CJ - The Ugly Truth

Ugh.  Well, if I didn't know before, I certainly know it now.  The pictures on the pattern face don't always match the pattern reality.  The pattern picture jacket looks longer, but in actuality, its a high hip length almost waist height.  And the ugly truth is that photos add about 20 pounds to me and I don't look good with a high hip length anything.  LOL.  Oh, and part of the Ugly truth could be the white fabric I used to make my first muslin.  So here are the pictures and my analysis of what I think needs to be done.

 The first thing I see are drag lines at each shoulder.  I'm going to take 1/4" inch out starting at the shoulder and narrowing to nothing at the neck on both sides.
The next is the sleeves are really drafted large.  I'm going to remove 2 1/4" inches from the under-sleeve, starting at the hem and narrowing to nothing at the armseye seam allowance.

Since the jacket is too short for my body type, I'll add 3 inches in length at the lengthen/shorten lines on each of the 2 fronts and 2 back pattern pieces.
I don't care for the high neckline too much so I folded it down a little.  I may deepen the curve of the neckline a bit later.  But that's a change I can make once I have the structural changes done to my satisfaction.



Now off the make the pattern changes...more later!

Chanel cardi...the beginning

This is going to be my fabric selection for my cardigan.  The boucle', to the right, I purchased from Sawyer Brook's on-line store several years ago and its been marinating in my stash ever since.  On the left, is a piece of silk charmeuse I purchased from The Cloth Merchants here in town.  I won't pretreat the boucle' but I have soaked the charmeuse in warm water for 10 minutes, rinsed it several times, rolled it up into a towel to blot and then ironed it dry.  I have it rolled up on a big cardboard tube that used to house decorator fabric at Hancock Fabrics. 

I have several patterns that would suit a Chanel style cardigan, Vogue 7975 basic design, McCall's easy 5007 and the one pictured here on the left McCall's Make it Crafty 6041.  I'm going to use M6041 but I'm not going to "make it crafty".  LOL.  The main reason is because they include all the cup sizes with this pattern and I really don't feel like doing a FBA since I wear a 38C.  I've decided on view B.  I'm going to cut out a 16 graduating to an 18 at the hips.  I'll shorten the sleeves from a 3/4 sleeve to a 2/3 sleeve.  I'm going to add side slits and possibly lengthen the body of the jacket if I don't think the length is long enough when I make the muslin.  I'll also make a possible sloping shoulder adjustment.  Age and gravity are catching up with me.  We'll see.