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  • DIY Summer Wardrobe Essentials

    DIY summer wardrobe items are always fun to make and show off!  Although sewing often takes less time than knitting, it's still smart to get an early start, since summer tends to be a season of distractions and plans (at least for us). We've recently sewn up three different summer staples, so we thought it would be fun to talk about them and get your input on your summer wardrobe must-haves.

    Sleeveless: Tank-tops can be surprisingly versatile, and once you get a sense of how you like yours to fit, you can whip up a bunch, changing little details to keep them all unique. This is a relatively modest top, with its crew neckline and full shoulder, but the back details and fabric choice (Liberty Tana Lawn in Kitty Grace E) keep it fun, and make it a great piece for transitioning from the office to a patio. We made this by modifying Collette Patterns' free Sorbetto, which is a great place to start. For other sleeveless styles, the Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank has a great casual, swingy shape; Deer & Doe's Datura Blouse has two great variations and fun back details; and for something a little dressier, Victory Patterns' Ava (view B) is lovely, and can be as modest or daring as you choose.

    Short-sleeves: Who isn't on the hunt for the perfect T-shirt? Something that's effortless to wear, comfortable, but still looks put together... This is Colette Patterns' Jasmine, (this one sewn up in Liberty Tana Lawn in Elizabeth A) and it's hitting a lot of our buttons right now. The shape makes it perfect to wear with jeans, but it also tucks smoothly into a high-waisted skirt, and the tie detail is pretty fun (and designed for limited fussing when you're wearing it). For a more casual woven t-shirt, we can't resist Grainline's Scout Tee; new-to-us designer Liola Designs' Luna Top offers the opportunity for some fun colour-blocking as well as three variations (sleevless, t-shirt, or long sleeves). If you're after a good jersey-knit tee, both Deer & Doe's Plaintain Tee (free pattern) and Sewaholic's Renfrew are tried-and-true, and would be gorgeous in some Liberty Dufour Viscose Jersey.

    Liberty Tana Lawn

    Tunics: For ultimate easy dressing, tunics are a must-have. Perfect for layering with jeans or shorts on the weekend, they double as beach coverups and, in the right fabric and longer sleeves, as a slightly warmer layer in the evening, all of which makes them holiday-packing staples. This one is Sew Liberated's Schoolhouse Tunic (with a couple of variations), sewn in the holiday-themed Libert Tana Lawn Isle of Wight A. Wiksten's Tank and Tova (whose neckline we mimicked here) both come with tunic variations, and we're also big fans of A Verb for Keeping Warm's Endless Summer Tunic, which includes pockets!

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