Sew the Look: Beginner Friendly Outfit

Jenni spotted a floral midi skirt paired with a soft pink sweater top while we were working on our Fall Sew the Look series. The vibe was cozy, feminine, wearable, and beginner friendly. Today, we’re diving into how Jenni recreated the full outfit using two Pattern Emporium* patterns, the fabrics I recommended from Sewing Studio, and a little bit of “I can do this” energy. Read on or watch here:

The Inspiration

Just a quick peak at the inspiration for this look: 

The Free Spirit Skirt (Pattern Emporium)

Jenni started with the Free Spirit Skirt from Pattern Emporium — a fantastic starter project if you’re newer to sewing garments. Here’s why it worked so well:

• Beginner-friendly construction: Just an elastic waistband, pockets, and clean lines. No tricky closures!
• Lots of options: Maxi, midi, lined, high-low hem, splits — it’s a versatile pattern that grows with your confidence.
• Quick sew: Jenni stitched hers in a straight size 12 with no alterations, using the midi length and covered waistband.
• POCKETS: Obviously essential!

The floral fabric from Sewing Studio (use code TOMKAT for 15% off) was the perfect match for the drape and movement Jenni wanted. She made the whole skirt solo (cue proud-friend moment).

If you are new to garment sewing, or want to sharpen your skills, take a look at my course, Intro to Garment Sewing.  It walks you through the construction of three garments that demonstrate often used sewing skills like making darts and inserting zipper.  

The True Romance Top (Pattern Emporium)

The sweater-knit top might look fancy, but it’s surprisingly approachable — and was Jenni’s very first t-shirt project. She used the True Romance Top* in a size 12, choosing the tall length version to suit her 5'7" frame.  The medium-weight, cotton/spandex knit fabric from Sewing Studio was the perfect match for fabric. 

Fun details that make this top shine:

• Bishop sleeves with a dramatic extended cuff
• Tons of customization options (tunic lengths, sleeve finishes, necklines)
• Soft drape that mimics the ready-to-wear inspiration beautifully

To match the original look’s high crew neckline, Jenni borrowed the neckband piece from Pattern Emporium’s Besties Tee* and blended it into the True Romance bodice. It lined up perfectly making it an easy swap to match the look. 

She also added her usual ½" forward shoulder adjustment, which landed the fit spot-on.

Put it all together and I think she nailed the look!

Sewing the Knit — First T-Shirt Success!

Jenni knocked this shirt out in an afternoon, which is amazing considering she’s a newer sewist and knits can feel intimidating at first. A couple smart techniques helped:

• Hem tape along the bottom edge kept the hem flat and crisp (even after washing).
• Using our coverstitch machine gave the finish that ready-to-wear polish.
• The fabric from Sewing Studio behaved beautifully — soft, vibrant, and perfect for fall colors.

She’s already planning to wear the pink tee with jeans, trousers, and other skirts. And that floral midi? It’ll look incredible with navy, green, or a light pink sweater. Two separates = a ton of new outfit combos.

_{*Affiliate links included—thank you for supporting my work! No extra cost to you, but I may earn a commission. Offers may change.}