Tag: mccalls patterns

Happy 2025

Welcome to my blog,

I’m Riesha (Ree-sha), known as RieshaNicolle across all social media platforms. I started my sewing journey in 2014, the year my mom passed away from stomach cancer. She was my world and when she gained her angel wings, I needed something to help me with the grief of missing her. So, I turned to Sewing. What started out as therapy for me, turned into a love for creating my own garments. Through my blog, I am excited to share my journey with all that are interested.

I am married, this year we celebrate 27 years in September. I have 2 adult children, a daughter, and a son. I love fitness, food, and fashion. I call it my 3 favorite F words. During the day, I work as a Staff Services Manager I for the State of California in an Investment Office, managing our Executive Support Team.

My first sewing machine had been purchased 2 years prior to me making a garment on it. I purchased it from Costco, yes Costco, to do borders on papercrafts, as I was into Scrapbooking photos of my 2 kids. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing with the sewing machine.

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Here are a few of my favorite makes from past years.

Let’s explore the endless possibilities of needle and thread together – one stitch at a time!

McCall’s 7688 Misses’ Knit Tops and Dresses’

For this pattern, I made view E, for the second time (see last photo for first one). I love that the dress is versatile and can be dressed up or down, depending on where your headed. It can be worn with boots for a dressy look or it can be worn with sneakers for a casual look while running errands on a Saturday morning.

There are several fabric suggestions that McCall’s has listed in the pattern, Sweatshirt Fleece, Frech Terry, Cotton Knit, Velour. For my fabric selection, I choose this Red, White, and Black Camouflage print from the Fabric Outlet in San Francisco, Ca. The link is Here, but this color is no longer available on the website. I did purchase this fabric in store.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Knit Tops and Dresses 

Pattern Sizing:XS -M. I cut a small. 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes it was exactly what I expected once it was all done. 

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were easy and pretty straight forward. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I was happy with the pattern and that it fit. 

Fabric Used: Red, white, and black camouflage French terry from the Fabric Outlet, San Francisco, Ca. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No alterations to this one. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, in a solid color, maybe black for casual everyday wear. 

Conclusion: I like this one and can see myself making this again. 

This fabric is a sweatshirt knit, that I purchased at Joann’s fabric, a few years back. I made this dress in 2018.

Bye for now, time to go Sew Something!!!!

McCall’s 7846 Misses’ Ponchos

This Misses’ Poncho is great for the cold weather we have been experiencing in California. Finally it is cold enough to wear Ponchos, Capes, and Sweaters, and I absolutely love it. I choose view B as my option for this Poncho. It is a loose fitting poncho that has 4 different front variations. I liked the neckline on this one, as it isn’t a full turtleneck neckline and it can be worn dressed up or dressed down. I like versatility in the clothing that I make. I need everyday and work wear clothing in my line up.


The fabric choice for this Poncho was a Perfectly Plaid Acrylic Fabric – Black and Red from Joann Fabric. I feel in love with this fabric when I saw it in the store. It was the best choice for this project, although I love how it turned out. The pattern recommended a fabric with a moderate stretch, a knit with 35 % Cross Grain stretch and this Acrylic lacked that stretch. Without the stretch it restricts movement just a little bit. I let out the darts just a tiny bit and that fixed the issue. 

This Poncho will get lots of wearing time this year. I can see it with a black pencil, long sleeve black top, and a red pair of boots or booties. I have all these items in my closet already, oh wait did I just find an outfit to wear to a possible Holiday Party , a Girls’ Night Out, or a date night with the hubby. It can also be worn as I have styled it here, knee high boots, black leggings, and long sleeve black top. Cute and comfortable. This poncho is giving me some serious Holiday Season Vibes. 

McCall’s Misses’ Ponchos M7846

McCall’s 7836 Misses’ Top with Sleeve Variations

I have needed tops in my wardrobe line up for sometime. With me still doing the Ready to Wear Challenge, I couldn’t purchase any as part of the Challenge. I had already picked this top to make, when Leslie Bentley, Master Teacher over at  The Sewcial Place on Facebook, announced that she was doing  a free Sew-Along for a limited time. The tutorial can now be purchased if interested in making this top under her fabulous direction.


McCall's 7836
McCall’s 7836 Misses’ Tops

Please excuse the writing on the pattern, as I write on them, so I don’t forget which view I am making or if I made alterations to the view. In this case I didn’t use the sleeve on View D.  I wanted this top for the Fall/Winter weather.I went with the Bodice on View B and Sleeve on View C.  I am not a fan of the close up neck on tops. I have really short hair and  it just looks weird on me when wearing a mock or turtleneck top. In case I actually like this one.


I used a knit fabric, that looks like denim, it is super soft and I absolutely love how it feels. It is not to heavy or too light and can be worn with or without a sweater. The one thing that I didn’t like about the top was the flair at the bottom. I probably could have gotten away with cutting a smaller size. I cut the size 10. To avoid the top looking too big for me, I tucked only the front into my pants.  I think its cute. I thought how could I style this top for a cute everyday or a casual Friday outfit for work. I styled it with a pair of Sam Edelman riding style boots from last season and  a pair of white leggings, that are lined and perfect for winter that I purchased from Nordstrom 


I haven’t decided if it is one I’ll make again, now that it’s finished. It’s possible it could be a one time make. I think it came out very well, but I am not in love with it, as I am with some of the other pieces I have made in the past. Tops are definitely on my to do list and there will be more coming soon.

Bye for now, time to go Sew Something!!!

Little Black Dress McCall’s 7833

McCall’s 7833, this dress is EVERYTHING. I know I say I love all my dresses, but this one has stolen my heart. There are 4 variations of this dress on the pattern. View A is a short sleeved short dress, View B is a long sleeved short dress, View C is a long sleeve long dress, and View D is a sleeveless long dress with a thigh high split. I will be making View D next in Red of course.

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I made view A for my dress. With me being short, I went for the short version, this way I didn’t have to spend much time on alterations to the length. I was happy with the results. The fabric choices for this pattern are Two-way Stretch Knits (50% Cross Grain): Velvet, Jersey, Interlock, and Rayon Spandex. I used a Black Velvet fabric from Hobby Lobby that can be found Here. With the Holidays fast approaching, I thought it was fitting to make it in Velvet. I made a size 12 and it fits just the way I imagined it in my head, now to find somewhere to wear it. Who’s having a party? Can I get an invite?

#M7833
McCall’s 7833

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I paired the this dress with Red accessories, lips included. Shoes are Jessica Simpson, worn only for the sake of these photos.

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Handbag $8.99 at Burlington Factory. The jewelry I am wearing was a Christmas gift from my Granny Sammie about 3 or 4 years ago, it is priceless. My Granny has always had style and class. I learned from some of the best women on how to be classy without showing too much. I come from a family of strong women.

 

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Bye for now, time to go Sew Something!!!