Hey everyone,

I’m really burning up the tracks…  Working on my new pattern has really invigorated my creative spirit.  With the master pattern off to the grader, I’m left with the fun part…  Playing  to make a shirt to fit me!  The pic above shows the size 16 D-Cup as is.  …It’s a little snug across the shoulders and I also screwed up when I sewed the sleeve in… It should be 1/4″ higher on my shoulder… But, I think overall, it’s a good fitting pattern.  All the pieces matched up and because I drafted the front to fit a more realistic bust, I don’t think I have to move the fullness lower (although I think the darts need to be lowered a little.)

In addition to fitting this pattern to me, so I can make some cool samples and built my wardrobe, I am trying to come up with some easy, not fussy, construction techniques that will making sewing this top lots of fun.   When I was working on the collar stand, I thought about all the different ways you could trim the seam allowances… I decided to leave them as is.  … But I made two big clips along the curved edges. When I turned the stand to the right side, the clips collapsed and created a nice firm edge along the curved end of the stand.  I did have to go back in and snip a little closer to the stitching, but the results were really nice without a lot of fussy trimming.

I’m going to NYC on Friday with some of my fashion students (yay)… I’ll be on the lookout for some fabric.  I excited to find some printed fabrics that can be used for the inside pieces… collar stand, cuffs and continuous placket… I think I’m going to have lots of fun with this pattern   I really have to hurry up with the fun stuff, because when the pattern comes back from the grader, I have  50 slopers to make!!!!!!     Lots of sizes… 6-24 and cup sizes A-DD.   I think this new workshop will definitely be a great addition to the Jean Fit Workshop!   That’s all for now!  Have a great day