The phrase “from the sublime to the ridiculous” is definitely springing to mind as I write this post.

Following my last post I checked more books and even went to the library and borrowed The Perfect Fit!  They showed full bust adjustment for a pattern without a bust dart.  One which doesn’t add a bust dart.  Cool!!!!

So I followed the directions.

I marked up the pattern as instructed:Then cut and spread.  Here it got a little tricky. They told you the maximum amount to spread, but didn’t give any recommendations based on cup size.  So I guessed.

I also added a bit to the side seams and to the front edge as planned.

I may have overdone it.  A bit.I had tea with Himmelbjerget on Friday (and some rather lovely buns that Little Stitch and Nino enjoyed immensely) and we pinned and pinched and I think we’ve got it sussed.  I’m going to make another version of the toile either tomorrow or Tuesday and we’ll see.  Very nearly there I think.  I HOPE!

I’m sure you’ll recall that my original plan for the black gingham blouse was to make flat alterations to the front, which would provide a reasonably fitting toile that just needed some tweaks.

And that the original plan went out of the window.

Whilst Little Stitch took an afternoon nap, I sewed up the toile.  And it is, dear reader, my worst nightmare.  Although I do think it has potential, hence the public humiliation of the following photos.

Starting with the back, my initial thoughts are that a good start would be to:

• adjust the yoke to compensate for my slightly rounded back
• let out the waist to compensate for not having one!

If you scare easily, look away now.  The front is even worse:

Again, I have some initial thoughts:

• Letting out the waist should alleviate the pull across the front
• It still needs a full bust adjustment (hence the black dots playing “hunt the bust point”
• I think I need to lift the neckline a little too – I think flashing your bra at playgroup is frowned upon.
• Oh!  And I think the armhole probably needs lifting too.  But I’m going to do that last to see how much difference the other changes make.

The only godsend is the the side seam looks like it’s pretty much where it should be.

So I’ve locked the workroom door for tonight.  Hopefully my brain will work on this over the next couple of days and work it out.  I won’t get chance to come back to this until probably Thursday at the least.

What do you think? Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.  Please be gentle with me.

I have to admit to loving this top.  The photo, less so, but it’s the end of the day and I’m going to suck it up!

This pattern is super easy to make, it fit right out of the envelope, and it hides the fact that I’ve eaten far to much of Ma Stitches-in-Law’s lovely pie and bread and butter pudding (separate plates, obviously).

You’ll remember that I added 8cm to the length because it looked like it would come up short. Well, when I’d sewn the thing together and tried it on, I cut the 8cm right back off again.  And it’s a fabulous length.  Particularly for picking up a small child without flashing your midriff to the world.  Always a bonus in my book.

One small query in my mind is the unfinished neckline.  It wasn’t a surprise as it’s clearly listed in the description on the envelope back.  This has also been discussed in other parts of Blogland.  However, when I make this again, and I will, I may try adding a self fabric binding to the neck once the pleats have been made.  It would change the look slightly but worth a try, no?

Next up is the wrap front blouse from the black and white gingham I bought during my last trip to London:This project will take a little longer because instead of cobbling together something slapdash and then hating it because it doesn’t fit, I’m going to do a full bust adjustment and make it fit properly.

Also, Ma Stitches is coming for a visit on Tuesday – she’ll be here for a week, woo hoo!!!!  Not much sewing will be going on whilst she’s here as we’ve lots of lovely outings planned.   Woo hoo again!  Although obviously there’ll be some knitting – I’ve another little cardigan on the needles for Little Stitch.  Not the raspberry!  I’m still not speaking to that yarn.