Pattern Review of McCall's M5430 with Photos

It's been awhile since I've posted a pattern review, but that doesn't mean I've stopped using them. My favorite patterns are "1 Hour" or "Express" patterns that declare, minus cutting time, they can be completed quickly.  The reality is that the actual time to complete these, even for a more advanced seamstress, is usually greater than 1 hour, but they can be completed in one afternoon. The skirt I'm wearing here is a wrap-around skirt created using McCall's pattern M5430 -- The 1 Hour Skirt.

I used the pattern for view C.  Instead of the illustration's modest khaki look, I decided to do something a bit funkier by using red and white stripes, with a boldly contrasting blue. Both fabrics came from re-purposed bedsheets. I use bedsheets and other clothes I cut up for about 50% of all my sewing.

This pattern is a great beginner's pattern. The skirt uses very few pieces and is easy to assemble. This type of pattern is a great staple in any pattern library. This skirt can be both casual and formal depending on the type of fabric used and the view selected. I chose to size it to fit on my hips rather than my waist, which for most people can be done simply by going up a size than what you usually wear.

I love the versatility of a wrap-around skirt, and I like the feminine touch the bow adds. The other 2 views do not have pockets, but I love the pockets on this one, so view C is definitely my favorite. I recommend playing with the colors! It's more fun that way! View B has a decorative trim, and View A is cut so that the open edge ruffles. All three views have the same waistband. Because of how the pockets line up, the skirts without the pockets have more room for error, so if you're a true beginner, view A or B might be easier, but not by a whole lot.