Tag: mccalls patterns

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!!!

 

McCall’s Fall Pattern Review

Hello Sewing Beauties,

Just wanted to do a quick blog on a few of my favorites from the Fall McCall’s Pattern line. I’m on vacation, celebrating 21 years of marriage to my hubby this week in beautiful Coronado, CA., small, busy, beautiful island, right outside beautiful San Diego, CA. If you want a quiet vacation, surrounded by good food, beautiful views, and beautiful weather, I highly recommend stopping here.

This is the view from my patio this week. I could sit here all day long and be happy, all I need is my sewing machine, serger, a few quick patterns to make, and I would be happy everyday of the week.

1. M7837-Loose fitting top with side details. View A is my favorite view for this one. The fabric choices for this one is cotton blends, poplin, crepes, and polished cotton. I will be picking a cotton blend, just to get some more experience using cotton fabrics. I tend to lean towards the stretchy knit fabrics. If I expect my skills to grow, I will need to get out of the comfort zone of using stretchy fabrics.

2. M7834 – Semi-fitted front dress with elasticized back. View D is my choice, why? I love a maxi, it’s one of the garments that I make and wear all year long. In the summer a maxi can be worn with sandals or wedges, in the fall/winter a maxi can be worn with boots and an overcoat. The pattern fabric choices are crepes, cotton blends, challis, and charmuese. I am thinking cotton blend again, for this one as well. I haven’t constructed an all cotton dress. The fabric choice is going to depend on the prints that are available. I may have to order online to get something pretty. The Joann fabrics close to really on,y specializes in knit and cotton fabrics.

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3. M7848 – Fitted lined coat with front zipper closure, side seam pockets (it has pockets) and neckline, sleeve and length variations. View D is the one I have fallen for. The long overcoat is one that I love. You can wear anything under this coat, pantsuit or dresses/skirts. A coat in View D makes me think of Olivia Pope in Scandal. Her outfits and accessories were always very fashion forward. The pattern fabric choices are Wool Blends, Wool Flannel, Brocades, and Tweeds, plus the lining fabric. I am definitely going to need to do some research on these fabrics for the correct needles to use and how they should be sewn. I have not worked with either one. I am thinking a wool blend, just because I love the look of a nice Wool coat, so classy.

img_0142-14. M7836 – Fitted pullover top with dropped shoulder and sleeve variations. I like View C in this one, nut to be honesty, I like all the variations. Not a big fan of the seam down the front, but that can be fixed by cutting the front on the fold. If I were to make View D I would close up the keyhole, just because it’s a Fall top. The sleeves on View B are amazing, so you may see a couple of these from me in the Fall. I do not have enough tops and find myself wearing cardigans with everything. The fabric choices for this pattern are Moderate stretch knits (35% cross grain), Cotton Knit, Sweater Knit, Ponte, French Terry. I have a couple of Sweater Knit fabrics that I think will work great with any view for this top.

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These are my top 4 patterns of the McCall’s Fall patterns. I have a list of 16 that I put on my wishlist, but will need to go through the list again to pick my top 10. The handbag pattern is on my wishlist and I am thinking it will make it home. There are so many possibilities to make with this pattern.

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