased with how these three tops turned out!

Each fills a different role in my wardrobe. The peach Grafton is a fitted layering piece, the olive Elli Henley is a comfortable everyday top, and the chartreuse Vernon adds a beautiful pop of color.

That's what I love about sewing a capsule wardrobe. You don't need dozens of new garments to create something fresh and exciting. A few carefully planned pieces can make a big difference.

If you'd like more behind-the-scenes sewing content, daily outfits, and a closer look at what I'm working on, you can join my YouTube Membership.

I'd love to know which of these three tops is your favorite! Are you drawn to the classic peach turtleneck, the olive Henley, or that bright chartreuse popover?

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