Croft Mill

Summer 2025 Wardrobe: Edition 2

Welcome to the second edition of our Summer Wardrobe series, your seasonal dose of fabric inspiration, pattern pairings, and style ideas to keep you sewing (and wearing!) handmade all summer long. In this round-up, we're diving into the swishy, breathable world of viscose and beyond, with lightweight cottons, linens, and blends that are just begging to be sewn up into dreamy summer pieces.

Whether you're planning holiday outfits, breezy day dresses or easy everyday basics, we've handpicked a collection of beautiful fabrics and matched them with some brilliant patterns to get your creativity flowing.

Why viscose?

Viscose is one of our favourite fabrics for summer sewing. It has the breathability and comfort of natural fibres with the softness and drape that make it perfect for floaty tops, swishy skirts, and relaxed dresses. It behaves beautifully in warm weather and feels cool against the skin, which is exactly what you want when the temperature rises.

This edition features a wide range of viscose prints and plains, from bold abstracts to subtle florals and timeless neutrals. Whether you lean romantic, minimalist or colourfully maximalist, there's something here for you.

Pattern inspiration to match

The magic really happens when fabric meets pattern. We've taken the guesswork out of it by suggesting a few tried-and-tested pairings that work beautifully together. Think of this as your shortcut to a cohesive, wearable, handmade summer wardrobe.

Summer wardrobe part 2 pic 1

L-R: Airflow Viscose Zaraffia  :  Lagoon :  Airflow Viscose Tideleaf  :  Named Patterns Aulio Elasticated Waist Shorts & Trousers 

For both variations (shorts & trousers), select a light- to medium-weight fabric, ideally with some drape for the best fit and movement. Recommended fabrics include viscose challis, crepe, cotton lawn, and washed linen. You can use ready-made cord for the drawstring or sew your own using the included instructions in the pattern.

Summer wardrobe part 2 pic 2

L-R: Pastel Sprigs Crepe  :  Viscose Crepe in Vivara  :  Kimtee  :  Banyan

Summer wardrobe part 2 pic 3

L-R:  Dotto  :  Danbury Magenta  :  Livia  :  Style Src Queenie Woven Dress 

Summer wardrobe part 2 pic 4

L-R:  Black Cherry  :  Metro Grid  :  Harper 

A few sewing tips for summer fabrics

  • Pre-wash your fabric. Most summer fabrics can shrink a little, especially viscose and cotton. Always wash and press before cutting.

  • Use the right needle. A fine, sharp needle (70/10 or even 60/8 for very lightweight viscose) will help avoid snags and puckering.

  • Take your time with drapey fabrics. Use plenty of pins (or pattern weights) to keep things in place.

Let summer sewing be joyful

Sewing for summer is about more than just ticking things off a list. It's a chance to dream up clothes you really want to wear. Think about how you want to feel: breezy, bold, comfortable, confident. Then choose fabrics and patterns that support that feeling.

Whether you’re building a capsule wardrobe, creating a standout piece for a special event, or just looking to fall back in love with your machine, Edition 2 of our Summer Wardrobe series is here to help you do just that.

Ready to sew something beautiful? We’ve linked all the fabrics and patterns below so you can dive straight in.

Happy sewing, and here's to a handmade summer wardrobe you love to wear!

The Croft Mill team x

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