What I'm working on - McCalls 6885

It's been a while. I've been sewing but not for myself. I'm still concentrating on my dolls. But a need has arisen and I need to sew for myself. The golf season has started and as I do every year I needed to look over my past season's outfits to see what still fit and what I still liked. And this is where the need for new golf clothes began. Remember the raccoon problem we had? Well it seems that before we were finally able to rid ourselves of the raccoon problem they, yes they, had taken up residency in the box with my golf clothes. Let's just say I told the husband to throw the whole box out. The thought of trying to clean clothes that had raccoon urine and feces totally grossed me out. I'll pass and just sew new outfits! Wouldn't you agree?

The first outfit of my new golf wardrobe will be McCalls 6885 View A.

I have the perfect fabric in my stash. It's a stretch cotton sateen, that should be comfortable in sometimes steamy golf course conditions.

If I have enough of the printed fabric I'd love to make the matching hat! After this I'll have to look through my fabric and patterns to decide what the second wardrobe piece will be. What are you working on?

McCalls's 5525 Review

This is the second time I've made this coat and believe me...it's not the last! You can read my first review here.

I was supposed to make this coat a couple of years ago right after the first but what had happened was...you know the drill. I really wish I hadn't waited so long. I love the pattern. This time I added a little to side seams but it really wasn't needed. I also added width to the sleeves and converted to a two-piece sleeve. Hated the sleeves before--love them now! Again I added to the pocket as the original piece is positively puny!


For this version I really wanted to add all the details that the pattern called for such as the epaulets and front and back yokes, but I did not have enough fabric. What a bummer. I planned to add metal buttons but as I was sewing began to envision large white buttons. Wouldn't you know I couldn't find enough of them locally? I sent out a cry to my internet sewing friends and lo and behold, Lynn of You Sew, Girl answered my cry.

The pattern is pretty straight forward for an experienced seamstress and a not so experienced seamstress could be equally successful with patience. I've already gotten lots of wear out of this coat and I know I'll get plenty more. Unlike the last version the lining is pretty boring. I used fusible interfacing on the sleeve and bottom hems--batiste fabric as the front and collar interfacing. I do wish I had used a more substantial interfacing but failed to realize that the denim wasn't as hefty as the home-dec fabric I used in the previous version. That's not a deal breaker for me. For that next version...and there will be a next version, I'll use something else. I'll leave you with more photos and hope you like the coat as much as I've enjoyed sharing the photos and wearing it.

 BTW this pattern has been discontinued! WTF. Somebody at the McCalls pattern copy doesn't know a good thing when they see it!