Summer Patten Picks from McCall's & Butterick

One of my goals this year was to learn to sew garments.  At this point I'm not terribly interested in creating patterns or designing, but I would love to learn how to follow a pattern and make minor adjustments.  I would also love to improve my knowledge of minor tailoring.  I enjoy quilting, but I want to play with all the other beautiful fabrics I admire when I'm shopping and make myself clothes that are perfectly "me".  Plus quilts take a long time and many steps, it would be nice to start and finish something in a weekend.

Obviously from my above choices, you can tell Fit-and-Flare silhouettes are my favorites.  On my changing body (oh the beauty of growing up) this style really works on me.  Plus I live in skirts and dresses in the summer.  It's the only way to stay cool for me.  So I focused on these pieces.  All of the pictured patterns are rated as "Easy" or "Very Easy" on their scale. 

Note:  I linked to various shops where they are generally the cheapest on the web everyday, however if you are shopping RIGHT NOW McCall's and Butterick are having a $3.99 sale on all patterns.  You can also catch $1.99 or .99 sales at local and chain stores every so often.  

1. Butterick  B5982 - Petite Bow Dress & Belt:  This is my favorite shape.  It would be adorable in a crisp summer floral cotton with a vintage leather belt and a cardigan for a summer date night or morning market.  
2. Butterick B5613 - Fast & Easy Skirt with Sash:  Pockets!  We love a skirt with pockets!  This is rated as "Very Easy" on their scale and might be the place where I start.  I picked up some beautiful floral linen by Amy Butler for this simple skirt.  I think it will be perfect with a sleeveless chiffon blouse or a simple white cotton tee and my Saltwater sandals.
3. McCall's M6848 - Easy Tops, Romper & Shorts:  This is technically a sleep set.  The top could be a cute little tee in a double-guaze or lightweight cotton for day-wear.  
4. McCall's M6848 - Easy Tops, Romper & Shorts:  I plan to make myself a drawer full of the shorts in cute cottons for to stay cool on hot summer nights.  I love the idea of dressing them up with a little eyelet lace on the trim.
5. McCall's M6706 - Flared Skirt & Petticoat:  This is a fuller skirt that the easy breezy B5613.  I think this skirt would look best in a structured fabric like a poplin, broadcloth or a dressy sateen. 
6. Butterick B5920 - Retro Dress & Belt with Slip:  This is a slight wildcard.  It's going to sit for awhile so I can mull over fabric selection, alterations and practice button holes.  I think I would skip the matching belt and shorten it to the knee (midi lengths make me look shorter than I am). 
7. Butterick B5919 - Collared Dress with Open Back:  I LOVE this dress.  The vintage silhouette would be beautiful as is, but shortening it and removing the collar makes it very modern.  I have even seen some people do pleats instead of gathering to make it even sleeker.  

I ordered every single one of these in a good sale and can't wait to dig into them.  I will be sure to post reviews of each as I go and include gratuitous photos of the process and finished product. 

Have you tried any of the patterns I featured?  A tips for a new garment sewer?  Please share!