McCalls 6274 - Girl's Skirt

While looking for older girl's patterns in my pattern stash, I came across McCalls 6274 and decided to make the skirt for Julien for Christmas.

This pattern was pretty straight forward, although I did experience my usual brain cramp while sewing late at night.  The fabric is a patchwork denim from my stash.  I'm 100% certain I did not purchase this fabric.  This is definitely a mom purchase.  I'm sure she intended a tote bag since there was one yard (then again, she always sends fabric she thinks would make good tote bags (obsess much??).  Let me tell you, if I added up all of that yardage and calculated the number of tote bags...well, let's just say no one needs that many totes. 

I sure you wonder how I could possibly experience a brain cramp with such a simple item.  Well, here's what I did.  As usual, I was just glancing at the instructions rather than actually reading them.  Consequently, I missed the step that said to leave a hole for the elastic in the back waistband.  When I realized my mistake, I grabbed the seam ripper in order to remove those stitches and ....

I got a little carried away and also opened up the waistband seam at the front.  So, now the skirt has a new design feature...satin stitching where the elastic meets the front waistband (which does not have elastic).

I did have to move one of the fabric patches even though I tried to cut carefully.  The one to the lower left used to be center back right along the waistband which would have put it in an inappropriate spot for a 10 year old.  I'm much happier with the placement now.  The eye is naturally drawn to these patches so I wanted to take extra care that she wasn't going to be walking around with the equivalent of "Juicy" on her hind end.

When it came time to finish the pocket, I opted for easy (or so I thought) and went with a snap.  That required one of my older sewing tools, my snap fastener (or medieval torture device).  This baby rarely gets used, so I had to drag out the instructions and then practice before actually putting the snap on the pocket.  Seriously, I could have done a buttonhole and button in less time than it took to go through the process with the snap.

In the midst of all this practicing and awkward hand positions, I broke the green washer.  (sigh).  Of course, they don't make these anymore (I got it at Hancock Fabrics in the late 80s), so I had to make do.  It was difficult since the washer holds part of the snap on the tool and makes it easier to "snap on".   (double sigh).  Of course, my OCD led me to the Internet in an attempt to find replacement parts for this guy (no dice).  I did, however, find a complete set on Etsy (or was it Ebay)?

t any rate, I got the snap on the pocket

and it works.  Was it worth the pain?  You bet!! (or at least,that's what I keep telling myself).


And Sewing Geek -- thank you for your suggestion on the robe.  I can't believe I didn't think of that.  Talk about a "'d'uh" moment on my part.  Of course, I am now determined to fix it before I mail that box.