Every wardrobe begins as a dream

For me, a sewing project begins long before the needle touches the fabric. It starts in the mind, in the daydreaming, in the planning. I love imagining how a garment might take shape — the lines it will follow, the way the fabric will move, and how it will slip naturally into the wardrobe I already live in. I sometimes think this part of the process is half the joy of sewing — perhaps even the very heart of it.

When I sew for myself, I am really stitching a story. I am shaping a wardrobe that reflects who I am and what I want to express. Sewing is both my work and my passion — but it is also a quiet space for play, reflection, and creative exploration.

That is why this sewing planner has lived in my thoughts for so long. I have always loved spending time in the planning stage: sketching, gathering ideas, and making sure each project feels thoughtful and right. Over the years I have also become more intentional. I try to only make pieces I know I will use and love. Of course, it doesn’t always work out — some garments live better in my imagination than in reality — but planning helps me come closer, and I enjoy the process.

The How To Do Fashion patterns were created from the very beginning with the idea of mixing and matching. The possibility to combine pieces and build your own wardrobe within a connected universe. With the sewing planner, you can take this even further. It comes with a paper doll, and all How To Do Fashion patterns are included in miniature, ready to be cut out and played with. In this way, you can try pairing a skirt from one pattern with the bodice of another, or swap a sleeve and create a completely new expression.

I often play this way myself — once I combined a sleeve from Svaneke, the bodice from København, and the skirt from Sevilla. The result was a brand-new dress — something I would never have imagined without first experimenting on paper. Of course, the patterns still need adjusting afterwards — the planner doesn’t do that part for you — but it sparks ideas, and those sparks can open the door to entirely new possibilities.

In my process

done with the dress

The sewing planner is not only for those using How To Do Fashion patterns. It can follow you in any project, whether you work from your own blocks or from other pattern companies. It also includes practical pages you can print to build your own library of fabrics and patterns. This makes it easier to use the treasures you already have at hand, instead of always buying something new.

For me, the planner is both a tool and a source of joy. It makes me more mindful, gives me a space to dream, and helps me step into each new project with calm and anticipation. It reminds me to use what I already own — both patterns and fabrics — and it allows me to play and imagine before I place the first stitch.

If you would like to try the sewing planner, you can find it in my webshop.

I have also made a small video on my YouTube channel, where I show how I like to use it. It is the newest member of the How To Do Fashion universe, and I hope it will bring you as much joy and inspiration as it brings me.

L O V E

Nanna