Candy Striper Blouse: Vogue 8747

When I saw this article in the June/July 2012 issue of Threads magazine, I knew I wanted to make Vogue 8747.  It's a classic blouse with gathering at the bust along the button placket.  Since returning home from India, I have been trying to dress nicer than just throwing on a tee shirt when I go out (even to the grocery store), so I have been wearing the few blouses I have quite a bit.

I wasn't feeling in the mood to do a muslin for this blouse.  It seemed like a lot of work and I didn't want to spend the time on a muslin when I could just dive right in.   I figured I could treat this version as a wearable muslin if needed.

This pattern comes with different pattern pieces for different cup sizes.  Uh-oh.  I know there are some people who do FBA's on every top/dress they make and this would be a huge time saver for them.  I've never had the FBA issue to deal with and to be given choices for cup sizes made me freeze with fear.  I mean, in terms of cup size, a 36B = 34C = 32D its just the rib cage that is different.  I had recently gone bra shopping and was still reeling a little by the size I bought.  Eventually I decided to follow the pattern instructions for choosing the cup size and do my measurements of full bust vs high bust.  My difference was 2"= B cup.  (I haven't worn a B cup since b.c.=before children), but, ok...if the pattern says so...let's cut.  I cut a 14 but made the side front pieces a 16 by the sleeve, and also graded the waist and hip seams out to a 16/18.   Well, it's done...next time I'll use the C cup pattern.  This is what happens when I move my arms back:

Whoops.  Not pretty

  

When I'm standing upright and still, it looks pretty good:

For fabric, I used a "shirting piece" that I bought in India ages ago.  It was 2.25m of 36" wide, high quality cotton.  It has pink and white stripes with a fine silver thread between every other stripe.  I feel like a candy striper when I wear this.  I would have preferred to have made long sleeves, but I didn't have enough fabric. The pattern itself is fine although I sewed the button plackets onto the wrong side of the fabric first and then had to topstitch the top down.  Not a big deal- it worked out.  

I will try this pattern again and I'm confident the next one will be better.