Happy Wednesday everyone! Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. After I made the puff sleeve New Look pattern, I really wanted to add more tops in my closet. Tops can be complicated because depending on the material, the style, and most importantly, the pattern, the top can either be casual, dressy, or an odd hybrid. I’ve had McCall 8181 in my stash for awhile and it felt like the right time to make it.
Pattern Description
So McCall 8181 has 3 options. I decided to go with the first option which is the cropped version with the puff sleeves. I like the other views, but I was drawn to the cropped versions I saw on Instagram. Option 1 requires 5 buttons for the front and has 5 pattern pieces. The pattern also calls for a lining. I decided to use a cotton fabric that was in my stash. It’s has pink a stripes on a white background and floral accents along the stripes. It’s recommended that lawn be used for the lining, but I made the lining out of the same fabric. I’ve come to prefer self linings because it makes the garment look cleaner in my opinion.
McCall 8181 Garment Construction
After cutting out the pattern, the construction of the shirt came together quite quickly. Something new that I did was to attach interfacing to the front lining piece to help stabilize the garment and the button holes. I also really enjoy the way the lining is attached. The lining is attached along the neck, the back, and the waist. Once sewn together, the garment is turned inside out and through the armholes and pressed. Such a beautiful and simple way to finish the garment off. In terms of the sleeves, they’re gathered in and the cuffs are then attached. I ended up stitching in the ditch to complete the cuffs and I prefer this method to slip stitching.
Final Thoughts
I really like this pattern. I would love to make it again in Option 3, but with the sleeves of Option 1. It’s a great beginner pattern with lots of skills that’ll stay with you on the sewing journey. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. Happy Sewing!
