Fall Fabric Haul and Handmade Wardrobe Plans

It has been a long time since I shared a proper fabric haul, but after a recent trip to University of Sewing in Bloomington, Indiana, I have plenty to show you! I was there for an in-person event and a YouTube Live featuring some of their new fall fabrics. Of course, being surrounded by all that beautiful fabric meant I also did some serious shopping for myself.

Shopping for fabric in person is such a different experience. You can feel the weight, drape, texture, and stretch before deciding what will work for a particular garment. I went in with a plan for my fall and winter wardrobe, but a few extra fabrics may have found their way into my bag too.

You can use code TOMKAT to save 15% on regularly priced fabrics at University of Sewing.*

Read on or watch here:

The Fabric Inspiring My Fall Wardrobe

My entire fall wardrobe started with one very special fabric: a Dolce & Gabbana wool double gauze featuring plaid, animal print, and florals.

I chose this fabric for the 2026 Precious Fabric Challenge, and it is becoming a True Bias Tobie Jacket. It also gave me a ready-made color palette for the rest of my fall sewing. The print includes dark blue, olive, cream, peach, and bright chartreuse, so I took it with me while I shopped.

Using one fabric as a color reference made it much easier to choose coordinating pieces. I could hold each fabric next to the wool and immediately see whether it belonged in the wardrobe. The finished garments do not need to match perfectly, but I want them to work together well enough that I can create several outfits from a relatively small group of pieces.

Fabric selection is more than choosing a pretty color or print. The body, drape, weight, stretch, recovery, and fiber content all affect how the finished garment will look and feel. If you want to build more confidence making those decisions, my course, Mastering the Art of Fabric Selection, walks you through the entire process of pairing fabric with patterns and shopping for fabric both online and in person.

Two True Bias Tobie Jackets

Before cutting into my precious Dolce & Gabbana wool, I decided to make another version of the Tobie Jacket. The two views have distinctly different details, so the finished jackets should not look like duplicates even though they come from the same pattern.

For my first version, I chose the Higashi Navy Stretch Cotton Corduroy. It is technically navy, but it leans closer to a deep blue-black than a traditional French navy. This is a particularly good shade of navy for my coloring, and it will coordinate with nearly everything else in this wardrobe.

I purchased 3½ yards because the corduroy is only 42 inches wide. This version will include:

• The more detailed patch pockets
• A funnel neckline
• A full lining
• The pattern’s original length and style lines

This jacket will serve as a wearable muslin, giving me an opportunity to check the fit before cutting into the wool double gauze.

A wearable muslin lets you test the fit and construction of a pattern using fabric you still enjoy and plan to wear. It is especially helpful before cutting into expensive, irreplaceable, or sentimental fabric. Because the two Tobie views are so different, this test version will also become a useful part of my wardrobe rather than feeling like a practice garment.

A Fun Floral Jacket Lining

I could have used a lining fabric from my stash, but then I found this Spring Floral Twill Satin. It is a smooth 100% polyester fabric with a colorful floral print that will be such a fun contrast inside the solid navy jacket.

The slick surface will help the jacket slide easily over other clothing. Most of the time the print will be hidden, but it will add a little surprise whenever I take off the jacket or wear it open.

Bottoms for My Fall Wardrobe

I selected two bottom-weight fabrics for the Closet Core Frank Jeans. I have already sewn the wide-leg version for my daughter and was impressed by how well the pattern went together.

The Frank Jeans include:

• Mid-rise and high-rise options
• Straight-leg, wide-leg, and barrel-leg silhouettes
• Traditional five-pocket jeans details
• Multiple combinations for creating very different pairs of pants

Because I have a short torso, I am considering the mid-rise option. A slightly lower rise can sometimes create more visual length through my torso, although I also enjoy wearing high-rise pants.

Beige Stretch Denim

The first bottom weight is this Beige Stretch Denim. It has subtle slubs that give the fabric some surface texture, and it is lighter than the 10- to 12-ounce denims I often use for jeans. It still has enough body to create a structured pair of pants without feeling overly heavy.

Right now, I am leaning toward using the beige denim for the wide-leg Frank Jeans. The lighter neutral color should work with every top in this group and give me a nice alternative to traditional blue denim.

Olive Cotton Twill

My second bottom weight is the Olive Cotton Twill. Unlike the beige denim, this fabric does not have stretch. It has a sturdy hand that should work beautifully for the barrel-leg version of the Frank Jeans.

I may change my mind once I begin cutting, but my current plan is:

• Beige stretch denim for wide-leg Frank Jeans
• Olive cotton twill for barrel-leg Frank Jeans

Both colors coordinate with my wool jacket fabric, the navy corduroy, and all three of the tops I am planning.

Three Fabrics for Fall Tops

Once I had two bottoms and two jackets planned, I moved on to tops. I wanted a mix of necklines and silhouettes so the wardrobe would have some variety.

Peach STOF Cotton-Spandex Jersey

The first top fabric is the STOF Avalana Light Rose Jersey Knit. I think of it as a warm peach, and it looks especially beautiful with the olive twill.

I plan to turn this into a turtleneck, although I have not settled on the pattern. I already own several possibilities, including the Love Notions Arlington Sweater and the True Bias Nikko Top and Dress. I also have an Itch to Stitch turtleneck pattern that I have sewn before.

Before choosing, I will compare the fabric’s stretch and recovery with the requirements for each pattern. A turtleneck needs enough stretch to fit comfortably over the head, while good recovery helps the neckline return to its original shape.

Olive STOF Cotton-Spandex Jersey

The second knit is the STOF Avalana Grape Leaf Solid Jersey Knit. I got the end of the bolt, so I came home with approximately three yards even though I originally needed only two.

That extra yardage gives me room to consider more than one garment. I am thinking about making another Seamwork Ellie with its Henley-style neckline, but a polo-inspired top could also be fun. I have even considered using a cropped boatneck pattern, although I may already have enough boxy T-shirts in my wardrobe.

Cotton-spandex jersey is one of my favorite fabrics for everyday tops because it combines comfort with enough body and recovery to hold its shape.

Chartreuse Cotton Vernon Shirt

The final fabric in this wardrobe module is the Chartreuse Handloom Cotton. This bright green pulls the chartreuse directly from the print in my wool jacket fabric, and it looks fantastic with both the beige denim and olive twill.

My plan is to make another hacked Cashmerette Vernon Shirt*. I made a cropped Vernon with a partial placket this summer and have worn it constantly. For this version, I plan to repeat those modifications and add short sleeves.

The bright color will bring some energy to the neutral bottoms, while the cropped length should balance nicely with both the wide-leg and barrel-leg jeans.

A Ready-to-Wear-Inspired Top for My Daughter

Not everything in this haul is for me. My daughter showed me a ready-to-wear top she loved and asked if I could recreate it. I found the STOF Avalana White Watercolor Blue Stripe Jersey Knit, which fits her coloring and should work perfectly for the project.

To get the details she wants, I plan to combine pieces from three Cashmerette patterns:

• The puff sleeve from the Carlie Tee
• The body and crew neckline from the Concord T-Shirt
• The partial placket from the Brookhaven Sweatshirt

Instead of using a traditional polo collar, I will add a ruffle at the neckline to mimic the inspiration top. I also plan to use a white woven fabric from my stash for the placket and ruffle, creating a crisp contrast against the striped knit.

Combining pattern pieces requires some testing, especially where the neckline and placket meet, but using familiar patterns gives me a solid starting point.

Two Fabrics That Jumped into My Bag

I went to University of Sewing with a fairly focused wardrobe plan. Then I found two fabrics I simply could not leave behind.

Sand Linen-Blend Deadstock

The first is this Sand Linen Blend. It is a lightweight woven fabric with beautiful drape and a warm caramel color.

I am considering a button-up or popover shirt because the drape would create a relaxed, fluid silhouette. I have not selected the pattern yet, but the color will fit easily into my existing wardrobe.

Because this is deadstock fabric, availability may be limited. I purchased a couple of yards, which gives me enough flexibility to choose the pattern later.

Metallic Linen for Holiday Trousers

My final fabric is this Italian Silver-on-Brown Linen. It is 100% linen with a gorgeous metallic finish. University of Sewing also had a cooler gray version that looked almost gunmetal, but the warmer brown was the right choice for my coloring.

I purchased approximately three yards and am leaning toward making wide-leg trousers. My current pattern possibilities include:

• Paradise Patterns Protea Pants
• Closet Core Mitchell Trousers
• Another wide-leg trouser pattern
• A shirtdress if I completely change direction

The metallic finish makes this fabric special enough for the holidays, but the linen base keeps it from feeling overly formal. A simple pair of trousers could be dressed up for an event and then worn more casually with one of the knit tops from this haul.

Building a Wardrobe Around Color

This haul includes plenty of individual projects, but the real goal is to create garments that work together. The Dolce & Gabbana wool gave me a clear palette, and every fabric I chose connects to at least one color in that print.

My planned fall wardrobe now includes:

• Two jackets
• Two pairs of jeans or casual pants
• Three coordinating tops
• A possible pair of metallic trousers
• A caramel-colored shirt or popover

I will share a more detailed fall capsule wardrobe plan with the specific patterns, existing wardrobe pieces, and project PDF. Some of these decisions may change as I compare each pattern with the fabric, but that is part of the planning process.

A fabric haul is exciting, but it becomes much more useful when each purchase has a role in your wardrobe. Even the fabrics I bought without a final pattern in mind coordinate with garments I already own or with pieces planned from this haul.

You can shop University of Sewing here and use code TOMKAT to save 15% on regularly priced fabrics.*

If you would like more help understanding how body, drape, fiber, weave, stretch, and recovery affect your finished garments, you can also learn more about Mastering the Art of Fabric Selection.

I cannot wait to get these fabrics washed, cut, and into my fall wardrobe!

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