Have you given any thought to capsule wardrobes? They’ve been on my radar for a few years now and while I haven’t exactly changed my entire closet to fit a capsule wardrobe, I have come to realize that I tend to wear similar items over and over again.
Do you do this too?
While my style evolves yearly, I do tend to love classic designs. Some of my wardrobe items I’ve had for well over two decades. I seem to have some basics that I just can’t live without and that I turn to time and time again.
Why am I mentioning this?
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
How a capsule wardrobe informs your quilted coat fabric pulls
Because when it comes time to plan my fabric pulls for my quilted coats, I immediately start thinking about what I wear on the daily. Unlike when I plan a quilt colourway, the textiles I feature in my quilted coat need to coordinate with what I already have in my wardrobe. I encourage you to give your wardrobe a good review before committing to your own quilted coat fabric pull. You want materials and colours that will coordinate with the hues you already love wearing. This will make your quilted coat a lovely compliment to your existing collection.
See it in action
Here’s how that approach has played out for my own quilted coats:
Dark Gray Coat
The first one I made I knew I wanted a dark gray linen. I love gray. I wear it in all the lovely shades it comes in! So, I knew that having gray as the foundation would make it super easy to sneak into my wardrobe. I was surprised that I didn’t feature coral in my first one (you know my love for coral!), but I really love deep raspberry and hot pink, so I didn’t think twice when those were the colours that I was gravitating towards.
Beige Coat
For my second one, I was making this one for the Spring workshop and I thought beige linen would be the perfect option for when the warmer weather arrived. It’s light and fresh and gives a slightly nautical vibe with the blue and cream striped binding. Since I love colour and coral, I loved sneaking in a pop of colour with these Ruby & Bee solids.
Grey Monochrome Coat
Since I had both Spring and Fall quilted coat options, when it came time to make a third one, I was a little unsure which direction to head in. Taking a cue from my closet, I know that I gravitate towards gray in all its glorious shades and so I wasn’t surprised when I found myself reaching for this lighter gray Essex linen. To add interest and keep it different from my other two, I opted for a monochrome colour scheme featuring a tone-on-tone effect.
Consider Upcycling & Sustainability
What I love is that most of these fabrics were remnants or were upcycled. Sneaking sustainable solutions into my quilting practice is super important to me. I worry about our planet and I’m always seeking ways to limit my impact on our pale blue dot.
While I kept the outside nice and monochrome, I couldn’t resist sneaking in a fun little pop of colour with my lining print 😉 This Imagined Landscape print by Jen Hewett has been in my fabric stash for quite a while just waiting for the right project to come along. I didn’t anticipate that it would be a quilted coat lining, but hey that’s what was speaking to me when I was working on my fabric pull! I try not to overthink these things: if it’s caught my eye and it fits the project then I’m all for using that fabric here and now instead of saving it for a possible future project.
Tip: Fabric Buying Practices
Side note: I often get asked how I purchase fabric. Do I buy it for specific projects? Or do I pick up fabric when I see it and make it fit later on?
I tend to do a little of both.
When I’m shopping for fabric (whether online or in person), if a print or colour catches my eye and I instantly love it – then it has to come home with me – ha! I love stocking my fabric cabinet with textiles that spark joy. I don’t need to have an immediate plan for them. Sometimes they end up hanging out for a few years waiting for the right project to come along (as was the case here with this Cotton & Steel print).
Other times, I purchase fabric to complete a project that I’m currently working on. I find both approaches work best for me and my quilting style. My main tip is to buy what you love. You’ll normally find a project to feature it in – someday! My general rule is to keep my stash to my one cabinet. I don’t want my fabric to overwhelm me, so I figure by containing/limiting it to one cabinet forces me to keep my stash in check. You can read more about my fabric stash storage habits here.
Another reason why I love buying what I love is that it means pulling textiles for projects is super inspiring and easy peasy. All of the fabrics featured in my latest Etched Diamond Quilt x Hovea Coat were already in my fabric cabinet. Love when that happens!
What’s your fabric buying/stashing habits?
For more Etched Diamond quilty goodness, check out:
Get the Etched Diamond Quilt x Hovea Coat Pattern Extension to add quilty flare to your own Hovea Coat 😊
Happy stitching!
xo
Shannon
Never miss a post – sign up for the weekly newsletter.
This post uses affiliate links. For more info, visit the FAQ page.
Can I buy the whole Villa pattern as a paper pattern not a download
I’m not sure which pattern you’re referring to, Marilyn, however, all my patterns are only available in digital format. Let me know if that helps!