(Please note that affiliate links have been used in this post.)
Sewing my own clothes has been a bit of a sheepish endeavor for me. I’m fascinated by it, yet I hesitate to talk of it with most people. It’s a foreign concept to many people. For many, sewing clothes takes an unreasonable amount of time. Or, it’s something that’s already been done by most people at some point, and the joy of sewing for them is gone.
In other words, I don’t find many people who enjoy a good conversation about how clothes are made. But it’s an enlightening endeavor for me, and I will keep going for now.
I started with a pair of underwear but quickly progressed to the Linden Shirt. And this is now my second skirt to complete. It’s the Gypsum Skirt pattern by Sew Liberated.
I don’t sew out of necessity. I sew because I enjoy the artistic endeavor of it. As with anything that takes effort and time and work, there is also a sense of accomplishment. My homemade clothes are my ‘special’ clothes that I don’t want to ruin. I think they’re special because of the time and care I’ve invested into them.
This skirt is the absolutely first time I’ve ever sewn with Merchant and Mills Fabric. This particular skirt is laundered linen in the color called Sebastian. (All their laundered linen is beautiful.) Friends, I can’t sew all my clothes with Merchant and Mills. If you take a look at the price tag on their fabrics, it’s a bit steep. But as you’ve likely also learned, most times a steep price tag comes with some incredible quality. This did not disappoint.
There is something spectacular about the drape on this skirt. I guess I should mention, though, that I have not washed or dried this fabric. Eeg, I would definitively do it on gentle though. I’d hate to ruin the small bit of crinkle in it.
While I won’t be investing in their laundered linen all the time, I do see more Merchant & Mills in my future. The fabric is extraordinarily beautiful.
Feel free to ask questions about this pattern. If you do happen to purchase this pattern, you will notice that my skirt doesn’t have pockets. I have sewn this pattern twice now (the longer length version both times.) The first time I added the pockets. This time I didn’t, and I truly enjoy it both ways. Without the pockets, though, this skirt does not take much time to sew.
Most people do not make their own clothes and that has been true for a long time now. For many years, it was not taught in schools anymore, and many people who wanted to sew could not find a place to learn how. Also, because of cheaply made throw away items, it was easy for most people to buy, buy, and buy instead of relying on sewing skills. Unfortunately, that has contributed to a lot of carbon being tossed around in the atmosphere due to factories churning out clothing en masse. Most of us would do better with home made clothes, and less clothes in general. Mending, sewing anew for a reason, and being satisfied with less would be an option for people to consider. Your skirt turned out very nicely. I hope you continue to enjoy it; and wear it often.