Vintage Sewalong - Muslin Stage

We have snow today!  We seldom have snow.  Years pass with none here, but now two years in a row!

So, I'm inside and sewing (and blogging).  I did choose the DuBarry pattern for this sewalong.  I found a few other patterns that I considered (not pictured), but decided on this one.

The pattern itself is in good condition.  I'm not sure that it was ever used.  The paper is a bit brittle so I handled very delicately.  I traced the original pattern to pattern ease tracing material from J's.  I buy it with a coupon when I can't find wide sew-in interfacing at the garment district stores.  I then began to make alterations to my newly traced pattern.

This size 18 needed some alterations - as expected.  Since the back has princess seams, adding to the side seams was pretty easy.  I added .25" at the bust area (total of 1") and added a total of 4.5" at the waist.  Boy, those ladies back inthe 40's had tiny waists!  Ofcourse, mine has thickened more in the last few years!  My hip measurement matched the pattern measurement, so that stayed the same.

I knew I would need to lower the bust point, thus adjusting the bust dart that comes up from the insert area.  For the muslin, I lowered it just short of 2".  The muslin indicated I needed to lower it more--about another 1".

The sleeves fit comfortably, however, I was unable to ease them in without several puckers.  The fabric (an old sheet) may have been  part of the problem, BUT I may need to reduce the ease in the sleeve on the next version.

Those wrinkles below the shoulder seam should disappear when the shoulder pads are inserted.  I had forgotten that shoulder pads are required.  I'll use thin ones and then alter the shoulder seam if necessary to get those wrinkles out.
I've not decided yet on fabric.  The pattern doesn't have fabric suggestions unless I've missed them somehow.  Nothing on the back of the envelope and I haven't found anything in the instruction sheet.  I do think it needs to be a solid color (as pictured on the envelope) so the inserts don't get "lost."  I'm thinking maybe linen/linen blend.  Not in the mood to go digging through bins in the cold garage today, but I think I have some solid colors of said fabric in the stash.  I'll look there before I decide to buy anything. 

I'm really liking this pattern.  I think it will be flattering AND comfortable and, so far, it's been pretty easy to fit!  Yea!!!!