Day 6 Update

Vogue 7828 muslin is done!

I even hemmed this one. The front:



I took in the shoulder seam 1/4 inch and I altered the tarts, too. But I need to move the sleeves up on the shoulder one half inch. That will eliminate all that unsightly puckering (too much ease) at the sleeve caps and will just generally look better. The sleeves are too long, also.

The side view:




Gee, it almost makes me look like I have a shape, doesn't it? This top is definitely designed for silky fabrics, as you can tell. See how the drape pokes out in the front? A nice challis or charmeuse will drape very nicely, I think.

And the back view:



The sleeves definitely need to be moved up.

And no, I don't wear Mom jeans. These are Grandma jeans that are one size too big. I spared you the bottom of the leg view. I had rolled the cuffs up to my knees because I had a fresh pedicure!

Did I mention that I have a bit of a black eye? No, I haven't been in a fight. It's from the root canal. Thank goodness for Merle Norman is all I can say. Hopefully it won't be noticeable tomorrow.

It's still fairly early and I have time tonight to maybe cut something out....we'll see.

Day 5-A New Project

Vogue 7828

A quick update, then I'm off to see another Ontist Guy. Maybe this time it won't be as bad as last time, and besides, there's a big fabric store where I'm going. Wish me luck!

The front view, without the sleeves:

I like the collar; interfacing will make it better. Maybe I should cut the collar a smidge longer, and let out the center back seam a tad to adjust for it. Sounds good. Even though the collar is not too tight, it will probably lie better if it's longer.

Notice the huge gaps at the armholes, did you? Me too. I need to take out quite a bit there, so I will incorporate the extra into the tart.

The side view, in all its gaping glory:

Those side ties will be spaghetti-ish in the real top. I just folded and basted, so they are too wide.

And the back view (no, my shoulders aren't that wonky, I'm standing sort of sideways here):

More gaping at the back armhole! And saggy yoga pants!

In this next photo I pinned out the excess at the front armhole. As you can see, I pinned out too much. Too much makes me look pointy, instead of perky. Perky is good, pointy, not so much.

So first I will raise the shoulder seam (there's a trend developing here) to remove the gaping at the front and back armhole, like so:

Then I will take in the tart about 1/4 inch. At least that's my intial plan. After that, who knows?

I'm off to get a root canal. Send good vibes (not for the root canal, for the fabric shopping!)

Back later!

Day 4 Update

Vogue 7876

First up is photos of this top with the sleeves in. Front:





The ever-popular side view:





The back:





Final analysis of this top:

• I need to take up 1/4" at the shoulder on the shoulder seams, just like the previous top from earlier this week, to remove the droop at the armholes
• I need to consider that this shoulder adjustment might be needed on all my tops, since these muslins came from different pattern companies
• I need to add a teeny bit more room across the back for a little more movement ease--I will add a little at the center back and I will add a little at the underarm seam
• Even though I look like a stuffed pig in this top, I really do like it. Strange, isn't it?
• I feel all girly when I wear this
• I need to go fabric shopping and find great stuff to make a zillion of these
• Did I say that I liked this a lot?

If any of you would like to add to this final analysis list, chime right in. I'm listening. Maybe you see something I don't. Your input is always welcome!

Next Project--Vogue 7828

Here again we have a pattern I really like with the infamous "ALERT NOTE" on the back.




This is such an elegant and gracious look. I particularly like Views A and B. I like the little mandarin style collar. But the tucking steals the show on this one.

Did anyone besides me notice that the gal in the pink top is giving the girl in gray the Laser Eyeball Death Rays? After studying the picture for a minute, I realized that these two are about to have a catfight. The gray gal is sending an evil message of her own. Check out that right hand, won't you?

I was about to say that I'm surprised this got past the Vogue folks. But then, I'm so old nothing surprises me anymore. That is, unless a diamond is involved......

Anyway, back to where I was before my little mind got side-tracked. This top needs to be lengthened above the waist, too. And it presented quite a challenge. Check out the front pattern:





There are three tucks. Well, actually the bottom two are tucks. The top one is a combination of a dart and a tuck. So in keeping with the theme of this post, let's just call it a tart.

I folded out the tucks on the original pattern piece. I hope you can see what it looks like. This was almost impossible to photograph.



That tart closes up to form part of the armhole. Hmm, this means that I can make the droopy armhole adjustment right there if needed.

This pattern also had a waist marking for the tie ends, so I ended up right above that drawing in my adjustment line. I spread my pattern and then redrew the tuck lines in red. I "X"ed out the original ones. My goal was not to interfere with the tart at all.



Oh, yeah, there's another muslin.....



Today's moral lesson? Don't be a tart. Someone may be sketching!

I'm going to sew!