McCall's 8267: Unicorn Applique Dress

It’s September, and since 2016, most of my September craft and sewing always revolves around my niece (Miss J) and her birthday. This year I made paper invitations using the Cricut (tutorial here), activity books for the party favor bags, and her party dress. Miss J currently loves all things unicorn and rainbow, and when I came across McCall’s 8267, I knew I had to grab it and use it to make her birthday dress.

M8267 is a children’s knit dress pattern with a panel circle skirt and features three applique designs. The rainbow print fabric is a rib knit from hobby lobby. The fabrics for the unicorn applique were from my stash and came from several stores. I cut a size two but lengthened the skirt to the size 4 line. Based on past experiences with Big 4 patterns, I knew the dress pattern would need to be lengthened if I wanted it to touch her knees. For sizing reference, Miss J currently wears a small or 6/7 (Target and Children’s Place) in dresses and tops.

On the “Ease of Sewing” chart, McCall’s rates this as “Average” and I agree. This is not a quick sew project because the appliqued pieces are an alternating color. That means it will take time to match the skirt panel seams to the appliquéd panels on the bodice. For that reason, I do not see myself making this version of the dress again. I do, however, plan to use this pattern to make a simple, non-applique version because the fit, without any modification, was perfect. Miss J loved the unicorn, of course, but she also loved how the dress flared when she twirled.