Everything that’s old is new again, especially the 90s.
I was recently looking for a sewing pattern for a cargo skirt, but nothing seemed to match what I was looking for. So I checked out the vintage patterns on eBay, and found McCall’s 2220, circa 1999.
It looked perfect, and the pattern includes a maxi skirt, a knee-length skirt, as well as shorts in two-lengths. It’s a good deal.
This pattern has a fly (I used a metal jeans zipper), with a good amount of top-stitching that add a lot of style. The waist closes with a trouser hook.
I used bronze-look hardware throughout, and the topstitching thread is a beige heavy-duty thread (Gütermann Mara 70 topstitching thread) that coordinates.
The pockets are the larger cargo style with velcro or buttons for the closure (lol, so 90s!). I switched them out for heavy-duty snaps.
During the 90s, patterns often came in a more restricted size range. This one was 14-18, and I originally wanted it for myself. But my daughter wanted a skirt and needed a size 12, so I graded the whole pattern down.
The fabric is a dark-wash 8.8 oz denim chambray – quite a bit lighter than standard denim. That made it quite a bit easier to work with.
The inside seams (not shown) are all faux flat-felled.
I’m very happy with the results – the skirt looks modern and polished, and can be dressed up or down.
Summary
Pattern Review: Vintage McCall’s 2220 circa 1999, in size 12.
Fabric: Cotton chambray from Fabricville (8.8 oz)
Size: 12.
Cost: Pattern: $17.50. Fabric: about $10.
Sewing Level: Easy.
Modifications: I graded down to size 12, and used snaps for the pockets. I also stitched the waistband close by machine.
The Finished Garment 