My Spring Summer 2026 Collection

 

This 11 piece pink collection started off as a teeny itty bitty module, but I kept adding to it until it grew into a collection of 11 classic styles.  

I'm an advanced level sewer, but because I'm a classic and love simple lines, almost everything in this collection is easy to sew.

Of the 8 pieces I've sewn so far, my fave of all faves is the fuschia/magenta flared skirt:  

I made View C of McCalls 8452. It has an elastic waist and a set of pork chop patch pockets set above cargo pockets with flaps. If you like this style, grab it before it goes out of print!

This is my second skirt like this. My first one was a bright yellow, which I no longer have but am planning to make again in the same bright yellow. Can't wait to have more of this skirt! It is unbelievably easy to sew, wear, and style.

McCalls 8216 is from the NYNY line. With it's cut in shoulders and wing collar, it's not too revealing or too tight, but the style itself reminds me of tops that Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and other bombshells used to wear back in the 40s. I'm not a bombshell, but I love this style!

I used a fuschia pink and white cotton polka dot for the blouse and a white twill for the collar. I interfaced the collar and dug into my stash for pearlized buttons to finish this. I didn't follow the pattern which had a facing for the collar, front, and armhole cut in one. Instead, I cut a facing for the collar and front, and used a bias strip to finish the armholes. I did it this way to cut down on bulk and am happy with the way I did it. I also lengthened the top by 2 inches. If I tuck it in, it will stay tucked in. If I wear it out, it will be at a flattering length.

If you're unfamiliar with the McCalls NYNY line, check it out on ebay or etsy. That line has some great styles!  

I think my new rugby shirt was the most difficult piece to sew because it has a front half placket, a  collar, and stripes that needed to be lined up. All of that sounds difficult to sew, but it wasn't. If you like rugby shirts that have a little extra, but that are still classic, it's definitely worth the effort. Can't buy a rugby shirt like mine anywhere! Yes, I love classics, but I also don't want to wear what others are wearing. I don't want to see my clothes coming and going. 

For this, I used a bright yellow cotton for the front half placket, a coral cotton for the collar, and a coral knit for the sleeve cuffs. The buttons I chose match the pink of the stripes. For the fabric, I used a lightweight pink and white french terry. My rugby shirt turned out well and when I look at it, it makes me happy:

I used McCalls 8240. The pattern is out of print, but you can still get a pdf from simplicity.com. You also might be able to get the printed pattern from online sites, like etsy, etc.

 

Another top that I added to this collection is a classic tank top. Nothing much to say about this because it's a classic. The neckline and armholes are finished with bands. It's actually hard to find a pattern for a tank with bands that finish the neckline and armholes, it really is. I cut the neck and armholes as XS, but this is a very close fitting top, so I extended the sides out to a medium. That ended up a little too large, so I sewed it back down at the sides to a S. The fit is perfect for me. If you sew this, make sure you measure, tissue fit or make a muslin so you won't end up with a tank that's too tight to wear:

The pattern I used is my TNT for tank tops, New Look 6546:

 

For bottoms, I made a long pair of straight legged fuschia/magenta ponti knit pants. I'm petite and used a vintage Junior Petite pattern that fits me out of the envelope. But to get the look I wanted, I added an inch to the sides because I wanted it to be a little wider. My preference for knit pants is the elastic waist, and I've made a lot of elastic waist knit pants using this pattern:

I also made shorts using the same pattern. I made a version of the flared cargo skirt out of a linen blend, but it didn't work out, so I took it apart and turned it into these shorts. I took the patch pockets with flaps off the skirt and sewed them on to this pair of shorts. I've been wanting to make a pair of shorts with patch pockets for a while, and am glad that I finally did. I know there is some chatter that patch pockets like this will make hips look larger, but that's not the case here. If you have been thinking about patch pockets on your shorts, try them. If you don't like them, remove them. But if you like them, you can sew as many as you like! 

I'm happy with my pockets.

Here's the pattern, vintage McCalls 6559 in a Junior Petite 9:

I also made a tank dress in a style that I absolutely love wearing. I used a navy and white striped knit, but to pull it into my pink collection, I finished the edges with a fuschia/magenta knit and sewed it as is:

The TNT that I used is long OOP Butterick 5996. 

To wear with the tank dress, I also sewed the topper from the same pattern. OMG! It was such an awful fit on me. The jacket looked like it needed shoulder pads, but the pattern actually didn't call for shoulder pads. I didn't want to deal with that. Since I had some extra fabric, I sewed a junior teen pattern for a very similar style. It turned out exactly the way I envisioned it, but the boxy style doesn't suit my figure type, so I'm shortening it to bolero length. Boxy styles obscure my smaller waist, while a bolero length will not. Here it is before the final shortening::

 OOP Simplicity 9509. I cut size 7/8: 

Before I finished the Pink Collection, I took a break to sew a twinset in one of my fave greens, sea green. I love this green more than emerald green or any other green. I just finished it, but have already worn it twice. It's definitely going to be in high rotation. 

I actually love bright colors, but when I was younger, my sister criticized me for wearing bright colors. I toned it down, but wasn't happy about that because muted colors look awful on me. Muted colors look great on her because muted colors work for her color season. But I'm a Bright Winter. Muted colors are a no-no for me. And if you look at what I've sewn for myself, my colors aren't crazy bright. I'm not going crazy mixing different bright colors or prints together. I'm a classic, just not in neutral tones. I'm a Bright Winter classic:

This is the pattern I used, OOP McCalls 5389:

Having the sea green fabric in my stash was distracting me, so I sewed it up. Now that that's out of the way, I'm focusing on what remains to be sewn for my Pink Collection.

OOP Butterick 3297, the sleeveless version with the cut in shoulders:

OOP Butterick 5353, but with a gathered skirt:

And a princess seamed fitted shirt, TNT McCalls 4922, but I might switch it out for a junior sized pattern:

There you have it! Part 1 of my almost finished Spring/Summer 2026 Collection.

I'll be back when everything's actually finished.

Did you like any of the patterns I used? Planning to sew any of them? Let me know. Really curious about those who sew with both current and out of print patterns.

Be well,

Summer