Review – Mimosa Culottes sewing pattern

Hi! Here’s my article on Pattern Review of the Mimosa Culottes sewing pattern by Named, a Finnish indie pattern company, which I blogged about in May here. The review is also on The Fold Line here.

Pattern Description: From the pattern: Very wide-legged, mid-length culottes, high waist, diagonal pleats and side pockets in front, a neat, narrow waistband

Pattern Sizing: EUR 32-46 (US 0-14 / UK 4-18)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes. The pockets were a little tricky for me because this was my first time sewing pockets like this – where part of the pocket uses fashion fabric and the rest lining fabric. I’ve just sewn pockets you insert in the side seam or patch pockets. The pockets have fashion fabric and lining fabric. My fabric was a lightweight synthetic so I just used fashion fabric for the whole pocket. But I don’t recommend that because you have to sew through a lot of layers when you get to sewing the waistband around the front pleats – for those inches, you’re sewing through six layers of fabric (waistband, 2 pocket pieces, the pleats, which I count as 3 layers).

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I really like the design and the unique front pleats.

Fabric Used: lightweight jacquard – some synthetic that I got for $3.50/yard at Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I had some drag lines in the back and got fitting help, taking in about 1/4″ and my first mockup. I also dropped the back crotch 3/8″. Named Clothing designs for a height of 5’8″ (172 cm), my height so I didn’t make any other changes.

My fabric was lightweight so I thought it needed a little more interfacing at the waistband. The interfacing piece was supposed to be half the height of the waistband, but I cut my interfacing using the entire waistband pattern piece. I thought folding it in half would give it a little more heft. I think I would have been better off using a heavier interfacing and cutting it in half, which would have made for a more crisp fold at the top.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I would sew it again.

Conclusion: I’d like to make it again – maybe in a crepe fabric. The pattern recommends “a well draping, medium-weight fabric, for example polyester or wool crepe.” You can see more photos on my blog CSews here.