In The Sketchbook- August 2017

Welcome to In the Sketchbook, a monthly look at fashion design sketches that we are working on for ourselves. Sketching garments on a personal croquis is a great way for the individual couture enthusiast to move beyond the use of commercial patterns and into a world of personalized design! It can be intimidating at first, but with a little bit of practice it becomes something you look forward to. Join us for a look of what we have going on In the Sketchbook! Brought to you by Wendy Grossman of Couture Counsellor and Steph King from Siouxzeegirl Designs.


It seems crazy that we are going into the last week of August!! Time sure has just flown by.

Several of my very good friends and I got together for several days of girls sewing time in Baltimore last weekend. It was so much fun and I feel like I have so many new ideas. Getting together to sew always gets my sewing mojo into high gear!

This month I did a lot of thinking about my fall and winter wardrobe. When I moved back in May, I embarked on a major de-cluttering project of everything I own. One area that I quickly realized that I was lacking in is outerwear. Nice outerwear. I have a puffy winter snow coat but am totally lacking in any nice wool coats or work appropriate coats and trench coats for the late fall/early spring and the deep cold Chicago winter.

I now have several fabrics to work from for all sorts of cold temperatures and have been going through some inspiration pictures and doing some sketching of ideas that I want to move forward on.

The first three sketches are of trench coat ideas in 2 different silhouettes. The first is a more traditional double breasted trench coat. It is OK, it certainly did not excite me enough to draw a back view!

Fairly typical looking trench coat.

 The next 2 are much more fun and have a bit more personality. The silhouette is fun and flirty and it has some personality. I showed it buttoned all the way up to ward off the rain. I am playing around with an idea in my head that includes a hood. I will need to sketch a couple more ideas around that. For me it would make sense to have a hood of some sort that will keep me nice and dry for the times that I don't have an umbrella handy. I'm wondering if it could be detachable or maybe one of those that roll up into the back collar or a back pouch... So many ideas!

Fun and flirty silhouette with some soft gathers on lower side panels,
inseam pockets, waist definition and some fun flap details.
eek... I really need to learn how to draw faces!

Next up are a couple wool coats. The first is a total knockoff from a designer coat that I really like that has a pricetag that is way out of my budget! I have some great ideas for this one!

Designer knockoff coat

The second is what I am calling my Public Transportation Coat. A utilitarian winter coat that will keep me snug as a bug while I walk to the train, catch a taxi or wait for an Uber. This will be wool, underlined with flannel and lined with a flannel backed satin. It will include zipper welt pockets, a zippered breast pocket for my metra card, as well as interior pockets. Three piece sleeves for easy mobility when all bundled up and the wrists will have internal knit cuffs to keep the elements out, I love that feature on winter coats! It will probably also have a main zip down the front to provide wind blockage which means most or all of the buttons will be purely decorative.

Hmmmm... looks like I forgot to add bottoms in this sketch! LOL!!
 A fun and well thought out winter coat!

Are you thinking of sewing for the next season? Usually I am so late to the game that I feel rushed. I suppose having a real need for these garments is keeping me on my toes!

Make sure to stop by Wendy Grossman of Couture Counsellor to see what lovely sketches and ideas she is working on. Please feel free to share your sketches and ideas!

Happy Sketching!