Sewing Pattern Reviews — dressmaking

I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward to making this.  For a few weeks before the pattern landed, I had had at least three sewing disasters, and they're just the ones that immediately spring to mind. I even ended up purposefully ripping one of my beloved Cleos apart, straight through the middle, with a seam ripper. My sewing room had turned into some kind of sewing-themed Halloween B-movie.  So the thought of making a skirt with top stitching and a fly zip filled me with dread, but given the job I'm in, sometimes I HAVE to sew rather than...