I Keep Pushing or My Review of McCall’s M5838

THIS

caught my eye when I walked into JoAnn Fabrics a couple of months ago. Seriously. The fabric, the pattern of the dress and the fact that it was polka dotted. All of it just seemed to scream – PICK ME! And I did. I fell right into that trap.

I’m going to go ahead and go on record as saying, I do not think that I can rock out the commercial patterns. There is just something about them. The wordiness. The ridiculous amounts of steps that you must take in order to get something done that should take NORMAL people two steps. It’s all crazy to me. I looked at this dress, and its lining, and didn’t give it a second thought. I scooped up this pattern:

and the polka dot material that it was already done in, and decided to have myself a merry old time creating Easter frocks for my two daughters. Let’s just say, it hasn’t been a party.

First, cutting the pattern was ridiculous. Or, shall I say, cutting the skirt out was ridiculous. There’s a portion for the front, and two back skirt pieces. Already having done Lil’ Miss Twizzlers Easter dress (that I shall talk about at a later date – possibly – maybe – maybe not) I learned that I just wanted to work with two square pieces. Then the process of lengthening and shortening without having any type of clear function as to WHAT I was supposed to do. Who makes these directions up?! I could spend a whole evening doing Amy Butler patterns, whipping out purses, and totes, and trench coats and skirts before I could complete this one.

There’s just too much to sew to, to create a lining. Instead of doing the outside of the bodice together first and then sewing the lining together next and then attaching the two, you’re piecing everything together like a puzzle. UGH!

And the zipper installation is enough to drive anyone bonkers. It has you baste the back together, apply the zipper in a ridiculous manner and then seam rip the basted stitch apart. Instead of just installing a zipper like a normal person. Which is why the back is not done. However, I’m okay with the results thus far. Not my best work, but definitely not my worst work either. Plus the ladybug thinks that I’m a sewing genius. I’ll take it for now. Especially since I only have a few years to practice all of this seam ripping and the works before she catches on. But I still have Lil’ Miss Twizzler too.
Here’s a sneak peek at what we’re working with.

Yes that back is still undone. I’ll figure out what I want to do with it when I finish drinking the fray check in my stash.

I’m kidding. I’m just going to go and down a couple of Pepsi’s.

But only after I figure out what to accessorize this with. I thought SHOPPING for Easter outfits was difficult.

But we know the reason for the season, and that I will enjoy.