Peppermint Pocket Skirt Sewing Pattern Review

I've been meaning to sew the Peppermint Pocket Skirt for a while, and the #SewFrugal challenge hosted by Sam @frugalisama and Ruan @theyorkshiresewgirl seemed like a good opportunity to give it a try.

The idea of the #SewFrugal challenge is to make a free sewing pattern using fabric from your stash. I have some sizeable pieces of fabric left over from other projects, so that gave me a second good reason to join in. The fabric I've used for my skirt is some Ankara fabric that I had left from a coordinating top and trousers set that I made last year, and it originally came from Ankara Shop.

If you're not familiar with the sewing patterns from Peppermint magazine, I'd definitely recommend checking them out - there's a whole library of them here. All of the patterns are produced in collaboration with various indie pattern designers and they're available to download for free, with the option to make a voluntary contribution if you are able to. 

The Pocket Skirt was designed by Tara Viggo of Paper Theory. It's a relaxed midi-length skirt with a gathered, elasticated waist and oversized panel pockets, and is available in waist/hip sizes from 24"/34" to 47.5"/57.5".

Sewing the skirt was no problem at all. It's a fairly simple construction, and the instructions were good.  One point I would mention is that I added a couple of extra millimetres when folding the top of the skirt over to form the waistband - if you follow the instructions exactly I think it would be a bit of a battle to feed the elastic through (they have you fold a 4cm waistband and sew it down 2-3mm from the edge, when you're meant to use 38mm elastic). It does literally only need an extra millimetre or two though. Other than that I just followed the instructions.

One point to note - this is one of those patterns where you definitely need to mark the notches. You'll need them on the upper and lower side panel pieces in particular because they're used to make the pockets.

I made a size 16 as is recommended for my measurements, and the fit is good. Having said that, the fit is mainly just based on the length of elastic that you use in the waistband so that isn't much of a surprise! In case it helps to know - my skirt is the length that the pattern intends and I'm about 5'9".

I really like how my Peppermint Pocket Skirt turned out, and I can definitely see myself making more. My only slight disappointment is that I was hoping this would be a year-round kind of skirt but the fabric clings to tights terribly (as you might be able to see in some of these photos!) so it'll have to be kept for bare-leg weather. Never mind - that's only a small hardship really isn't it?!