Simplicity 1366 ... Wearable

Muslin #3

Number 3 is the charm!  I used a rayon challis (NOT in my colors) that was in a free bundle from Fabric Mart.  They do match my jeans.....

Changes to pattern:
     1.  Used Pamela Leggett's Craftsy Class method of reducing the sleeve cap, which I was unable to put in flat without dealing with a bunch of ease, as you can see in photos of #2.  I took out 1/2" total (1/4" in 2 places) and it worked perfectly, thank you, Pamela!!
     2.  Added 2" to length.

In summation:  I was damned if I wasn't going to figure out how to make this VERY simple top fit me, hence the three muslins.  I learned how to do a NO DART FBA and how to REDUCE SLEEVE CAP EASE.  Yea me!

Muslin #2

 meh!

So, I have  spent a couple of weeks trying to fine tune this much lauded top by Cynthia Rowley.

 I bought a pair of Stella McCartney black pants that are pleated from the knee down. They were on serious sale at my favorite store in San Antonio, Julian Gold.  Ellen, my style guru, said they need a simple, possibly boxy, shortish top.....so I thought of this pattern.

Attempt #1:  I cut a straight size 16.  The finished measurements said the 16 bust was 45 1/2", and my  bust is 42"....so was hoping that would work, but I needed the usual FBA.  Why don't I just DO ONE before doing the DAMN muslin?!?!  I guess hope springs eternal.  It was done in cotton muslin and it is obvious the end result needs to have way more drape. There are no photos of that, it wasn't pretty, I sliced up the front in the two places it needed room the most.....so in the trash it went.  Here is what I needed to change for 2nd try....

1. 1" FBA

2. lengthen sleeve 1 1/4"

3. lengthen Front & Back 1 1/4"

Attempt #2:  I used the rest of my red cross on ivory rayon crepe from FabricMart. It was one of those great deals....4 yards precut for $6.40!!
*  I did a 1" NO DART FBA (Louise Cutting video on THREADS online) and IT WORKED!!!
*  Did all the lengthening of sleeves, front and back

If lengthened this much, obviously needs a swayback adjustment! Original pattern is so much shorter, wouldn't be necessary.

Oh!  I machine blind stitched the sleeve hems....definitely going to perfect and use this in the future as you can't see the stitches!!!

I found that there was too much ease in the sleeves, especially for a dropped sleeve.  Look at the photos.....it kind of puffs out at the seam, me no likey!!!  Gotta find a fix for that !!!!!

The neck facing had to be shortened by about an inch.

I added a band at the Front and Back hem as it was still too short.  I think I am too old to wear tops that short.  I am extremely short waisted and it was still too short and I had already added 1 1/4" to the length.  So for the future, I added 2" MORE to the length.  However, the band was not a bad touch, if I do say so myself....definitely a "save."

BOTTOM LINE:  Cute top, but probably not for me. Glad I learned about that no dart FBA, so not a total waste of time.