Vogue 2396 (OOP)

I had a few hours to spend in the sewing room, but I had no particular project I wanted to begin.  Little mojo, but I wanted to do something.  I scored this pattern on e-bay some time ago and didn't pay a fortune for it.  It was listed as "buy it now" and was priced at a reasonable sum.  The seller may not have been aware that with an auction listing he/she might have brought in a greater amount.  I'm sure I can get my $$ back should I decide to sell it.

Anyhow, I decided to muslin the top - that black boat neck she's wearing with the white skirt on the far left.  I had no idea until I pulled apart the pattern pieces that the sleeve had this curved dart at the shoulder.  I couldn't see it in the photo and the line drawing did not show it since the line drawings are of the front and back.  Interesting............ I traced the 14 and the 16, but decided to cut the 16.  One thing I particularly liked was that it had finished measurements on the pattern for the bust, the waist, and the hip.  If they have those measurements on today's patterns, I've not noticed.  These were clearly noted at the circles/lines that marked the bust, waist, hip respectively.  It also had the bust point marked.  I seldom see that anymore.

I mistakenly sliced the front right down the middle (thinking I was cutting the back pieces) so I just serged it together and went on my merry way.  I sewed the 16 just as it was.  Pretty close to a great fit!  I may lower the bust point just a bit (max of .5")  I have now also altered the pattern to fix the neck gaposis.  I rotated that little bit to the side bust dart after trying on the muslin.

Saphroni and I are not an exact match.  The neckline on her is not showing a gap; on me it does.  Saphroni has a but(t); I'm pretty flat there.  I have a tummy some days; she never does.  She's close enough to model for me, however.

I'll do a better job of easing the sleeves into the final garment in the "real" version.  This pattern was made when pattern makers were still using the high sleeve cap. I'm not sure when I will be sewing a final version.  Maybe soon.  Even though the pattern calls for use of shirt fabric for this top, if I can locate some black cotton/lycra, I might go with that, OR I may try it in black ponte (which I pretty sure is already in the stash).

Again, I was mainly looking for "something to do" this afternoon, but I'm happy I did this and that the fit was so close right out of the envelope.

I have finished, and already worn, a black ITY knit Style Arc Abby Cardi.  This is my second version of that pattern.  Since black doesn't photo well, just rest assured that it fit as nicely as the first one I made.