Sencha Part 3

Even though it's record-breakingly hot I decided to work some more on my Sencha blouse today. As you'll recall we last saw it pinned together, so today I decided to loosely stitch it together (tucks and all) to get an idea of how things were working. Since I'd decided this one would solely, forever and ever, be a muslin I made all the marks in permanent marker...

(That's The Graduate playing in the background) and then I got to stitching. I am especially pleased with the tucks:

After I had stitched everything together I took some pictures; I still think it's a bit loose but I feel like it's not supposed to be the tightest thing ever. 

I like it, though! I tried it on with a high-waisted skirt and belt, too, to make sure it would look alright tucked in (I apologize for the blurriness of the first picture):

I'm really quite pleased with it; I think in a more silky fabric it would fall lay better, but I feel like it's quite grown-up and nice. Plus it focuses a lot on the boobs, so I'm happy. Now I just have to unpick all the stitches and figure out what fabric to make a real one out of! Hurrah!

Sencha Part 1

I've started working on the muslin for view one of this pattern from Colette Patterns:

I'm very excited about it. I thought I might have to do a Full Bust Adjustment/Alteration (FBA) but I wasn't sure because apparently Colette Patterns are made for the curvier lass; we'll see how that turned out further down in the post.

Okay, so, first things first I cut the pattern pieces out.

This is what I'm making the muslin out of, a pink Ikea sheet which was on sale, and which is going to make splended trim for the numbers dress I'll start on once I get through with the Sencha.

Then I ironed the sheet.

After that I pinned the first pattern piece (appropriately, "A") to the sheet; in the instructions it's recommended that you use pattern weights but 1) I don't have a large enough surface and 2) I don't have pattern weights. Every time I considered buying some while I was in America all I could think was "How is it logical to buy something with the word 'weight' in it to take in your luggage?" 

I traced around it in tailor's chalk and then removed the pattern piece. Then I cut it out. Voila!

I repeated those steps with part "B," and transfered the tuck marks and button holes to the muslin.

  

Then I pinned it all up to get a feel for the fit of it. 

As I read in a couple reviews, the neck's a bit weird... really quite small. Also the shoulders tugged a little but I think that will be solved after I do an FBA. Yeah, I decided I probably should. Granted, the idea I got of what it looked like on is a bit skewed because I'm such a genius I didn't wear a bra (added bonus: I'm also not wearing pants!) but I feel like, with an FBA and a bra some of the stress will come off of the shoulders. 

  

The back fits like a dream, though, which is good. Anyway, now I have to teach myself how to do an FBA. I'm kind of excited about it though because, as a DDD girl, I'm sure I'll have to do them often in my making-things-from-patterns life. I'm taking a break from it for now though because it is so hot in my flat I was actually dripping sweat on to the muslin. Gross.