A Higher Armhole

Yesterday took longer than I thought. By the time I had finished things up around the house, there wasn't much time left for sewing. After supper, I compared patterns and alterations and the notes I wrote when my daughter was visiting. If it works, I'll sew another bra for her today while my friend Sharon is here learning how to sew bras. This is the second friend that I'm teaching bra sewing to. What fun.

NancyDaQ wrote - I know you're done with the vintage style jacket, but a couple of thoughts come to mind. I think your lining fabric looks a little too stiff for the project. This is where touching and feeling would really help! I've seen this pattern made up and it's just a lightweight cover-up rather than a real jacket. The fabric and lining needs to be somewhat lightweight so it'll drape.

Thanks for the feedback Nancy. I wondered about that so I tried it on without the lining. The fashion fabric was quite light and drapey but the way the jacket is drafted, once the hem is turned up, there is no side seam. The sleeve comes right out from the bottom which sits at my hip bone and then the cuffs were at the same level creating even more width at the hip and no waist. I might experiment with cutting the armhole higher and see if that makes a difference but first I'm going to try something similar in t-shirt.

Sue wrote - I'm wondering if you are short-waisted and with a fuller bust, the Vogue drapey top isn't going to do you any favours.

I got such a chuckle out of that comment Sue. Never in a million years would I have been described as having a fuller bust until.... menopause. I've been a 34B most of my life, occasionally even an A and now I'm a 34D and about to try a DD. How strange. Apparently, along with allergies, a fuller bust is one of my gifts of menopause. I like that my bust sticks out further than my stomach - LOL.





Thanks Sue, Christine B, and Lois K for your feedback on the Vogue 1202 pattern. I'm wondering if there's a way to play with it and keep some of the parts I like while adding more shape. To experiment, I'm going to sew the Burda 8219 top above minus the keyhole opening which would be right at bra level. Huh!




This is an older pattern. There's a PR review dated 2007 so it came out sometime before that. It's been in my stash since release I'm sure. The underarm of the dolman sleeve is much higher and will let me see if that makes a difference. I can also experiment with shoulder pads, taking the armhole even higher, pushing up the sleeves or using elastic to gather, and trying it on backwards. That should give me just a little bit of a feel for the Vogue 1202.

This is another pattern that interests me. It's 5573 from Lekala patterns, a Russian site that is offering all of their patterns as free downloads for the month of September. The combination of waist definition, dolman sleeves, and extra seams for fitting has potential. Has anyone sewn any of these patterns? What did you think?

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - sewing with a friend