Top Sewing Trends for Spring Summer 2017
Our hotly awaited, glorious selection of new spring summer fabrics are now up on the site. We've had one day of balmy temperatures and it had me in a tizz! There's nothing worse than warmer weather finally arriving and then feeling like you have nothing to wear.
My spring summer handmade wardrobe is currently on hold whilst I'm beavering away on my McCalls cocktail hour dress, but that hasn't stopped my mind racing with ideas of things I would like to make. So here's some of the key catwalk trends for the current season with suggestions for the patterns and fabrics you could use to make them. Come on sunshine, we're ready for you!
Deconstructed Shirts
What is a deconstructed shirt I hear you cry! In simple terms it is a shirt that is a bit squiffy - buttoned up incorrectly, oversized, off the shoulder or with unusual collars and cuffs. I've also spotted the shirt trend combined with other key trends such as a cold shoulder or a statement sleeve.
This ready to wear cold shoulder shirt turns the traditionally masculine shirt into an ultra feminine fashion statement. Recreate the look with Butterick 6462.
Or give statement sleeves and a striking silhouette a whirl with this Vogue design:
If you're not a fan of quirky variations good old fashioned shirts, particularly in stripy fabrics, are still a prominent trend. As luck would have it we've carefully selected three of the most beautiful quality ex designer shirting fabrics that are just the ticket. Lilac stripes, little blue spots and grey and blue stripes are all just waiting to become your next project.
This Simplicity pattern provides several variations for a standard shirt:
And there are a further 86 women's shirt patterns available on our site for you to choose from! Ooops and let's not forget the men!
Gingham shirts and blouses are also a great look for the coming season. Go smart and masculine with a standard shirt silhouette or girly and feminine by adding frills.
Statement Sleeves
It's time to have fun with those sleeves. Think big, think flamboyant, think flouncy. A great way to add a bit of interesting detail to an otherwise simple top and there are some super new patterns to help you get the look.
This McCalls pattern has some great variations on the sleeves for you to try...
...and the Dove blouse by Megan Nielsen is the perfect pretty, floaty top for summer.
Either of these patterns would be dreamy in one of our new cotton lawn fabrics, gingham or the delightful shirting fabric. You can find all of these fabrics here.
The Cold Shoulder
It looks like our shoulders aren't going to be warming up any time soon, the cold shoulder trend is here to stay.
I love this pretty summer dress New Look pattern, which would be perfect in one of our drapey, viscose fabrics such as this beautiful blue and pink floral fabric.
If you fancy something more fitted than floaty try this knit pattern in one of our gorgeous stretch jersey fabrics.
Cami Tops and Fuchsia
I can remember my Mom having an array of silky cami tops back in the 90s. She used to tuck them into high waisted trousers and I always thought she looked so chic. As with all great fashions they're back and this time around I'm the one wearing them. I have a couple of ready to wear camis and I recently made view C of this Cynthia Rowley pattern in our Mystique satin backed crepe (you can see the full blog post here). It is a really great pattern, which I highly recommend.
This New Look cami pattern has an alternative, slight V neck and would also be perfect in any of our drapey fabrics.
The cami top I made also ticked off this season's fuchsia trend. Bold shades of pink are brightening up high streets and wardrobes everywhere. As luck would have it we have a range of plain fuchsia fabrics in linen look, stretch, satin, satin backed crepe and faux silk dupion for you to choose from. Plus this rather lovely new patterned John Kaldor cotton sateen fabric with splashes of fuchsia against a black and white background.
Higgledy Piggledy Hems
Not only are we moving away from clean simple lines at the shoulders, sleeves and with shirts, hems are unconventional too. Asymmetric, handkerchief and generally erratic hems were spotted on every spring summer catwalk.
This Kwik Sew pattern with a handkerchief hem would look perfect in one of our patterned or plain stretch jersey fabrics.
For a more understated effect try this asymmetric skirt pattern in a lightweight floaty fabric such as the lovely spotty viscose, this abstract floral cotton satin, this pretty butterfly crepe or any of our gorgeous peaseblossom fabrics.
Ruffles
Out shopping a couple of weeks ago I was surrounded by ruffles in every shop! They were on tops, blouses, skirts, shirts, jumpsuits, playsuits - everywhere! In fact I wrote this blog post all about ruffles - how to sew them, how to use a gathering foot and some of my favourite ruffly patterns.
I'm certainly itching to get cracking on these key trends and I hope you're as excited as I am.
Have fun sewing!
Lucy
For more tips and tricks on how to make sewing easy you can follow our blog via Bloglovin and receive updates via email each time a new post is added.
Follow us on Facebook Twitter YouTube and Instagram for news, tutorials, special offers, sales and more.