This is an ongoing post, and I’ll update it as I go

The 2026 wardrobe contest organised by Sewing Pattern Review is the perfect opportunity for me to use up my (huge) stash
and also to sew a new wardrobe after big weight loss over the last 12 months.
I also need to fit to my new shape – where did my bottom go? 😭 Previous TNT patterns just won’t do any longer.

The contest requires 15 items, 10 of which must be sewn between March 1st and April 30th.
5 can be sewn before the contest starts. The other 10 can be planned, patterns prepared, fit adjustments made, but no cutting or sewing until March 1st. We then have 10 weeks to sew those 10 items.

The rules:  2026 Sudoku rules

I added some rules of my own:

• Sew from stash as much as possible, including patterns. 2026 is the year for using up and finishing things.
• Enjoy the process and don’t get stressed about deadlines. If it takes all year to complete – well, I had fun AND I have new wardrobe

The plan
Deciding what to make is a huge part of the enjoyment of a contest like this.
When I started I was going to use colours I don’t wear very often, mostly because of a length of tweed in pinks and olive that I really want to use up. But trying to create a whole wardrobe around it meant purchasing a lot of new fabrics – so I’ll save that tweed for another day.

I do however have plenty of navy, grey, ivory and teal – so let’s start there. I also have a vintage McCalls wardrobe pattern I last made in about 1979 – and I’d like to use that too. M6528,by Halston.

The garments
(Each will link to a separate review as I complete them)

Layers (all outers)

1. Grey coat (Butterick 6385) in a luscious wool/cashmere blend I inherited from my mother
2. Gilet (Ikatee Rabat) in a cream sherpa fleece – the only fabric purchase I made so far
3. Style Arc Ziggi biker jacket in a grey moleskin of unknown composition
4. Cropped trench coat in a stone coloured chino fabric, Ottobre
5. Some sort of cardigan jacket in ivory, maybe tweed, maybe quilted cotton – but soft and cosy. Maybe a Vogue pattern, maybe Grainline Tamarack

Tops:

1. A long sleeve tee in a graphic navy/white print, M6528
2. A long sleeve blouse in a watercolour voile, probably using an Ottobre pattern.
3. Navy hoodie in cuddly fleece-backed sweatshirting, Ottobre pattern
4. Another long sleeve tee in a light grey/white stripe jersey, pattern TBC
5. A cowl neck blouse in ivory crepe, pattern TBC

Bottoms

1. Jeans in the same grey moleskin fabric as Ziggi – I have acres of it! Maybe Closet Core Ginger, or a vintage Calvin Klein pattern
2. Style Arc Sadie in a smart navy wool
3. Teal ponte pants using that McCalls Halston pattern.
4. A grey/ivory tweed skirt, also Halston. I’d like to embellish it with some ivory embroidery – but I might do that later
5. The Halston skirt in the same navy/white jersey print as top #1 – together they will make a two-piece dress.

Why Sudoku?

All these have to fit a grid 5×5, with 5 accessories and 5 footwear. You get 13 outfits of top, bottom, layer, accessory and footwear.

5 vertical, 5 horizontal, 2 diagonal and a bonus of the 4 corners plus the centre.

Grid #1:

Grid #2

Grid 3:

The possibilities are endless!

The rules say that 5 of these garments may be completed ahead of the official start date of March 1st. This is handy as I’m going to Oslo mid February for a christening so I’ll need something warm and smart – perfect for a new winter coat.

1. I’ll make these before I go:The grey coat
   The ponte pants
   The tweed skirt
   The navy hoodieWhen I get back I’ll make the trench coat.

This is a lot of sewing – but there’s a mix of really fast makes (the skirts and the tees) with slower, more intensive pieces. I’ll post a plan on my blog with a week-by-week schedule, in case anyone’s interested 🙂