Closet Core Cielo and Pietra Mini Capsule Wardrobe: Two Patterns, Many Looks.

Look 1: Navy floral viscose Cielo top and orange linen Pietra shorts

When Closet Core released their Rome pattern collection last summer, we were getting ready to go on our long trip to Europe and Africa. I did get the Cielo and Pietra printed out early August but only managed to cut the Pietra shorts out of a cream eyelet fabric hubby got for me at the Fabric Store in Australia. Unfortunately, my mom’s sewing machine gave me some trouble and ended up at the repair shop for the remainder of our trip so it wasn’t until Me Made May this year that I finally found the energy to completed them.

Look 2: Italian floral stretch poly crepe Cielo top with orange linen Pietra shorts

Little did I know I would fall madly in love with these amazingly well drafted shorts. From the moment I tried them on I knew we were both in for the long haul. After my first eyelet version I reduced the crotch length by an inch which is surprisingly the only alteration I needed to make so I can say it fits right out of the envelope. Since then 5 more Pietra shorts have joined the crew and a couple of the pants versions are in the works.

Look 3: Floral Cielo with a buttery yellow linen Pietra shorts.

The Pietra checks every box for perfect shorts in my book. High-waisted with an elasticated back waistband and a flat front featuring a genius waist facing that tucks your tummy in. Sign me up!

My mini wardrobe project was inspired by Heather’s fantastic Rome collection capsule video. You can literally create an entire seasonal capsule with just 3 patterns from the collection. I started with a summer capsule that mainly uses lightweight fabrics and focuses on shorts. Even though summer means short sleeves for the Cielo top I opted for the long sleeve version because I hate wasting fabric and try to find ways to have little to no leftover after a project. Also, long sleeves are perfect for cool NorCal nights. The fabric yardage dictates what I’m able to make and I generally have a good sense of what pattern will work for the amount of fabric I have. In this case, I went with shorts because I had just enough of the matching fabrics to cut them out.

Look 4: Hacked heart print crepe Cielo Top with yellow Pietra shorts.

After trying Seamwork’s “Design your wardrobe” series I changed the way I organize my stash. The section on color palette and shop your stash really resonated with me so now my fabrics are arranged by color palette and it’s much easier to shop my stash and build a capsule wardrobe. It also helps that I’m drawn to similar hues and colors because most of my fabrics are complimentary and work well together. I had fun picking out the fabrics for this capsule and it’s quickly going to become a full capsule as I’m still finding more fabrics that matches the existing ones. I already cut a striped knit Cielo top that matches the heart print Pietra shorts.

Now for the Cielo tops. I think they deserve a separate post just to talk about the sleeve hacks.

This pattern needs no introduction judging by its heavily populated hashtag on Instagram. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it came together if I don’t factor in all the seam finishes I used and the sleeve hack on the heart print crepe one.

Look 5: Heart print crepe fabric Cielo top and matching Pietra shorts.

French seams, Hong Kong seams and topstitching are truly my favorite seams finishes and can be found on the insides of all three tops. I also added an organza sleeve head to hold the puff in the sleeve on the heart print top.

All the fabrics for this capsule were bought over a span of 3 years and those of you who follow me on Instagram will recognize the red and navy floral border print viscose I used to make one of my all time favorite Zadie jumpsuits. I had enough leftover border print to make my first Cielo top.

I absolutely love border print fabrics and find it fun to play with print placement on my clothes. I finally remembered to take pictures of my favorite print placement method and shared on my Instagram stories last week. It was a light bulb moment for me when I came up with it back then and it’s perfect for figuring out print placement on basically any fabric not just the large scale prints ones. I was amazed by the overwhelming responses and comments I got so I saved it in my stories highlights. Basically I cut the paper pattern out and keep the paper around it as the template. Then I can move that template around on the fabric since I can see easily see through it.

This capsule has been a pure joy to make and I can get a total of 8 looks mixing and matching the 3 tops and 3 bottoms. I’m already thinking of a fall capsule using a variety of different fabrics for the 3 patterns. For someone who loves to make dresses, I realize that they’re not always practical and I have to add more separates. I’m making a conscious effort to have pieces in my closet that fill that void and that I can coordinate easily. I’ve succeeded in sewing more tops this year which was my goal. I will be tackling pants and especially jeans next.

So tell me, are you into capsule wardrobes or are you more of an impulse sewist? Do you find capsules easy or difficult to achieve? Do share!

In the meantime, keep sewing! Xoxo