Does anyone else find that back-to-school feeling makes you reassess your wardrobe situation? After wearing flowing and floaty garments through the summer it can be nice to transition into smarter, more formal looks that make you feel put-together and sharp. Team Fold Line work from home, so workwear pieces are not naturally part of my handmade wardrobe, but I’d like to make some smarter pieces for meeting friends, going to galleries, dinners and work meetings.

If you need to dress smartly for work, you might be after sewing patterns that are work-appropriate but can be styled more casually when you’re off duty. If you’re looking for sewing patterns you can make to wear to work, we’ve got four fab indie designers to recommend (and narrow your search!).

The first designer that comes to mind when I think of cool workwear/smart styles is The Assembly Line. The patterns are modern, stylish and understated – yet full of interesting details. The construction put comfort first, so they are pieces you can wear all day. What I also love about the designs is that you can sew them up in plain, basic colours and they look incredibly smart, but make them up in prints or florals and they will look completely different. They are perfect for building a capsule of sewing patterns as lots of them look great worn together. You’ll find a great range of smart blouses, trousers, skirts, dresses and even a jumpsuit if you want to rock one (and feel polished while doing it!).

BROWSE THE ASSEMBLY LINE SEWING PATTERNS

If you would love your handmade clothes to look like they came out of a super cool independent boutique, Homer + Howells is your new favourite pattern brand! The designs are really effortless while making an effort if you know what I mean?! The designs can read smart or party, depending on the fabric you choose. The Cissy Dress is a timeless piece that can be dressed up with statement jewellery and heels, or paired with trainers and a jean jacket at the weekend for running errands. I think it is an ideal workwear dress! I also love the Ingrid Blouse and Dress pattern which gives you the best of both worlds – a fun dress for the weekends and smart and interesting blouse for work.

BROWSE HOMER + HOWELLS SEWING PATTERNS

Michelle Sews patterns was created out of Michelle’s hunt for professional clothes that worked for her corporate job. The designs are geared towards creating a smart, stylish professional wardrobe and have been tried and tested by Michelle.  The patterns feature clean lines, classic silhouettes, and pretty insides that you can be proud of. We’ve got one more pattern joining the collection very soon that is a true workwear wardrobe staple!

BROWSE MICHELLE SEWS SEWING PATTERNS

Lenaline Patterns has a wonderful collection of everyday casual staples and smarter designs that would be great options for sewing your own workwear pieces. You’ll find sharp shirts, fluid trousers, smart blouses and sleek dresses. Two of the latest designs work really well together – the Artur Shirt and the Stas Trousers.