Pattern Hack! Short Sleeve Mathilde

Want to make a Summer-worthy Mathilde blouse? Changing the sleeves to short, floaty ones without cuffs is sooo easy! Here's how to do it, as demonstrated on my gathered version...

1) Trace off your sleeve pattern piece or simply reprint pages 1-4 and 7-10. (The pattern is available to download here.)

2) Decide how long or short you want your sleeves to be, measuring down from your armpit. Add 2.7cm or 1 1/8" (15mm / 5/8" for the armhole seam allowance and 12mm / 1/2" for the sleeve hem). Measure this distance down the side seams on each side of the pattern and mark it on.

3) At each of the points you've just marked, draw a very short line at right angles to the side seam, then draw a smooth, shallow curve between these two lines, similar in curvature to the original hemline. A curved ruler of some kind will help here. This is your new cutting line.

4) Cut out your fabric and stitch your sleeve as normal, but when it comes to finishing the hemline, fold the raw edge under 6mm / 1/4" (wrong sides together) and press, repeat, then stitch close to the folded edge.

Et voilà! Lovely floaty Summer sleeves. Check out other Mathilde Blouse variations:
Mathilde dress
Without tucks
Gathered bodice

A Summery Mathilde Three Ways

So speaking of smock tops, here's one I made earlier. This is the Mathilde Blouse sewing pattern hacked in two different ways - with the tucks turned into gathers, and with shortened floaty sleeves. I'll show you how to shorten the sleeves in the next post - it's super duper easy! The fabric is a deliciously light Liberty lawn courtesy of the lovely Susan at Sewbox - it's so perfect for a gathered Mathilde.

I lurrrrve wearing this sort of top in the Summer - it's cool, breezy and easy, with more than a touch of 1970s chic. Here are three ways I'll be styling my Summery Mathilde:

1. With rolled up jeans and sandals

2. Tucked into a high waisted skirt with wedges


3. With shorts and a head scarf

I have a feeling I'm going to be living in this all Summer long! Now I'm dreaming of a plain white black voile version with a hand embroidered yoke... mmm...

[Soundtrack: 'Les Fleurs' by Minnie Riperton]

Talking Slow Fashion with Pharrell (sort of)

Check this out! Tis moi, talking handmade style in a fashion video exec produced by none other than Pharrell Williams!!! Alas, that didn't mean he was standing behind the camera with a clipboard, it's just for his website and YouTube channel, but a girl can dream that maybe just maybe he'll watch it and be inspired to hand paint his own Breton top or maybe write a song about sewing, possibly called 'Toile It Up, Baby'. Watch out for me gyrating in his next music video... it could happen! (Oh and do please excuse that bulge in my pocket - it's my watch, not a packet of sweeties, honest.)

[Soundtrack: 'Frontin' by Pharrell - my man was horrified when I performed the entire Jay-Z rap section while listening to this the other day]