Fashion designer Nanette Lapore notes, “This spring is about convertible dressing – jackets that double as shirts, outerwear as light as a dress.”

Light chiffon makes delightful flowing jackets when just a little cover-up is desired. Organza makes wonderful light, evening wear/bridal wear jackets when stiffer fabric is desired.

As usual, Pantone is letting us know what the top-fashion trends for fall will be. Skinny pants are in and so are oversized tops with dolman-sleeves. Dresses with dolman sleeves are also predicted to be popular. The bolero jacket remains a favorite, while leather and tweed jackets in classic shapes are also in style.

The sleeveless blazer will be the must have vest of the season. Classic, but new, this is an item which can spark up your outerwear wardrobe and should stay in style for awhile. Intermediate sewers can easily make a charming sleeveless blazer; choose wool, wool blends, or even denim , canvas, or fleece .

Silk-like flowing dresses in all lengths will be popular. Some designers are using chiffon , a surprising, but lovely fall choice. Crepe will also be popular; crepe is very easy to sew and even beginners can easily make a luscious crepe dress.

Follow these tips when sewing chiffon:

Before cutting your fabric, dry-clean or steam silk chiffon, unless it says it can be washed. Test press a small scrape before steaming or pressing because chiffon is easily damaged by heat. Pre-wash polyester chiffon.

Use a size 8-10 machine needle.

Use a wide straight stitch foot or roller foot. Use a small hole throat plate if you have one; you can improvise by placing a piece of tape on each side of the hole to make it smaller, being careful to avoid the feed dogs.

Use lightly balanced tension and a stitch length of 2-2.5 mm. Test your tension and stitch length on a scrape of fabric before sewing the garment.

You may want to sandwich chiffon seams. Do this by positioning the seams to be sewn and then pinning strips of water soluble stabilizer on each side. Stitch and then lightly steam to remove the stabilizer. Before using this technique be sure to test a scrape of your fabric for heat sensitivity; you don’t want to sew stabilizer in place and then ruin the garment by subjecting it too high of heat while dissolving your stabilizer.

Shorten stitch length around curves. Don’t backstitch on chiffon; use knots.

Use serged, hand overcast, or bound seam finishes. Hand sewn French seams are a nice.

Finish edges with facings or bindings.

Spring fabrics are wonderful to work with. From classic linens to silk chiffons, the fabrics of spring are a delight to look at and to feel. Make a skirt suit or a pants suit out of a lovely neutral linen or a delightful fuchsia, kiwi, jade, aqua, persimmon, or pistachio linen.

Sew a woman’s blouse or lovely lightweight jacket out of a silk chiffon. Try eyelet for a change of pace. Today’s eyelets come in wide variety of designs and some delightful colors, including aqua, turquoise, baby blue, pink, lime, bright yellow, brown and black.

Eyelet makes sweet little girl’s dresses too. It is also great for curtains, bed ruffles, bedspreads, pillow cases and other home décor items. Hem a long rectangle of eyelet on all four sides and you have a pretty dresser scarf or table runner.