I had Vogue 8323.  I had some stable knit fabric given to me by a friend – lovely fabric, but possibly not in a colour that flatters me.  So I thought that I’d make what would hopefully be a wearable toile/muslin.

Okay, where shall I start with this? I cut a size 14, and shortened it about an inch through the body to allow for my short waist. Then I blithely assembled it – on the overlocker.

First mistake – I should have done a princess seam FBA for my C-cup bust.  I know that.  Why didn’t I do it?  Possibly because I usually make less fitted clothes, I suppose.  And possibly because I was being lazy.

Second mistake – all those fold lines and pull lines around the back.  I should have eased out the seams a little around my waist/stomach.

Third mistake – it all flares out around the hem.  Probably because my hips are actually a much smaller size than my waist.  Shall I point out some other fitting problems?

The neckline looks lovely on the pattern envelope. But it comes up way too high for me! There’s heaps of excess fabric there – maybe my neck needs to be about 20 cm longer for it to fit properly.

Then there is the sleeve cap – too big. It’s eased in, but looks almost puffy. I should have shaved at least a quarter of an inch off the top of it. And the sleeves are tight around the bicep.

So here I am, smiling as though I have made something that fits. It’s not a wearable toile, sadly. But a terrific learning experience.  All the vertical seams make this ideal for alteration; it just takes some patience to sew the seams on the machine and try it on as I go (rather than just leaping into things on the overlocker).  The fabric was fairly firm, so if I made this again, I would use something stretchier and softer. I’d reduce the sleeve cap, shorten the neck, add the inch I took out of the body back in, reduce the flare in the hem…..okay, am I really likely to do this?   It’s actually a lovely pattern, and went together very quickly. But not great on me.  I’ll think about it some more….