More follow-up on the Merino wool I mentioned. The fabric I'm talking about is actually similar to that of a cotton tee shirt except that it is wool. It magically feels warmer when the weather is cold and cooler when the weather is hot. Plus it doesn't absorb bad odors as quickly as cotton. It does come in different weights.

I've been a busy lately so didn't see this thread until today. I just wanted to throw out a thought about making up the same pattern in different fabrics. From my experience (40 odd years of sewing everything from tailored suits to wedding dresses to ski wear), you usually have to do a fair amount of fiddling to get the same fit when switching out fabrics; a dress that fits perfectly made up in a sheeting weight cotton can fit quite differently when made up in a heavier woolen or a stretchier silk knit. I've created my own patterns for basic garments like a straight skirt, fitted top, narrow-legged pant, etc, that incorporate all the adjustments I need to fit my particular shape (the technical term is "slopers") that I use over and over. Even these custom patterns, however, need to be tweaked depending on the fabric I've chosen.

If you are just getting started, I'd suggest looking for patterns that have good directions for adjusting the fit, using fabrics suggested by the pattern designer, and avoiding trickier fabrics like slippery silks and patterned, or napped, fabrics that require matching at seamlines or careful placement. I'd also suggest finding a sewing "mentor"--a friend, an online group, or even a good sewing book--to help you figure out how to adjust and fit garments as you go along. If your first few projects are fun, and you like the final product, you'll be hooked.

Jenny, I'll have to see if I can track down some hot weather merino that doesn't look like gear! I do wear my wool socks most of the year, but then my feet run cold.

Gaylene, thanks so much for all your advice! I definitely want to master a pattern and then make it in all kinds of different fabrics, so it's good to know I'll still have fit challenges. (I actually checked to see if there was a sloper class locally but no such luck unfortunately.) I've got quite a few books out from the library, and a few sewing blogs bookmarked as well. At least I prefer full skirts to fitted, so my first project shouldn't have too many fitting problems!

I've had one year-round wardrobe for years - partly because I lived in Northern California where the seasonal variations were slight, but definitely still noticeable, and it was easy to have clothes that worked well all year round. Sleeveless shirts for summer worked great with a tank + cardigan in winter. Pants/jeans work well year round, just change up the shoes. Now that I am in the Northeast, I have found that people actually do use long johns (sometimes) and silk underlayers to help stay warm. The 3-season wool suggestion would get you part of the way there, along with some clever layering in cool weather!

A great question. I do have some year round items (blue jeans, denim jacket) but many of my clothes are seasonally based. My wool sweaters are going to be too warm for the summer months, even in a/c. I try to look for lighter weight blazers that I can layer over a turtleneck and under a coat in the winter, yet also pair well with a t-shirt for the summer. And then I only purchase one or two 'season' specific items. I figure if I keep the seasonal items low in number, I can freshen up my looks but wear pieces more often than one season. I've heard about certain wools being good for year round use, but I'm not aware of too many all season fabrics. Thanks for asking!