Hey, Friends! I’m sharing my second project for the Mood Fabrics’ Mood Sewing Network (MSN) today. You can also read about my first project, it’s actually a mini collection!, in this post if you missed it. I have one more project to complete, and I’ll be reviewing their Insider program, to satisfy my obligations in the Mood Sewing Network. (In fact, I already have the material on hand!) If you’re interested in applying for the MSN, you can find the details and application on this page.

I picked a striped linen twill this round. You can see the fabric in action in Mood’s video below.

I want to say this is the first encounter I’ve had with 100% linen; to the best of my knowledge*, I’ve only handled linen blends before. I was inspired by the boxy gathered tier dresses that often pervade my feed.

Instead of purchasing a new pattern, I looked to my pattern library for a boxy woven top. Key Largo fit that bill. Long story short, though, my plan didn’t work out.

The linen simply had too much body to achieve the look I wanted and with each successive tier, the volume multiplied and grew into nothing short of a tent.

I cursed, admitted defeat and pulled the dress apart. I finished the top portion as a crop and made plans to move on.

Pattern adjustment notes- Key Largo Top cropped 4” below the lengthen/shorten line, hem finished with bias, sleeves modified for a cap-esque look.

But I had started with 3 yards of 60” wide linen and a crop top was all I had produced.

It’s true not every sewing adventure is a win. I hadn’t respected the linen’s hand and (lack of) drape in my stubborn headedness. It comes with being a redhead. No apologies.

A few days passed and I found some renewed interest in and energy for speaking with the linen again. A friend (a genius, really. You might know her.) had suggested a high-waisted skirt.

Enter Matilda. The pattern had actually been half assembled on my sliding door for days.

I simply made the skirt portion, shortening the placket.

The outfit is LOVE.

The skirt is pieced every which way because I had already cut most of the linen into large bands.

I’m a sucker for hidden novelty accents. The waistband facing is a Rashida Coleman Hale print.

I made a size small based on a waist measurement of 28”. For fitting, to sit higher on the waist, I removed 1.5” from the center of each front before adding the placket.

Sometimes I traipse through my neighbor’s yard for photos.

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I’m glad I found the space and energy to revisit my plans. An a-line skirt (the first I’ve ever sewn for myself!) respects the linen’s natural tendencies much better and now I have two pieces I can mix in with other wardrobe items.

THANKS, MOOD!

*my memory is shit, though