Merchant & Mills Mathilde skirt made in Japanese Lola fabric

I love making clothing in interesting prints, and this Japanese linen/cotton is so cool. The joy of a warm UK Summer and making a simple gathered skirt, this was calling me! I like fabrics that do the talking, keeping things relaxed for this kind of style, just two fabric panels cut and stitched together, thread some elastic and away you go! The Mathilde skirt has been cropping up quite a bit, yes, I could have self-drafted a skirt as I have done many times, but I wanted to give this pattern a go. I'm glad I did as I picked up a few tips along the way.

This Merchant & Mills pdf pattern is more of a tutorial, as you don't receive the pattern pieces, apart from the pocket and some instructions. There are two design options, either patch or inseam pockets. I was quite impressed with this pattern and discovered a new way to stitch the elastic casing for the waistband. 

My skirt used two metres of this glorious light to mid-weight Japanese Lola Linen Mix fabric, it is pretty and kind of has a block print feel too. Japanese fabrics have a narrow width, but the 110cm width worked well for the main skirt panels. Also, there is some 'risky fabric volume' going on for me, but I think this worked out okay! The pattern has some good advice on how to work with the measurements. For reference, I am 5'3" and I decided I didn't want to go too long in the length, and I could maybe have set the pockets a little higher, but it could be just the skirt not sitting high enough. I've never felt comfortable in high-fitting waistbands, which results in me messing about with them, especially with a floaty design like this!

Possibly, I chose the hottest day of the year to take these photos, and it just kept getting hotter. After I'd finished, I wanted to show it straight away. I'm thrilled with how this fabric looks; it's exactly what I imagined. It's a high-end print on premium linen/cotton from Japan. The Hokkoh brand uses beautiful colours with depth in their designs, which transcends into your making. The shades and textures are quite special, a challenge to show on screens, but they just don't look generic or cheap. Sewing with fabric like this restores my motivation and feels fun, while knowing it's not going to look like anything you see in an RTW shop. This, for me, is all part of the process of making your own clothes. 

This skirt brings some special vibes, I'm glad I cut into it, I was scared but there is a reason I chose this fabric for the Faberwood collection. As a die-hard jeans fan, there's even a chance it will inspire me to wear skirts more often!